 The Embassy Theatre, home of the school | |
Other names | Central, Royal Central, CSSD, RCSSD |
|---|---|
Former names | Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art, Central School of Speech and Drama |
| Type | Drama school andpublic university conservatoire |
| Established | 1906; 119 years ago (1906) 2005: Incorporated into theUniversity of London |
| Founder | Elsie Fogerty |
Parent institution | University of London |
| Affiliation | |
| Budget | £19.4m(2016/17)[1] |
| Chairman | John Willis |
| Chancellor | Anne, Princess Royal(University of London) |
| President | Sonia Friedman |
| Vice-president | |
| Vice-Chancellor | Wendy Thomson(University of London) |
| Principal | Josette Bushell-Mingo |
| Patron | Princess Alexandra |
| Students | 930 (2023/24)[2] |
| Undergraduates | 595 (2023/24)[2] |
| Postgraduates | 335 (2023/24)[2] |
| Address | Embassy Theatre,Eton Avenue ,London ,NW3 3HY ,England, United Kingdom 51°32′39″N0°10′27″W / 51.54417°N 0.17417°W /51.54417; -0.17417 |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colours | Red |
| Website | www |
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TheRoyal Central School of Speech and Drama, commonly shortened toCentral, is adrama school founded byElsie Fogerty in 1906, as theCentral School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art, to offer a new form of training in speech and drama for young actors and other students. It became a constituent college of theUniversity of London in 2005 and is a member ofConservatoires UK and theFederation of Drama Schools.[3]
The school offers undergraduate, postgraduate, research degrees and short courses in acting, actor training, applied theatre, theatre crafts and making, design,drama therapy, movement, musical theatre, performance, producing, research, scenography, stage management, teacher training, technical arts, voice and writing.[4]
In 2006, theWebber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art was absorbed into Central.
On 29 November 2012, the 'Royal' title was bestowed on the school byQueen Elizabeth II in recognition of its reputation as a "world-class institution for exceptional professional training in theatre and performance studies". It is entitled to use it in official documentation, although it continues to be colloquially referred to as "Central". The school's Patron,Princess Alexandra of Kent, played a role in recommending the institution for the title.[5]
The school is located atSwiss Cottage innorth London, an area which is being redeveloped as a "civic and cultural quarter" which includes a new extension building for the school, replacing 1960s accommodation. The school's theatre is located inside the new building, which was awarded aBREEAM rating of "very good".[6]
Pastpresidents of the school includeLaurence Olivier,Peggy Ashcroft andJudi Dench.[7] In October 2008Harold Pinter, who attended the school in 1950–51, became its president, succeedingPeter Mandelson.[7] He was to receive anhonorary fellowship in December 2008,[8] but had to receive itin absentia because of ill health;[9][10] he died two weeks later.[11]Michael Grandage was president from 2009 to 2022.[12] Theatre producer and Central graduateSonia Friedman was appointed after Grandage stepped down from the role.[13][14]
In the 2008Research Assessment Exercise the majority of Central's submission was judged "world leading" or "internationally excellent". The school has been ranked sixth in its league of specialist institutions byThe Guardian,[15] and ninth for drama and dance.[16]
The school has over 20 doctoral candidates.[17] The first PhD was awarded in 2010.[18]
Honorary Fellowships forHarold Pinter,Jo Brand and Penny Francis.
Harold Pinter – playwright, poet, actor, director, political activist – died on 24 December 2008, aged 78.
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