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For other uses, see RADA (disambiguation).
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Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Gower Street entrance
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
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
Official logo

The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, known as RADA (/ˈrɑːdə/), is a famous drama school in London, England. It teaches students how to act and work in theatre, film, television, and radio. RADA is located in Bloomsbury, Central London, near the University of 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 buildings on Gower Street in 1905. In 1920, it received a special "royal charter." A new theatre was built on Malet Street, which opened in 1921. RADA now has five theatres and a cinema. A major partner for the school is Warner Bros. Entertainment.

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

RADA's Story: A Look Back at Its History

Tragedy - geograph.org.uk - 2492667
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 famous actor, Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree. He started it at His Majesty's Theatre in Haymarket, London. In 1905, RADA moved to 62 Gower Street. A special council was set up to manage the school.

One of the council members was George Bernard Shaw. He was a famous writer. He later gave money from his play Pygmalion to RADA. He also gave talks to the students. In 1920, RADA received its royal charter. A new theatre was built in 1921, opened by Edward, Prince of Wales.

In 1923, Sir John Gielgud studied at RADA for one year. He later became the school's president. In 1924, RADA received its first government funding. The original Gower Street buildings were rebuilt in 1927. Bernard Shaw helped pay for the new building. RADA has also received other large grants, like £22.7 million in 1996. This money helped renovate its buildings and rebuild the Jerwood Vanbrugh Theatre.

RADA sign
RADA entrance sign

In 2000, RADA started RADA Business. This part of the school offers training for companies and people. They use drama techniques to help with communication and teamwork. The money earned helps support the academy. In 2001, RADA joined with another school to create the UK's first Conservatoire for Dance and Drama. However, RADA became an independent school again in 2019. It is also a founding member of the Federation of Drama Schools, started in 2017.

In 2004, a photographer named Cambridge Jones took pictures for a book. The book, Off Stage: 100 Portraits Celebrating the RADA Centenary, came out in 2005. It celebrated RADA's 100th birthday. The photos included many famous actors who studied at RADA. Some of them were John Hurt, Alan Rickman, Anthony Hopkins, and Ralph Fiennes.

In 2011, the Lir Academy was started in Dublin, Ireland. It was created with RADA's help. The Lir Academy uses RADA's style of teaching practical theatre skills. RADA has been a registered higher education school since 2018.

What You Can Study at RADA

RADA's higher education degrees are approved by King's College London (KCL). Students graduate alongside students from KCL. The school is located in Bloomsbury, 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 BA (Hons) degree in acting. In 1962, the first stage management course began. Today, students learn many skills for theatre production. These include lighting, sound, costumes, and stage management. In the 1990s, RADA started short courses for actors and theatre technicians. These courses attract students from all over the world.

Other courses include a one-year acting foundation course, started in 2007. There is also an MA in Text & Performance, which works with Birkbeck, University of London. An MA Theatre Lab course was introduced in 2011.

RADA's Campus and Facilities

RADA Chenies St
The RADA building on Chenies Street, London

RADA is in the Bloomsbury area of Central London. The main RADA building is on Gower Street. It also has an entrance on Malet Street. Another building, RADA Studios, is nearby on Chenies Street. The Goodge Street and Euston Square underground stations are close by.

The Gower and Malet Street building was updated in the late 1990s. New theatres were added, connecting the two entrances.

Theatres at RADA

RADA has five theatres and a cinema. In the Malet Street building, the Jerwood Vanburgh Theatre is the biggest. It can hold 194 people. The George Bernard Shaw Theatre is a smaller, flexible space for up to 70 people. The Gielgud Theatre is a small studio for up to 50 people.

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

RADA's Library

The RADA library has about 30,000 items. These include around 10,000 plays. It also has books about acting, costumes, film, and theatre history. The collection started in 1904 with gifts from actors and writers.

Other Cool Facilities

RADA has many other useful facilities. These include acting studios and workshops for making sets and costumes. There are also dance and fight studios. Students can use design studios, wood and metal workshops, and sound studios. RADA also has a Foyer Bar with a café and box office.

How to Get Into RADA

RADA Theatre, Malet Street, London
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. There is an equal number of male and female students. To get in, students must do well in a four-stage audition process. These auditions happen over several months. Auditions are held in London and other cities. These include New York, Los Angeles, Dublin, and various places across the UK. RADA offers free auditions for students from lower-income families.

RADA also teaches Technical Theatre & Stage Management (TTSM). This is a two-year foundation degree. Students can then apply for a third year to get a BA degree. This allows them to specialize in different theatre skills. The TTSM course accepts up to 30 students each year.

RADA also has postgraduate courses. These include an MA Theatre Lab program. There is also a Postgraduate Diploma in Theatre Costume. RADA also works with Birkbeck, University of London, for an MA in Text and Performance. Students on these courses often work together.

In addition, RADA offers short courses and summer programs. These are for different skill levels and ages. Famous actors like Allison Janney and Emma Watson have attended these courses. RADA also has programs for young people. These include youth companies and workshops for schools.

Students can get government loans to help pay for their studies. RADA also offers scholarships and bursaries to help students with money.

Who Leads RADA?

The Royal Patron of RADA is King Charles III. He took on this role after Queen Elizabeth II passed away in 2022. The President is David Harewood, who started in February 2024. The chairman is Marcus Ryder. The current principal of the academy is Niamh Dowling.

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

David Harewood 2015
RADA alumnus David Harewood was appointed president of the school in February 2024

Honorary Fellows

Famous People Who Studied at RADA

Main article: List of alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Sir John Gielgud 3 Allan Warren
Sir John Gielgud, who studied at RADA in 1923 and would later become president and first honorary fellow of the school

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

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Real Academia de Arte Dramático para niños

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