Ready to Ace your auditions?

Ace Audition Coaching

James Cooney and Polly Jordan

James and Polly have a combined mission to demystify the drama school audition process and make actor training more accessible to all.

By creating a supportive environment they encourage actors to develop creative confidence and amplify their voice as an artist.

Coaching sessions are tailored to each individual, providing comprehensive guidance and support on all aspects of the audition process. With this personalised approach, their aim is to identify and celebrate every actor’s unique skill set, enabling them to best represent themselves in the audition room.

James and Polly are the best! I highly recommend James and Polly to anyone looking for acting coaching. Thank you both for all your support - I couldn’t have done it without you!

Sophie, Oxford School of Drama
Thank you so much for your support. I value it more than you know and honestly I don't know if I would've been placed if you didn't drop me so many gems. I'd like to tell you I got accepted into RADA, Guildhall, LAMDA and RWCMD.

Sam, Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Thank you both so much for running such a great, fun, valuable evening course and for all your support with the auditions process. It was invaluable to me and a real highlight of my year

Louise, Oxford School of Drama

Who We Are

James and Polly are visiting lecturers and facilitators at several top UK drama schools in addition to their private coaching work. With their coaching, actors have been recalled and gained places at leading institutions including GSA, Arts Educational, Guildhall and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. However, the skills they aim to develop extend far beyond the audition room - helping equip actors with the confidence, creativity and resilience necessary for the industry and beyond.

Polly Jordan

Polly trained as an actor at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London.

As an actor, Polly’s theatre credits include Trespass (UK Tour), Blithe Spirit (Swansea Grand Theatre) Blood + Chocolate (York Theatre Royal/Pilot Theatre) and Beacons (Devonshire Park Theatre). Polly has appeared in commercials, music videos and also works as a voiceover artist.

Polly’s work as an assistant director includes UK Tours of Invincible (Original Theatre Company) and Not about Heroes (Blackeyed Theatre).

Polly is currently course leader for Audition Technique short courses at Mountview and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Alongside James, Polly co-facilitates the Elevate Ensemble at MAST Mayflower Theatre, Southampton. In addition to her private coaching and mentoring work she also regularly teaches acting across several drama institutions and theatre groups for adults and young people, as well as directing youth theatre productions. Polly has sat on the audition panel for Central’s MA Acting course.

James Cooney

James trained as an actor at LIPA and has an MA in Actor training and coaching from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London.

James has worked across a range of media over the last ten years. He was nominated for Best Actor at the Off West End Awards for Bottleneck by Luke Barnes. In 2016, James began working with The Royal Shakespeare Company. His credits include Hamlet, King Lear and The Taming of the Shrew amongst others. His recent work includes The 47th by Mike Bartlett at The Old Vic.

TV credits include the Disney+ Star Wars spin-off series Andor, as well Casualty, The ABC Murders and Silent Witness for The BBC. James has also worked in radio and voice over for commercials and video games.

As an acting tutor, James is currently course leader of the Acting: Shakespare short course at Central. He has facilitated acting workshops for Arts Ed, The Central School of Speech and Drama and North West End Acting school, as well as sessions across East Sussex. James has sat on the audition panel for the LIPA BA Acting course and ArtsEd Acting foundation.

How we help

Sourcing audition material
Self tape preparation
Feedback and reworking
Mock Auditions

James and Polly are acting tutors, visiting lecturers and facilitators, working with a range of institutions, charities and arts organisations to deliver bespoke workshops and courses for groups of emerging actors.

To enquire about visits to your organisation please contact us via the button below.