Royal Central School of Speech & Drama

With over 55 academic staff, together with visiting artists and lecturers, Central contains the largest grouping of drama/theatre/performance specialists in the UK, who make a major contribution to research in their various disciplines.

Its special strength, unique in the sector, lies in a combination of first-rate practical training and production, with a highly ranked programme of research - research aimed at the cutting edge of new performance practice.

Central undoubtedly has the largest and most diverse faculty of specialist, expert staff and the broadest portfolio of drama, theatre and performance-related programmes in Europe.

Based on one campus close to the heart of London, Central’s postgraduate community accounts for one third of its overall student body. There is no other single faculty worldwide that offers such a diverse range of specialist master’s programmes in theatre and performance practices.

As well as meeting high academic standards, Central’s courses work to professional theatre standards. Where theatre production work forms part of a course, the School employs a company ethos that respects all collaborators in a production alike, whether actor, designer, technician or outreach worker organising an educational workshop for a special needs school.

Professional directors and designers will often work alongside students, or as mentors on projects. Where appropriate, programmes meet rigorous vocational criteria set by professional accrediting bodies.

Central has many close formal and informal partnerships with professional bodies, national and international consortia and the theatre industry. This is evident by the huge variety of placements reflected in the work-based learning that forms an integral part of many of Central’s courses.