Drama school auditions see fierce competition

Competition is fierce for a place at China's Central Academy of Drama. (Photo by Chinanews.com)

China's Central Academy of Drama sees thousands of applicants every year and this year is no exception. Auditions at the academy started on Friday and will last for three days. The acting course has received 11,000 applicants this year, but only 50 will get a place.

The small fraction of the huge amount of applicants here naturally means fierce competition. Some 90 percent will be slashed during the first round of auditions.

"There were ten of us in the auditioning room. Each of us had to recite a poem that we'd prepared," said one of the hopefuls.

The process this year has been made into two rounds instead of three, to make it less gruelling. And the teachers believe they can spot their selected students very quickly.

"From the reciting section we can figure out who has a talent for acting," said Hao Rong, director of acting department at the academy.

Less than one out of 200 will survive into the second round. "There are still a thousand students who will make it to the second round. That round will have sections in it to allow students to fully display their acting talents," Hao said.

The second set of auditions will examine the applicants' vocal strength, appearance, improv skills and their knowledge of history, art and current affairs.