FULBRIGHT AWARDS

Central School of Speech and Drama

The Central School of Speech and Drama Logocombines the traditions of the conservatoire with the cutting edge innovation and enquiry of the best university drama departments. As well as academic research, their training provides a hands-on, practice-based approach to learning.  For example, from day one, their acting students start to practice their craft, with guidance from specialist voice/stage combat/movement directors.

As a small specialist School of the University of London (with only approximately 800 students), Central has a large and diverse body of staff, each an expert in their field.  This means Central has the broadest portfolio of drama, theatre and performance-related programmes in Europe.   Meanwhile their small student body means that Central has a friendly atmosphere where staff and other students often know one another by first name.   All students are part of a community which is passionately engaged in all aspects of performance, drama and theatre.

Whilst they are best known for their famous alumni (such as Laurence Olivier, Judi Dench, Catherine Turner, Harold Pinter, Vanessa Redgrave, Gael Garcia Bernal, to name a few), Central also runs courses in stage design, stage craft and construction skills, drama education, community theatre, applied theatre, drama therapy, technical management for the stage, academic/practice-based research into theatre and more.  In addition, following on from the tradition of their founder over 100 years ago, Central continues to run courses which train students to become coaches in their chosen acting specialism (for example MA Voice Studies, MA Movement Studies, MA Actor Training and Coaching).

As of March 2009, Central’s range of courses includes three-year, full-time Bachelor of Arts (BA) programmes and one-year full-time or two-year part-time Masters programmes (MA), and research degrees (MPhil/PhD). 

Their BA programmes include Acting for Stage, Musical Theatre, Applied Theatre, Collaborative and Devised Theatre, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Sound Design for the Theatre, Design for the Stage, Prop Making, Scenic Art, Scenic Construction, Technical and Production Management, Stage Management and Puppetry. 

Their MA programmes include Acting, Music Theatre, Actor Training and Coaching, Acting for Screen, Advanced Theatre Practice, Movement Studies, Voice Studies, Drama and Movement Therapy, Applied Theatre, Drama Education, Theatre Studies (Performance in the City), Writing for Screen and Broadcast Media. 

Central also has students following doctorate studies and (in 2009) has bursaries attached to this programme.   

Throughout July, Central runs a range of a variety of summer schools for students who are 17+years.  These summer classes offer intensive training in – for example – Shakespearean text, Combat and Stage Fighting, Voice work, Text work.

Alongside the courses offered, the UK’s Centre of Excellence in Training for Theatre is based on campus.  This means that Central acts as a hub for the exchange of ideas and best practice in theatre training and research, and as an interface between education and industry.

Fast Facts:

Life in London

London is one of the great international centres for the performance and creative arts. As a student in London you will be part of a truly cosmopolitan community united by a passion for performance and the creative arts. There will always be something going on that will be of interest whether its in one of London’s  200 museums, 150 theatres, numerous dance venues, countless galleries, infinite open air performance spaces, its cinemas, or its music halls. 

Whether you join Central School of Speech and Drama for one, two, three or four years, you will have a chance to experience a richness and diversity of London that the tourist can only glimpse.