The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama has been in the business longer than any university drama department. Central was founded in 1906 by Elsie Fogerty to offer an entirely new form of training in drama and speech for young actors and other students.

The choice of name highlighted the college’s commitment to a broad range of approaches to the preparation for and making of performance. Over the years Central became a hallmark of quality education in the performing arts. That tradition has been combined with a continuing critical openness to new developments in the field. 

It’s that combination that gives the college both its authority and its
radical edge. The undergraduate and postgraduate courses cover the full range
of performance techniques and genres, theatre production and design, analysis and research. They are designed to connect with and be aware of developments in the theatrical, performance and media industries.

Why study with us?

Central has for many years been regarded as one of the top drama training institutions for those who are interested in working in the theatre-related industries. In February 2005, Central was designated the UK’s ‘Centre for Excellence in Training for Theatre’. Staff and students following any of Central’s courses are therefore assured of working at the cutting edge of their discipline.

Central students can also benefit from our relatively small size. A student body of around 850 (1/3 postgraduate and 2/3 undergraduate) means that you have the advantage of a university education with the friendliness of a small institution.

The entire campus is dedicated to the needs of our students, which was extended by the addition of a further four floors of purpose-built performance and rehearsal studios, movement studios and teaching spaces. At the same time existing buildings have been refurbished to provide students and staff with access to music rehearsal rooms, editing suites, sound studios, recording studios, two floors of design spaces and a lighting ‘playground’.

Alumni include Andrew Garfield; Catherine Tate; Nonso Anozie; Peggy Ashcroft; Gael García Bernal; Dame Judi Dench; Dawn French; Jennifer Saunders; David Jubb; Cameron Mackintosh; Cicely Berry; Harold Pinter; Vanessa Redgrave; and Laurence Olivier.