The vocational CUA50220 Diploma of Musical Theatre comprises 16 Units of Competency, which are delivered over 3 Terms /Units of Study:

• CUAIND412 Provide freelance services
• CUAMPF417 Develop vocal techniques
• CUAPRF511 Refine performance techniques
• CUAPRF513 Prepare for and perform in competitive environments
• CUAPRF514 Refine musical theatre techniques
• CUAWHS511 Maintain a high level of fitness for performance
• CUAPR512 Develop sustainability of own professional practice
• CUAMPF612 Manage stagecraft aspects of performance
• CUAACT411 Use acting techniques in performance
• CUAMLT511 Refine aural perception and memory skills
• CUAPRF418 Perform solo in a musical theatre context
• CUAVOS411 Develop singing techniques for musical theatre
• CUAPRF611 Extend musical theatre performance techniques to a professional level
• CUAACT412 Develop and apply acting techniques for musical theatre
• CUAPRF419 Perform in a musical theatre ensemble
• NAT10914005 Develop Acting Techniques for Screen

All applications must be submitted online via the NIDA website. You will be required to submit a video audition via a YouTube link as part of your application.

How to apply

There are five steps to applying:

STEP 1

New Applicants: Create your application account here. You will be sent an automatic email with your log in details to continue your application.

Returning Applicants: If you have previously applied (in 2019-2020) and your email address already exists in the application system you will not be able to create a new account. Please follow the link below to reset your password, use your email address as your User Login ID. Reset your password here.

STEP 2

Log in, select the green ‘New Application’ button and complete the online form.

You will be asked to submit your personal details, examples of previous experience, and reasons for interest in this course.

STEP 3

Upload the following documentation to the online form:

• Evidence of your most recent qualification if you have one (e.g. a school report, Higher School Certificate, university transcript, statement of attainment)
• Proof of identification and citizenship (e.g. Australian passport, Australian driver’s licence, birth certificate. The scanned document needs to show your date of birth).
• A recent photograph (head and shoulders, in colour, well lit, plain background).
• One introduction/ Audition video as a link to an unlisted YouTube video.

STEP 4

Agree to the Terms and Conditions of application and click submit. You will receive a confirmation email when your submission is completed in full.

STEP 5

You will be contacted in early October regarding the outcome of your application and whether we are able to meet with you at a call-back session. You will be provided with an opportunity to notify us of the best available date and time for your interview/ call back, either face to face or via zoom. To assist with your planning, we will publish suggested dates and times on the course pages on our website.

If we have invited you, please attend your call-back session. Not everyone who submits a video will be invited to a call back.

Terms and conditions of application

• There are no application fees for the 2022 applicants.
• Applications for NIDA's diploma level courses (that commence in 2022) close on 29 October 2021. NIDA may not be able to accept applications after this date or late applicants may be required to pay a late submission fee of $75.00.
• There are a limited number of places available in each of our diploma courses. Selection is based on merit; not all applicants who meet the published entry requirements will receive a study offer.
• All applicants are required to review the course information, including the schedule of tuition fees, published on the course page on our website.
• It is not possible to provide applicants with individual written or oral feedback on their audition.
• Applicants who receive a study offer for 2022 must accept the offer within the time frame indicated. It is not possible to defer a study offer at NIDA.
• NIDA encourages applications from people from diverse backgrounds, with different levels of experience in their chosen area of interest.

As part of your application, you are required to provide a link to a pre-recorded video audition. The following information should act as guide for how to select your songs, monologue and how to set up and film your auditions.

Your video submission needs to consist of the following:

• A short, 1 minute introduction to camera (introduce yourself and explain your experience)
• Two contrasting songs from music theatre of your choice both 1 minute in length.
• Present 1 song in mid-shot (where we see you from the waist up), and present the other song in long-shot (where we can see you from head-to-toe).
• A monologue 1 minute in length.
• The audition video should be approximately four minutes in length, longer videos may not be watched in full.
• You are welcome to present your modern/contemporary piece in the language of your cultural background if you so choose. However, you must be prepared to present it in English as well.

Click HERE for instructions on how to upload an unlisted YouTube video.

You will only be able to upload one audition video. Please ensure that all components are in the one video, and under the one link.

Selecting your Songs and Monologue:

• Pick songs that will showcase you and your singing abilities and range.
• Choose contrasting material, for example, serious versus comic or classic versus contemporary.
• Your monologue can be from stage, screen or self-devised.
• Think about who you are talking to and what you want from them – understand the piece and who you are talking to.
• Choose characters who are in circumstances you can identify with and that you will enjoy exploring.
• Relax and enjoy yourself – we find that most applicants manage to relax and enjoy the experience and we hope that you will too!

Your video submission needs to consist of the following:

• A short, 1 minute introduction to camera (introduce yourself and explain your experience)
• Two contrasting songs from music theatre of your choice both 1 minute in length.
• Present 1 song in mid-shot (where we see you from the waist up), and present the other song in long-shot (where we can see you from head-to-toe).
• A monologue 1 minute in length.

Your video audition/interview should be submitted as an unlisted YouTube video link, in the appropriate field of your application.

You will only be able to upload one audition video. Please ensure that all components are in the one video, and under the one link.

Click HERE for instructions on how to upload an unlisted YouTube video.

Please make sure you review the guidance below and prepare what is required for your interview/ audition submission before you start to record anything.

1. Set up

You can use a stand or surface or have someone hold the camera/ phone for you. Do not look directly into the camera for your monologues, but just to one side; to the left or right or alternatively ask a friend to stand to one side of the camera so that you have an eyeline and someone to deliver the monologues to.

2. Background – you must be seen clearly.

Try to record against a plain, light background, with no harsh shadows behind you. Avoid busy, distracting images, and ‘hard’ colours like green and red. Ideally, the background should be plain. Grey can work well for a wide range of skin tones on screen.

3. Lighting – you must be seen clearly.

Try to light yourself so that there are minimal shadows across your face. This can be done with free standing lights or using natural light sources. Whatever you chose make sure that we can see you.

4. Sound – you must be heard clearly. Check the space/room you have chosen to record in for sound disturbances. i.e. close any windows, turn off any devices playing music in the background, air-conditioning, noise/talking/cooking sounds etc.

• All applicants will be notified regarding their outcome of their application status.
• Successful applicants will be contacted to arrange a suitable call back session.
• Call back dates to be advised via the course page on the NIDA website.
• Call backs may be conducted face to face or via zoom between October- November.
• More information will be available on the website when applications close.

At the callback, you will:

• Participate in a dance call to demonstrate your response to choreography.
• Potentially present your prepared songs or monologue again.
• Participate in collaborative tasks, including group improvisation.
• Discuss your previous training and performance experience.
• Wear suitable clothing – any casual clothing that does not limit movement is acceptable.

Outcome

If we are able to offer you a place on the course, we will contact you in December 2021 via phone and email to advise you of your course offer. You will be given a time period in which to accept or reject the course offer for the 2022 intake.