Face your next musical theatre audition with confidence by following these tips from West End pro Olly Christopher.

With a CV that includes Book of Mormon, Hello Dolly! and Sweet Charity, Olly Christopher knows a thing about getting through auditions.

But, like many performers, he struggled with the process early on in his career.

“In my third year at drama school, we had the chance to audition for Mamma Mia! and Les Mis,” he says.

“I remember having no confidence and thinking ‘even if I sing really well, will that be enough? Where do I fit in this show?’

“I was overthinking things and was definitely overwhelmed.”

Since then, Olly has learnt what works for him in the audition room. He’s also reframed his thinking and no longer views auditions purely through the lens of whether he gets the job.

“There’s a famous saying: don’t win the job, win the room. A casting director might not think you’re right for this job, but if you do your best and present yourself in the best way, they will remember you.

“Keep working, keep being consistent with your practice and classes, and it will pay off.”

Here are some of Olly’s other key musical theatre audition tips

Trust the casting team

Don’t get hung up on trying to figure out what role you’re most suited to in a show.

“It’s important for the performer to understand that what they bring to the table is enough in terms of their look, talents and personality,” Olly says.

“Don’t worry about where you could fit into a show; the casting team are going to do all that work – that’s their job.”

Learn from each experience

View every audition as a learning opportunity and a chance to get better.

“There are so many things to take from an audition that you can learn from,” he says. “Did you pick a suitable song? Did you have a good rapport with the pianist? Did you have a lovely chat with the panel?”

Don’t take rejection personally

Rejection can sting, but remember, casting panels make decisions based on various factors.

“If you don’t get a recall, that doesn’t mean that you weren’t very good; the decision is based on the fact that they don’t have a place for you right now.”

Choose repertoire wisely

A high-stakes audition is not the time to experiment.

“Find a song that you know you can sing well even if you’re tired or a little bit ill,” Olly says. “Choose a song where you know, however you’re feeling, that you can walk in and say, ‘I’m going to smash this’.

“The last thing you want your mind to do is say ‘I’m not sure about this song today’. If that is a part of your mindset, it’s more likely not to happen.”

Build a support network

Having a network of people around you who understand how challenging the industry is can be invaluable.

“You want to know that those friends will support you whatever happens and that you can talk about those things openly and not feel shut down.”

Have another outlet

Fostering an interest or passion outside of performing will help you maintain perspective.

“Find something else that fuels your passion that you can go to,” Olly says. “It doesn’t have to be a paid thing or a job it could be knitting, reading or going to the gym.

“Of course, we all have to make a living. But it’s important to find a passion elsewhere, too. It doesn’t diminish your passion for singing and for theatre, it just means that you can also find joy elsewhere.”

Listen

Tune into the Singing Teachers Talk podcast where Olly also discusses:

• His go-to audition song.
  
  
• The importance of mentorship.
  
  
• How he balances his performing career with teaching.

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