create perform design learn 2021 Prospectus The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama University of London Eton Avenue At Central, we believe that our world-leading training London NW3 3HY should be accessible to everyone who wishes to develop UK their creativity and positively impact the industry. Telephone: +44 (0)20 7722 8183 Email: [email protected] www.cssd.ac.uk We are a unique and special community and treat all members and visitors with dignity and respect. @CSSDLondon By celebrating and respecting our different cultures, abilities and identities we aim to shape a better future for the arts and society. Excellence requires diversity, which brings richness, knowledge, innovation, new understanding and skills. Our differences enrich our learning, insight and wisdom. CBP002372 Printed on 100% recycled paper. World Land Trust is an international conservation charity, which protects the world’s most biologically important and threatened habitats. Madeline Samuel Malone MFA Voice Studies: Teaching Charlemagne and Coaching BA (Hons) Acting Musical Theatre ‘I found I had an early affinity for ‘I applied for Central through Open singing and theatre. However, I took Door, who offer a package of support the path well-travelled, obtaining to young people from low income a Bachelor of Commerce degree, backgrounds, which includes free followed by a Master’s in Adult auditions to drama schools, as well Education. I began a corporate career, as practical tutoring, workshops and but I never managed to shake off travel bursaries. my desire to work in theatre and to educate. At the time, I knew almost nothing about Central but it turned out to be I struggled with my identity for years, the perfect fit for me; a course centred specifically my voice, for which I had in acting that also develops my singing been bullied. It was when I attended and dancing skills. Central’s audition the Canadian National Voice Intensive was also the most welcoming I had. that my love of voice was fully realised. All of my mentors had a unanimous The Student Ambassadors were very opinion on the best course, which was helpful and I’m glad to be one of here at Central. them now myself, welcoming others to Central. The training is amazing, The interview experience was less from biomechanics in voice classes to daunting then I thought it would be. I barre work in ballet. It is well-rounded, left feeling that the process was very covering everything we need to much about getting to know me as an perform in plays, musicals, television, individual with potential. film, radio and more. The strength of Central’s courses is Our tutors are wonderful and truly its focus on honing the knowledge, care about our process. Central has critical thinking and research skills many things to be proud of, but needed to develop your own dynamic I would say that the outstanding and responsive pedagogy. teaching is one of the best things about the School. Every day, I feel that I have made contacts and friends I have achieved my goal of coming to during my time here, many of an educational institution: I learn.’ whom I hope to collaborate with professionally. I cannot help but feel blessed as I look at my time at Central.’ 2 3 4 5 Contents 70 Postgraduate Courses 8 32 72 Research Degrees (PhD/MPhil) 110 Why Central Courses 74 MA Acting Short Courses 10 Innovating for over 100 years 32 Undergraduate Courses 74 Programme Overview 111 Diplomas 76 MA Acting Classical 113 Saturday Youth Theatre 12 An international community 34 BA (Hons) Acting of creativity 78 MA Acting Contemporary Summer Courses 34 Programme Overview 14 Partnerships and collaboration Evening Courses with industry 36 Acting 80 MA Acting for Screen 38 Acting CDT 16 The broadest range of drama 82 MA/MFA Actor Training and and performing arts courses 40 Acting Musical Theatre Coaching 114 18 First-class facilities in the 84 MA/MFA Advanced Theatre Practice heart of London 42 BA (Hons) Contemporary Performance Practice Next steps 20 Experience Central for yourself 86 MA Applied Theatre 42 Programme Overview 114 How to apply 21 Welcome 88 MA Applied Theatre: Drama in the 44 Drama, Applied Theatre and 115 Further information 22 Supporting your studies Education Community and Drama Education 116 Important information 23 Student support and wellbeing 46 Performance Arts 88 MA Applied Theatre: Drama and 24 Academic support 48 Writing for Performance the Criminal Justice System 25 Technical support 26 International student support 50 BA (Hons) Theatre Practice 90 MA/MFA Creative Producing 28 Accommodation support 50 Programme Overview 92 MA Drama and Movement Therapy 29 Financial support 52 Costume Construction 94 MA/MFA Movement: Directing and Teaching 30 Beyond Central 54 Design for Performance 56 Lighting Design 96 MA Music Theatre 58 Production Lighting 98 MA/MFA Performance Practice 60 Prop Making as Research 62 Scenic Painting for Stage 100 MA/MFA Scenography and Screen 102 MA Theatre Criticism and 64 Set Construction for Stage Dramaturgy and Screen 66 Stage Management and 104 MA/MFA Voice Studies: Teaching Technical Theatre and Coaching 68 Theatre Sound 106 MA/MFA Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media 109 PG Certificate Applied Theatre with Young People 6 7 Why Central? An Partnership international and collaboration community with of creativity industry The broadest Innovating range of drama for over and performing 100 arts courses years First-class facilities in the heart of London 8 9 Dr Nicola Abraham and a team from the NHS Imperial Innovating for Hospital Trust, working with a cohort of Central students and alumni, were recognised for Outstanding Arts and Creativity in Dementia Care at the 2019 National over 100 years Dementia Care Awards for the team’s intergenerational project work with the NHS and four schools in London. Central has been developing the leaders Find out more at www.cssd.ac.uk/news/win-at- and innovators who shape the future national-dementia-care-awards. of the performing arts and society since 1906, when Elsie Fogerty founded the Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Arts in rooms at the Royal Albert Hall. Through her innovative approach to voice training, Elsie was instrumental in changing the way theatre was heard, but she also had a deep commitment to social justice and drama as a force for change. She was an active campaigner for a national theatre for Great Britain and in 1923 gained recognition for Central’s drama diplomas by the University of London. The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama now offers University of London degrees and remains a progressive conservatoire, nurturing innovation in all aspects of contemporary performance practice and research. Our staff are practitioners, researchers and writers, inspiring each generation of new students who come to train with us. Staff have undertaken cutting-edge research in countries across the world while our PhD candidates continue to create and impart new knowledge to inform industry practice. We challenge students to be original thinkers, inventive and effective collaborators, and creative entrepreneurs who go on to make a difference. Sarah McBriar, graduated from MA Creative Producing in 2014, is the Creative Producer and Founder of both AVA Festival and Up Productions Ltd. In 2014, she won the Commercial Education Trust (CET) Entrepreneurs Award. Watch her story at www.cssd.ac.uk/ma-creative-producing. 10 11 In 2018, Dr Katharine Low began a collaboration with the Hillbrow Theatre Project at the Outreach Foundation in South Africa, funded An international by the Global Challenges Research Fund. The project addresses some of the issues of urban living by using performance-based work and digital storytelling to question, provoke and extend community understandings of health rights, access to healthcare and support and the experiences of urban living. Find out more about this of creativity project and other research by Dr Katharine Low at www.cssd. ac.uk/staff/dr-katharine-low-ma-hons-ma-phd. Central is known around the globe for the impact of its graduates, teachers and researchers – both on and off the screen and stage, as well as in community and applied theatre. Students from all over the world come to study at Central, not only to train in their chosen discipline, but also to learn about all the others and how they interrelate. Making theatre and performance brings people together and helps them find common ground while celebrating their differences, and Central’s international and cultural diversity is one of its key artistic and learning resources. Graduates form a life-long, international peer support network, frequently working together in creative and production teams around the world after they graduate. Our alumni community is exactly that: a community. Our graduates from across the globe stay in touch and share the work they are undertaking, with many still attending Central productions and reunions. This closeness also results in inspirational experiences for current students through alumni mentoring and networking opportunities. A group of Central staff, students and alumni took part in the 2019 Prague Quadrennial, the largest international festival of theatre and stage design. Staff, including Dr Kathrine Sandys, Dr David Shearing and Andreas Skourtis, were key players in the UK’s national entry for the event with this work commencing an eight- month residency at the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum immediately after. Find out more at www.cssd.ac.uk/news/2019- prague-quadrennial. 12 13 The public production of Boudica in November 2019, performed both at Central Partnerships and and the Curve Theatre Leicester, was a collaboration between BA (Hons) Acting collaboration Musical Theatre, BA (Hons) Theatre Practice, BA (Hons) Contemporary Performance with industry Practice and MA Scenography students.