ELLIGIBILITY

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The Graddys is for performers who are entering the professional musical theatre industry — not people who are entering/still in training.

 

Performers are eligible if they:

• Are 18+

• Are currently in their final year of training, OR have completed their training this year (2026 and 2027), OR have been pursuing musical theatre independently and are now entering the industry

• Have not accepted a place on a full-time training course that begins after The Graddys

• Are seeking to establish themselves as a professional musical theatre performer

 

You can enter:

• With or without an agent

• If you have already begun gaining professional experience

• Have trained at:

  • A drama school

  • University

  • College

  • Private training

  • Part-time training

  • Through independent study/coaching

  • Or not had formal musical theatre training at all

 

You cannot enter if:

• You are currently undertaking full-time musical theatre training and are not in your final year

• You have accepted a place on a full-time training course beginning after the competition

• Your primary aim is to use the competition as a stepping stone towards further full-time training rather than entering the professional industry

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AUDITION

 

You'll need to submit a professional audition tape with two videos. Firstly, a 90 second audition cut of a musical theatre style song that shows you off. Secondly, a 60 second intro video talking about yourself. The tape should:

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• Be filmed landscape against a blank wall

• Have good lighting so we can see you clearly

• Be performed to a backing track/accompaniment 

• Filmed in one take with no edits in the song. (You can cut the beginning and end off!)

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Please watch the video above to give further information on the tape.

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NEXT ROUNDS

 

All applicants will be notified by email to let you know if you have been selected for the live semi-finals or not. In that round, you will sing about a 3 minute cut of a song to a backing track in front of an audience and our panel. They will give feedback after each performance and select who to take through to the finals.

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EXTRAS

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At each of the live rounds, you will have the option to buy the video of your song for £20. The videos are professionally filmed and are great for use in a showreel. 

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We will also live stream the shows and there will be an audience vote to select one performer per show.

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There will be various awards in the final including: Winner, Runners Up, Vocal Performance and Acting Performance.