100s of Free Compelling Monologues for Actors

In the theatre, a monologue is a speech delivered by a single character. “Monologue” is derived from the Greek words “monos” (single, alone) and “logos” (speech, word). Monologues are typically performed in the presence of other characters and are often directed towards them. A soliloquy, however, differs from a monologue in that it is delivered either out of earshot of other characters or not in their presence at all, often divulging a character’s inner thoughts. Monologues from plays are typically used for acting auditions. This selection of resources and monologues will prove useful for young actors and drama students, alike.– Justin Cash

Monologues

A huge collection of theatre resources from Monologue Archive with comic, dramatic, and classical speeches for men and women from some of the world’s most famous plays. The majority of monologues in this collection are from historical out-of-copyright works and are accompanied by useful related links.

Hundreds of stage play monologues with a useful search tool The Monologuer from Backstage.

Great collection of instructional videos for students from Sydney’s Belvoir St theatre company, accompanied by an excellent student worksheet.

A handy speech and scene searching tool for plays, movies, television, and books.

Extensive collection of theatre monologue resources for men, women and young people from StageMilk. Great monologue selection from famous television shows and movies too.

Great selection of audition monologues used to gain entry into WAAPA, the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (most items are web archived): 2023 Men and Women | 2022 Men and Women | 2021 Men and Women | 2020 Men | 2020 Women | 2019 Men | 2019 Women | 2018 Women | 2017 Women | 2016 Women | 2015 Women | 2014 Men | 2014 Women.

Audition monologues for the Victorian College of the Arts (The University of Melbourne): | 2023 Poems and Monologues | 2019 Men and Women | 2018 Men and Women | 2013 Men and Women Shakespeare.

A comprehensive selection of male Shakespearean speeches and female Shakespearean speeches from all of The Bard’s plays. Links direct the user to the appropriate scene from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s online Shakespeare texts, in which the chosen monologue lies.

Five alternative classical speeches for men.

A handy selection of theatre speeches for teens.

Selection of monologues for actors, divided into helpful categories.

Five alternative classical speeches for UK women to audition with.

2022 audition monologues for the Bachelor of Creative Arts (Drama) at Flinders University, Adelaide.

5 Alternative monologues for UK women actors from Backstage.com.

Selection of audition monologues for the Bachelor of Fine Arts, National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA): 2023 Monologues | 2022 Men and Women | 2021 Men and Women | 2019 Men and Women | Men (date unknown).

Collection of 2022 classical and contemporary theatre monologues for audition entry into Federation University, Ballarat.

5 alternative contemporary monologues for UK male actors to audition with.

Tips

The Actor’s Guide to Auditioning a Monologue from Backstage.com is a useful set of instructions and advice including different types of monologues, choosing the right length for a monologue, and how to prepare for a monologue.

Useful five tips from casting directors on how to select the right monologue for you and perform the audition from Acting Studio Chicago.

Acting isn’t something you do. Instead of doing it, it occurs. If you’re going to start with logic, you might as well give up. You can have conscious preparation, but you have unconscious results.

Lee Strasberg (1901-1982)

Pragmatic tips on how to audition properly with a monologue.

15 tips on auditioning for college/university acting courses.

Excellent advice on how to nail your college or university acting audition from several theatre artists and educators.

A handy set of useful and easy-to-understand tips for successful monologue auditioning from the Theatre Bay Area website.

Useful set of audition do’s and don’t’s for younger actors and their parents from The Play Group Theatre.

Simple but effective 5 tips for preparing a monologue with confidence from TheatreFolk. Great for students and teens.

18 practical ways younger actors can stand out at an audition.