Shakespeare Platinum Award
Overview
Complete your Shakespeare Awards journey by 'pitching' a Shakespeare production, performing two contrasting speeches of your own choosing, and, with 15 minutes preparation time, reading a given speech.
Prior to the assessment:
No later than a week before your assessment, you need to submit your written response to an archive video recording of a Shakespeare play, chosen by the assessor (you will be sent a link). You will receive written feedback on this, as part of your results.
15 minutes before the assessment, you will open from email – or be given – a Shakespeare speech which will form the sight-reading part of your assessment.
During the assessment:
- You and the RADA assessor meet for a 60-minute one-to-one session, either online or in-person.
- First, you deliver a 10-minute presentation outlining how you would stage a Shakespeare play of your own choosing. You should consider where the play is to be performed, and be prepared to give your design ideas for setting and costume. It may be useful to present any research material that you have collected. Candidates need to demonstrate a concept that inspires and unifies their production.
- You and the assessor will have a 10-minute discussion on your presentation.
- You will then present the first of two widely differing Shakespeare speeches of your own choosing: these need to be from the plays, rather than the poems. Each speech should be around 15 to 20 lines in length. Special marks are awarded for the degree of contrast between the speeches.
- You and the assessor then work together on your first speech. The assessor will ask you questions about the play from which the speech is extracted.
- You perform your first speech again.
- This process is then repeated with your second speech.
- The process is then repeated with your allocated speech for the sight-reading element (you are not expected to have learned the speech).
Requirements
May only be taken by individuals (not pairs). You need to have gained your Shakespeare Gold Award to apply.
Marking
You must obtain 120 marks out of a maximum of 200. Marks are used to ensure the fairest assessment of a candidate. You are not told your marks. Apart from the assessor’s report on your essay, feedback is only given if you fail the assessment.
After the assessment
You will receive your result and a certificate by email within one month.
Further details
- May only be taken by individuals (not pairs). You need to have gained your Shakespeare Gold Award to apply
- Assessment time: 60 minutes
- You must act from memory to gain your Award (without reading a script)
Assessment Dates
Online
Saturday 11 March 2023 FULLY BOOKED
In-person at RADA
Saturday 1 April 2023 FULLY BOOKED
How to apply
Complete the application form (including your preferred assessment dates) and declaration form, and email them to awards@rada.ac.uk. Alternatively, post them along with a cheque or card payment details, to: RADA, 62-64 Gower Street, London, WC1E 6ED.
Once we have processed your application, we will be in touch with you to confirm your place on the assessment day.
Terms and conditions
- 6.1 where RADA reasonably considers this to be necessary for the enhancement of its provision in the best interests of participants.
- 6.2 in circumstances which are caused by matters outside our control; and/or
- 6.3 in circumstances which reflect changes in relevant laws
- 6.1 that the candidate’s performance was affected through extenuating circumstances that could not have been reasonably reported at the time of Assessment.
- 6.2 The Assessment was not conducted in accordance with the prescribed guidance.
This document sets out the terms and conditions between the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (“RADA”) and any individuals participating in the RADA Awards (“Awards”). You should read these terms and conditions carefully as it contains important information. These terms become binding on you when RADA receives your application for assessment under the Awards.These terms and conditions are binding as and when RADA receives your application for assessment under any level of the Awards. As part of your contract you agree to be bound by these terms, including the Regulations for the conduct of the Award listed below.Where the Awards are taking place at a host centre, you have a right to expect that the room will be suitable for purpose, with adequate space for movement and appropriate lighting, in accordance with RADA’s regulations. If suitable space is not provided, then this is a matter between you and the host venue and RADA will not be held liable for the host venue’s failure to provide you with appropriate space for assessment.RADA will provide assessors who meet its requirements for delivering the Awards and will provide assessment, feedback and tuition with reasonable care and skill.RADA may, on occasion, be compelled to change syllabus material, but it will not do so for individuals already booked for assessments.The result of the Assessment will be provided to candidates on the day. The Assessor’s decision is final and RADA will only consider an appeal (in accordance with the Award regulations) if the proper process has not been followed, not on the grounds of the Assessor’s professional judgment of your performance.RADA may from time to time revise the terms and conditions of the contract including the rules and regulations referred to in these terms and conditions in the following circumstances:
All Award fees must be paid in full prior to any scheduled assessment. If fees have not been received at least 14 days prior to the assessment, it will not take place, but you may still be liable for costs associated with the assessment.Fees paid for Workshops and Assessments are non-refundable as a result of cancellation (subject to the provisions of clause 9 below)You have the right to cancel this contract under the Consumer Contract (Information, Cancellation and Additional Payments) Regulations 2013 within 14 days without giving any reason.The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the day of the conclusion of this contract.10.1 The contract is governed by English law and subject to the jurisdiction of the English courts. However, if you are a resident of Northern Ireland you may also bring proceedings in Northern Ireland; if you are a resident of Scotland, you may also bring proceedings in Scotland; and, if you are a resident of any country in the EU, you may also bring proceedings in that country which is your national country.
RADA Awards: Regulations
These regulations apply to all candidates taking RADA Awards and any Centres offering the Awards.The RADA Awards are progressive and candidates must be followed in order. There is no limit on the number of times an individual candidate may take each level of Award, including repeating passed levels.Candidates must arrive on time for your Award assessment. Failure to arrive at the appropriate time, may lead to the assessment being cancelled, and the candidate will still be liable for the Award fees.Where the Awards take place outside of RADA’s premises, the Centre hosting the Award must provide an appropriate rehearsal space. This must include adequate space for movement (including a suitable flooring), sufficient lighting for both practical work and for the Assessor to produce written notes, a table and chair, and water for the Assessor and candidates.Candidates should be suitably dressed for the assessment: wearing comfortable clothes and shoes, suitable for the practical style of the Award assessment, which give the candidate freedom to move and breathe without restriction. Though candidates may wear items that help them to “feel” their way into character, there should be no attempt at literal costuming.RADA expects candidates to behave towards the Assessor in a polite and respectful manner. Threatening or abusive behaviour will lead to the Assessment being terminated and no refund will be made.Right of Appeal: Unsuccessful candidates may only appeal against the outcome of an Assessment if they believe that:
Appeals against the decision of an Assessor should be made, in writing to the RADA Awards office awards@rada.ac.uk within fourteen days of the date of the assessment.The appeal will be investigated by a member of the Awards team not connected to the delivery of that particular Award or Assessment and the result communicated to the candidate. The Academy’s decision in relation to this appeal will be final and there is no further right of appeal.
Further information for Candidates
RADA welcomes applications for Awards from people of all backgrounds. We encourage disabled people to make us aware of any particular access needs so that we can make reasonable adjustments and ensure you have everything you need to get the most out of your Award assessment and experience. Dyslexic applicants must submit a full report from a chartered educational psychologist with their application.Candidates should note that the RADA Awards are a developmental teaching tool stemming from the Academy’s decades of offering drama training and not a formal qualification regulated by Ofqual. The Awards are not offered by RADA as preparation for or a requirement of entry to its full-time acting programmes: obtaining a RADA Award is in no way a qualification for RADA’s 3-year acting degree course, as the processes of assessment are entirely unrelated; and admission to RADA’s Foundation Course in Acting and BA (Hons) Acting is by audition.