The School

What is RADA?

As found on the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art website, The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art is a vocational school dedicated to offering vocational training for actors, stage managers, directors, designers and technical stagecraft specialists (RADA, 2013). Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, a leading acting manager of the day who was famous for his productions of Shakespeare, established RADA in 1904. At the time, the Academy of Drama was housed at His Majesty’s Theatre in Haymarket. Now, RADA can be found at 62-64 Gower Street, London. Since its early beginning, RADA has evolved into a world-renowned center that offers the best possible facilities, experienced teachers, and strong links with the industries that employ graduates.

Their Programs

Courses at RADA are split into two categories: Acting & Performance and Production & Design.

Acting & Performance

BA[H] in Acting

What is it?

This course takes 3 years to complete and is validated by King’s College London. The course offers vocational training designed to provide a “thorough preparation for a career in a wide variety of media, including theatre, television, film and radio” (Web).

The Training

This course aims to teach students about Stanislavsky-based rehearsal exercise and project work, improvisation, contemporary and classical text, Greek Tragedy, Shakespeare, the Jacobeans, Restoration Comedy, Contemporary Writing, acting for camera and microphone technique, voice training, movement training, mask work, dance and stage combat.

Public Productions

The first student performance will take place at the end of the summer term of the second year. During the third year of studies students will participate in productions at one of RADA’s three theatres. This being said, the third year will be mostly spent in rehearsals for said performances.

Professional Development & Industry

Throughout the three years of study students will benefit from guest speakers and course professionals from across the industry. During the final year of study students will participate in the “Tree” performance. The performance, which is named after the schools founder Herbert Beerhom Tree, allows student to present scenes or speeches to “an invited audience of agents, casting directors and industry professionals” (Web)

Foundation Course in Acting

What is it?

This course is a two term (each term lasts 12 weeks) course made for full time study. The intention of this course is to provide experience for students leaving the senior year of secondary school who are “contemplating a ‘gap’ year before undertaking either a drama degree or vocational training for theatre”. This program is intended to give students the foundations of drama and to provide insight to what a drama school might ask of them. 

The Training

This course aims to teach students about movement for actors (including Laban and Animal Studies), dance, text and sight-reading, music and group singing, and clowning.

Project Work

Three major projects will be undertaken during the two 12 week terms. Projects will cover Shakespeare, contemporary text and devising from a shared source text.

Careers

Students will be given the opportunity to explore careers in other areas of theatre and film throughout the two terms. Guest speakers will discuss the roles of casting director, theatre director, film director, designer and stage manager. In the second term all guest speakers will be professional actors.

MA In Theatre Directing

What Is It?

This course is a four term Master’s program that concentrates on “the practice of theatre direction with a strong underlying theoretical component” (Web). There is a large emphasis on developing your own particular methods for working with actors, and also understanding the acting process.  Upon completion, students should understand both the creative and technical sides of theatre production.

The Training

Participation in acting classes, play design, working with writers, production of a play and working with set designers.

MA in Text and Performance

What Is It?

This course is offered in partnership with the Birkbeck, University of London. It can be taken part-time over two years or full time for one year. Student will focus on their dissertation work under the supervision of RADA or Birkbeck. RADA and Birkbeck both offer workshops and programs on the topic of theatre for students in this programme.  “Students are encouraged to express themselves as writers, directors or dramaturgs” (Web)

The Training

This course aims to teach students how to study text in their cultural context, performance skills, text analysis, writing, directing and play writing.

MA in Theatre Lab

What Is It?

This course is a one-year course running over four academic terms. This course is for students with a strong performance background to develop and explore their skills in an experimental structure. “The course is built around three primary strands: Acting and Performance Practice and Methodology, Skills Development and Scene Study.
Acting and Performance Practice and Methodology

Students will work with the foundation of the Stanyslavski method and move on to study the responses of later practitioners such as Grotowski, Brecht, Copeau, Chekov and Meisner. Theatre and Performance Contextual Study is also taught to support the practical work with a theoretical approach.

Skills Development

Students will work in class and complete scene study work which aims to build the students’ strengths and to improve areas where the student is less skilled. This course assumes that the student has a prior performance background.

Scene Study

Students in Scene Study are given the opportunity to develop and experiment with the techniques they are learning. Scene Study combines the skills being learned in acting classes as well as skill classes.

All training includes classwork and a dissertation.

Production & Design

Technical Theatre and Stage Management

What Is It?

This course is taken over two years and is considered a foundation degree that incorporates “broad, practical training in the areas that contribute to a theatre production” (web). Students enrolled in this course benefit from a combination of in-depth technical instruction as well as a focus on the managerial and organizational skills needed for successful drama work.

The Training

This course aims to teach students about stage management, stage electrics/lighting design, sound, scenic art, scenic construction, property making and procurement, costume, set design, production management, stagecraft, first aid, health and safety, history of theatre, musical score reading, company management, and career development. 

Property Making

What Is It?

This course runs over four terms and teaches students the essential technique in prop design and creation. This course also teaches students managerial skills, budgeting, and organizational skills.

The Training

This course aims to teach students the role of property maker, stage carpentry, fake food preparation, technical and perspective drawing, polystyrene carving, welding, safe use of power tools, shell molding, rubber molding, fabric dyeing and sign writing. This course includes up to six weeks professional attachment.

Scenic Art

What Is It?

This course runs over four terms and teaches the students to build professional connections, develop a portfolio and keep a visual diary.

The Training

This course aims to teach student the role of scenic artists, scenic interpretation and sampling, life drawing, spray techniques, scenic drawing, texture, woodgraining, marbling, trompe l’oeil, perspective drawing, principles of geometry, scenic carving, and sign writing. This course includes up to six weeks professional attachment.

Scenic Construction

What Is It?

This course runs over four terms and teaches students carpentry and steel fabrication as they work with professional directors and designer for the Academy’s public productions.

The Training

This course aims to teach students bench carpentry and joinery, knowledge of materials and their properties, mechanics of scenery handling and rigging, working drawing and ground plans using CAD, budgeting and ordering, safe use of hand tools, safe use of power tools, technical stage management skills, theatrical flying and rigging, principles of masking and sightlines, and computer aided design. This course includes up to six weeks professional attachment.

Sound Design for the Theatre

What Is It?

This course runs over two years and covers “all aspects of sound for live theatre performance and related areas” (Web). This course offers practical hands on examination of current sound equipment for recording, manipulation and playback of sound for theatrical performance. Students will also learn organizational and managerial skills, budget control and production understanding.

The Training

This course aims to teach students theatre production processes, general theatre techniques, sound theory, acoustics, electronics/equipment maintenance, production sound techniques, studio recording, field recording, radio drama recording, theatre sound design, production sound for film, post sound for film.

Stage Electrics and Lighting Design

What Is It?

This course runs over four terms and covers the basic backstage work, and touches upon all aspects of theatre lighting and sound. Upon completion of this program students will be prepared to work as sound operators, assistant lighting designer and lighting designers.

The Training

This course aims to teach students lantern identification and maintenance; rigging; focusing, lighting board operation, sound, theatre history, technical drawing, Computer Aided Design, Research (style & period), stagecraft. This course includes opportunities for professional work attachments.

Theatre Costume

What Is It?

This course runs over two years and cover all aspects of costume making. This course also includes “organizational and managerial skills, budget control and ordering”. Upon completion of this course student will be prepared for a career in costume making and wardrobe supervision.

The Training

This course aims to teach students the role of costume supervisor, history of costume and costume props, pattern cutting, corset making, ruff making, fabric sampling, costume construction, wig and maintenance, make up, fabric and costume dyeing, tailoring and millinery.

** Prospectus’, entry requirements, fees & funding and applications for all RADA programs can be found on their official website.

Their Philosophy

RADA is dedicated to offering “exceptional teaching with strong links with the industries that employ our graduates”. RADA offers a diverse student population that all share a common passion for theatre-making. The Academy takes pride in produces professional quality student productions, which are attended by agents, casting directors and theatre practitioners.

Accessibility

RADA encourages and supports diversity in their student population. At RADA diversity is seen as enriching, this view allows RADA to be one of the world leaders in providing vocational training.  Applicants are encouraged to disclose any information that relates to disability or minority status in order to enable workshop leaders to provide additional support when/if needed.

Your Experience

When participating in any drama workshop it is important to dress appropriately. Appropriate dress for a drama workshop is generally “workout attire”. Try to pick something loose that you are comfortable moving around in. You may be working barefoot, but if not bring a good pair of running shoes or simple dance shoes, such as jazz shoes or soft ballet shoes. Be prepared to work and to sweat, make sure you bring a water bottle to keep hydrated. You can expect to work alone and with partners or groups of people. Be sure to keep an open mind and have fun!