Royal Academy of Dramatic Art facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art

Main entrance on Gower Street, London
Other name	RADA
Type	Drama school
Established	25 April 1904; 121 years ago (1904-04-25)
Chairman	Marcus Ryder
President	David Harewood
Vice-president	Cynthia Erivo
Principal	Niamh Dowling
Royal Patron	King Charles III
Location	London , England, UK 51°31′18″N 0°07′53″W / 51.5218°N 0.1314°W / 51.5218; -0.1314
Affiliations	Federation of Drama Schools King's College London Birkbeck, University of London The Lir Academy

The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, often called RADA (pronounced RAH-dah), is a famous drama school in London, England. It teaches students how to act for the theatre, film, television, and radio. RADA is located in Bloomsbury, a part of Central London. It is also a founding member of the Federation of Drama Schools.

RADA is one of the oldest drama schools in the United Kingdom. It was started in 1904 by Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree. The school moved to its current location on Gower Street in 1905. In 1920, it received a special "royal charter," which is like a royal approval.

A new theatre was built in 1921 and opened by Edward, Prince of Wales. RADA received its first government funding in 1924. Today, RADA has five theatres and a cinema. Its main partner in the entertainment industry is Warner Bros. Entertainment.

RADA offers different courses, from beginner to advanced levels. Its higher education degrees are approved by King's College London. King Charles III is the royal patron of the school. The president of RADA is David Harewood, and Cynthia Erivo is the vice president. Niamh Dowling is the current principal of the academy.

What is RADA? A Look at Its History

The sculpture above the entrance to RADA features masks which depict Tragedy (pictured) and Comedy (which appears opposite). A symbol of theatre, they are also known as Sock and Buskin.

The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art began on April 25, 1904. It was founded by a well-known actor and manager named Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree. The school first started at His Majesty's Theatre in London.

In 1905, RADA moved to 62 Gower Street. A group of people, including the famous writer George Bernard Shaw, helped manage the school. George Bernard Shaw later gave RADA money from his play Pygmalion. He also gave talks to the students.

In 1920, RADA received its royal charter. This was a special document from the King that recognized the school. A new theatre was built in 1921 on Malet Street, behind the main Gower Street buildings. Edward, Prince of Wales, officially opened this theatre.

In 1923, Sir John Gielgud, a very famous actor, studied at RADA for a year. He later became the president of the academy. In 1924, RADA received its first money from the government. The original Gower Street buildings were rebuilt in 1927, with funding from George Bernard Shaw.

RADA has received other government money over the years. For example, in 1996, it received a large grant to update its buildings and rebuild the Jerwood Vanbrugh Theatre.

RADA entrance sign

In 2000, RADA started a company called RADA Business. This company uses drama training to help people and businesses improve their communication and teamwork skills. The money earned by RADA Business helps support the academy.

In 2001, RADA joined with the London Contemporary Dance School to create the UK's first Conservatoire for Dance and Drama. However, RADA became an independent school again in August 2019. RADA is also a founding member of the Federation of Drama Schools, which started in 2017.

In 2004, a photographer named Cambridge Jones took pictures for a book called Off Stage: 100 Portraits Celebrating the RADA Centenary. This book celebrated RADA's 100th birthday. It featured many famous actors who studied at RADA, like John Hurt, Alan Rickman, and Sir Anthony Hopkins.

In 2011, the Lir Academy was created in Dublin, Ireland, in partnership with RADA. The Lir Academy teaches theatre skills in a similar way to RADA. RADA has been recognized as a higher education institution since July 2018.

Niamh Dowling became the principal of RADA in 2022. David Harewood became the president in February 2024, and Cynthia Erivo was appointed vice president.

What Can You Study at RADA?

RADA diploma awarded in 1963

RADA's higher education degrees are approved by King's College London. Students who graduate from RADA also graduate alongside students from King's College London. RADA is located in the Bloomsbury area of Central London. It is also a founding member of the Federation of Drama Schools.

RADA offers many different courses. The main course is a three-year degree in acting (BA Hons). In 1962, RADA started its first stage management course. Today, students on the technical theatre and stage management degree learn skills like lighting, sound, costumes, and stage management.

RADA also has short courses for actors and theatre technicians from all over the world. These include a special course for students from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Other courses include:

• A one-year acting foundation course, started in 2007.
• An MA in Text & Performance, which works with Birkbeck, University of London, started in 2010.
• An MA Theatre Lab course, started in 2011.

Where is RADA Located?

The RADA building on Chenies Street, London

RADA is in the Bloomsbury area of Central London. The main RADA building is on Gower Street, with another entrance on Malet Street. There is also a second building nearby on Chenies Street, where RADA Studios is located.

The Goodge Street and Euston Square underground stations are both close by. The Gower and Malet Street building was updated in the late 1990s. This update added new theatres and connected the entrances on both streets.

RADA's Theatres

RADA has five theatres and a cinema.

• In the Malet Street building, the Jerwood Vanburgh Theatre is the largest, seating 194 people.
• The George Bernard Shaw Theatre is a flexible "black box" space that can seat up to 70.
• The Gielgud Theatre is a smaller studio theatre for up to 50 people.

In January 2012, RADA took over the Drill Hall venue on Chenies Street and renamed it RADA Studios. This building is very old and has a long history of performing arts. It has a 200-seat space called the Studio Theatre and a 50-seat space called the Club Theatre.

The RADA Library

The RADA library has about 30,000 items. It includes:

• Around 10,000 plays.
• Books about famous people, costumes, film, art, poetry, and theatre history.
• Movie scripts.
• Theatre magazines.

The library started in 1904 with donations from actors and writers like Sir Squire Bancroft and George Bernard Shaw.

Other Facilities at RADA

RADA also has many other useful facilities:

• Acting studios for practice.
• A workshop for creating scenery.
• Workrooms and storage for costumes.
• Studios for dance and stage combat.
• Design studios.
• Workshops for wood and metal.
• Sound studios.
• Rehearsal studios.
• The RADA Foyer Bar, which has a café and a ticket office.

How to Get Into RADA?

The RADA Theatres on Malet Street, London

RADA accepts up to 28 new students each year for its three-year BA (Hons) in Acting course. They aim for an equal number of male and female students. To get into this course, students must do well in a four-stage audition process that takes several months.

Auditions are held in London and in other cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Dublin. They also hold auditions across the UK in places like Birmingham, Bristol, and Manchester. RADA offers free auditions to students whose families earn less than £25,000 a year.

RADA also teaches Technical Theatre & Stage Management (TTSM). This is a two-year foundation degree, with an optional third year to get a BA degree. This course allows students to specialize in different theatre crafts. The TTSM course accepts up to 30 students each year, also aiming for an equal gender balance.

RADA's advanced courses include an MA Theatre Lab program and a Postgraduate Diploma in Theatre Costume. RADA also works with Birkbeck, University of London, for an MA in Text and Performance. Students on this course are part of both RADA and Birkbeck.

RADA also offers many short courses, masterclasses, and summer courses for different ages and skill levels. Famous people who have attended these courses include Allison Janney and Emma Watson. RADA also has programs for young people, like Youth Companies and workshops for schools.

Students can get government student loans to help pay for their studies. RADA also has scholarships and bursaries to help students with financial support.

Who Leads RADA?

King Charles III is the Royal Patron of the Academy. He took on this role after Queen Elizabeth II passed away in 2022. The president of RADA is David Harewood, who became president in February 2024. Cynthia Erivo is the vice president.

Marcus Ryder is the chairman of RADA. The principal of the academy is Niamh Dowling, who started in 2022.

Principals of RADA

• Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree (founder)
• Sir Kenneth Barnes (1909–1955)
• John Fernald (1955–1966)
• Hugh Cruttwell (1966–1985)
• Oliver Neville (1984–1993)
• Nicholas Barter (1993–2007)
• Edward Kemp (2007–2021)
• Niamh Dowling (2022–present)

Presidents of RADA

RADA alumnus David Harewood was appointed president of the school in February 2024

• Sir Squire Bancroft (1906)
• Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson (1927–1928)
• Sir Gerald du Maurier (1929–1930)
• Henry Ainley (1931–1933)
• Lady Tree (1934–1935)
• Cyril Maude (1945)
• Dame Irene Vanbrugh (1946–1947)
• Dame Sybil Thorndike (1948–1949)
• Athene Seyler (1950–1951)
• Sir Felix Aylmer (1954)
• Dame Flora Robson (1955–1963)
• Dame Edith Evans (1964–1976)
• Sir John Gielgud (1977–1989)
• Diana, Princess of Wales (1989–1997)
• Richard, Lord Attenborough (2002–2014)
• Sir Kenneth Branagh (2014–2024)
• David Harewood (2024–present)

Honorary Fellows of RADA

Sir John Gielgud, first honorary fellow of the school

These are people recognized for their special contributions, listed by when they were appointed:

• Sir John Gielgud (1989)
• Cicely Berry (2018)
• Thelma Holt (2018)
• Glenda Jackson (2018)
• Francine Watson Coleman (2019)
• Mona Hammond (2019)
• Sir Anthony Hopkins (2019)
• Stephen Sondheim (2019)
• Kathryn Hunter (2023)
• Winsome Pinnock (2023)

Famous People Who Studied at RADA

Many well-known actors and theatre professionals have studied at RADA. Here are some of them:

See also

In Spanish: Real Academia de Arte Dramático para niños