ROYAL Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) auditions return to the North-East early next year and applications can be made now for its actor training course.

The world-leading London drama school regularly auditions across the UK to find the most talented young performers, and will return to Newcastle in February to meet budding young actors in the North-East.

With just 28 places available on the BA (Hons) Acting each year, the academy is committed to finding the best talent from across the UK and internationally, regardless of social or financial background.

Newcastle joins Birmingham, Manchester, Plymouth, Bristol, Dublin, Los Angeles and New York as a RADA audition venue, enabling potential students from these regions to participate in auditions without high travel and accommodation costs in London.

RADA graduates born and raised in the area who have gone on to careers on stage and screen include Andrea Riseborough, Anne Reid and Janet McTeer.

First round auditions for the acting course will take place from February 11-13 at Northern Stage.

Applicants will perform two speeches – one classical (by Shakespeare or another Elizabethan/Jacobean playwright) and one modern (written after 1960).

RADA offers unlimited application fee waivers for applicants from low income backgrounds. Anyone who is new to higher education, applying to an undergraduate course and with a household income of less than £25,000 is eligible for a free audition.

Applicants who pass the first of four audition rounds will be invited to further workshop rounds at RADA, giving students an opportunity to meet more staff and students and visit the facilities. Travel bursaries are available for eligible applicants to assist with travel costs to and from London.

Edward Kemp, director of RADA and member of the audition panel, said: "We have a range of initiatives that seek to improve diversity of all kinds on our acting and technical theatre courses.

"A vital part of this involves making sure we look beyond our own local area, to find the most talented performers from across the UK and beyond.

"While there are thriving arts scenes throughout the country, applications to London drama schools remain weighted towards students from London and the South-East. We are also keenly aware of the financial pressures involved in travelling to the capital for auditions, which is why we commit to sending our audition panels to a range of venues each year.

"We don’t have academic entry requirements for the BA (Hons) in Acting and don’t ask for any particular experience. What we are looking for is talent, potential, enthusiasm and the willingness to work hard and take risks.”

Anyone interested in auditioning should first submit an application form, which can be downloaded from RADA’s website, indicating which city they would like to audition in.

To find out more about RADA’s BA (Hons) in Acting, including how to apply, the audition process and eligibility for application fee waivers, please visit www.rada.ac.uk.