Shakespeare Awards offer the opportunity to work one-to-one with a RADA tutor to present a speech, sonnet or scene from Shakespeare and get personal feedback to develop your skills and inspire your acting.
You need to have gained your Shakespeare Silver Award to apply for Gold. Challenge yourself with the penultimate Shakespeare Award level by presenting two speeches or – in pairs – a scene you have chosen from the list we provide, and a sonnet, read ‘on sight’ with 15 minutes' preparation time.
The assessment includes discussion time between you and your RADA tutor before you perform each speech. This will focus on the plays your chosen speeches are from; the nature of the characters involved; and in more general terms, Shakespeare and his works.
Feedback will be given before you have the opportunity to present each speech again.
You should aim to have some awareness of all of Shakespeare’s sonnets. For notes on understanding, we particularly recommend the Penguin Shakespeare’s Sonnets edited by John Kerrigan; and, for contemporary insights, Reading Shakespeare’s Sonnets by Don Paterson. However, the sonnets sequence is readily available in most Complete Works and in many separate editions.
To gain the Gold Award, an achievement of 85 marks out of 140 marks is required.
During the assessment:
15 minutes before your assessment you will be given a sonnet to read and work on for the sight reading element of your Award.
The assessment begins with a discussion between you and your RADA tutor.
- You perform a speech from section one. Pairs will present a scene.
- You will then be given some suggestions of things to try out to explore the text.
- You deliver your speech or scene again.
- You will then deliver a second speech. Pairs will present a scene.
- You will then be given some suggestions of things to try out to explore the text.
- You deliver your speech or scene again.
- You present your sonnet for the sight reading element (you are not expected to be ''off book'' for this part).
- You will be given some suggestions of things to try out to explore the text before delivering your sonnet again.
After the assessment
- You will receive your results and any feedback by post within one month.
Normally on the first Saturday of each month. Please email awards@rada.ac.uk for details regarding availability.
Assessment time: 45 minutes or 90 minutes for a pair
Designed for candidates 15+, however the assessment is suitable for adults of all ages
You may choose any of the speeches, regardless of gender
You must act from memory to gain your Award (without reading a script)
The next level to gain after completing the Gold Award is the Platinum Award