Are you ready to start your career in the world of acting and creativity? Are you searching for the best drama schools in London? Then you are on the right page.
The world of drama is one where you can truly be yourself whether that means taking on the lead of a character in a movie or television show or even being an extra at a major event.
If you have an interest in drama schools, then these are great courses for you to consider.
With today’s economy, making a good salary is hard to do unless you have the right skills and experiences–make sure your degrees will give you a leg up in this area.
Degrees Awarded
- Bachelor of Arts in Acting
- BA (Hons) Acting
- Bachelor of Arts – BA (Hons) Acting (Musical Theater)
- BA (Hons) Acting – Contemporary Media Practice
- BA (Hons) Acting for Film and Television
- BA (Hons) Musical Theater – Acting.
- BA (Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen.
Is Acting Course Necessary For You To Become An Actor?
According to experts, the acting school offers aspiring professional actors the chance to develop their skills.
A career as a professional actor can be something to think about if one is a natural performer and enjoys the concept of entertaining an audience.
One approach for a gifted actor to hone talents and build credibility in the acting industry is to enroll in acting school and obtain an acting degree.
An overview of acting programs and schools will be provided below.
Why Drama School?
Although it is possible to become a successful and well-known actor without having a degree in acting, drama, theater, or film studies, many working actors who have acting degrees claim that their formal training has increased their confidence and competence in their line of work.
They frequently express their happiness with their career choice emphatically.
Job Opportunities
- Actor/Actress
- Stage Manager
- Theater Director
- Director
- Choreographer
- Arts Administrator
- Drama Therapist
- Record Producer
- Script Writer
Why You Should Study In London
Apart from London being the home of theater arts, it is relatively small with enough opportunities to make brilliant and wonderful connections even in a short period of time. Having to experience their diverse culture is another explicit reason why you would want to give it a try.
Drama schools in London offer a wide range of excellent training opportunities to students interested in becoming actors, directors, and playwrights.
The capital is home to some of the most esteemed drama schools in the world, with many renowned institutions offering courses for those who want to be part of their industry. Here we list some of the best drama schools in London:
The List of Best Drama Schools In London
Here is a comprehensive list of some of the top drama schools in London to enhance your acting career.
- Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)
- London Academy of Performing Arts (LAMDA)
- Guildhall School of Music and Drama
- Drama Center London
- East 15 Acting School
- The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
- Queen Mary University of London
- The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD)
- Mountview Academy of Theater Arts
- Arts Educational Schools, London
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art(RADA)
London, England is home to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), a theatrical school. Herbert Beerbohm Tree and Frederic Lloyd founded it in 1904.
The first graduates from the institution received their degrees on June 6, 1905, the 40th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s passing (the Queen died on 22 January 1901).
The RADA curriculum offers classes taught by experienced stage and screen actors in addition to sessions with directors and writers to aid students in preparing for their own acting careers.
Before graduating, students must finish three years of coursework, which may include acting theory studies, classes on public speaking, or dance/movement classes taken in between rehearsals.
Website: https://www.rada.ac.uk/
Location: 62-64 Gower St, London WC1E 6ED, United Kingdom
Course Duration: 3 years
London Academy of Performing Arts(LAMDA)
LAMDA is one of the oldest drama schools in the UK. The school was founded in 1925, and the University has approved its BA in Acting, Musical Theater and Theater Management courses in London since 2006.
LAMDA also offers PGCEs in Acting, Musical Theatre, Performance Technology (for technicians) and Directing; it has a dedicated postgraduate course for actors who want to go on to teach at universities or other higher education institutes such as Cambridge University’s Trinity College or Royal Academy’s Central School of Speech & Drama.
Website: https://www.lamda.ac.uk/
Location: Hammersmith, London, England
Course Duration: 3 years
Guildhall School of Music And Dram (GSMD)
The GSMD is the only drama school in the UK to offer a BA (Hons) in Musical Theater. It’s also one of the oldest and most respected institutions for training actors, singers and dancers.
The school offers courses in such areas as voice training, acting techniques, song interpretation
and performance skills.
The GSMD was founded by Robert Downey Jnr who later went on to become an international movie star himself under his stage name Robert Downey Jr..
Website: https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/
Location: Silk St, London EC2Y 8DT, United Kingdom
Course Duration: 3 years
Drama Center London
Drama Center London is a leading drama school in London. It specializes in training actors and stage managers, with more than 30 years of experience.
Drama Center London is a private drama school in London. It was founded by the RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) in 1979 as an alternative to its Royal Academy of Music-based counterpart and has become one of the most respected centers for training on both sides of the Atlantic.
- Their Website
- Location: Granary Square, London N1C 4AA, United Kingdom
- Course Duration: 3 years
Apply to DRAMA CENTER LONDON here.
East 15 Acting School
East 15 Acting School is located in Essex, England. The school was established in 2002 and offers a one-year course that leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Acting.
Students must have GCSEs or equivalent (A-Levels), along with some experience working as an actor before enrolling at the school.
Students can choose from three areas: film production; television commercial work; or stage productions at East 15’s theater space on campus for students with more extensive experience under their belts.
Students who do not meet these requirements may still get accepted if they’re willing to take part in certain activities outside of class time (such as internships).
- Visit their Website
- Location: Hatfields, Rectory Lane, Loughton IG10 3RY, United Kingdom
- Course Duration: 3 years
The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (RCSDS) is a drama school in London. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate and diploma courses in acting, directing and design for stage, screen and television.
The history of RCSDS is intertwined with those of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), one of Britain’s oldest institutions dedicated to the training of performers on stage.
Formed in 1904 by founder Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree as part of his vision for an English National Theatre that would rival those abroad such as Paris’ Comédie-Française or Vienna’s Burgtheater; it was initially situated at venues including Sadler’s Wells Theatre before moving into permanent premises at 33 Jermyn Street in 1932 following World War II bombing damage which left it temporarily closed down until 1947 when they relocated again this time becoming home to RADA whose students had previously been taught by teachers from Oxford University College drama department.
In 1974 however following another period under threat due its location (this time due lacklustre finances) it finally moved back into its current home above Covent Garden where today many productions still run thanks largely because funds from within industry salaries allow them enough resources needed over there too but also because audiences want what happens onstage rather than offstage too; thus making sure audiences see everything possible so everyone involved gets paid accordingly!
- Visit their Website
- Location: Eton Ave, Belsize Park, London NW3 3HY, United Kingdom
- Course Duration: 3 years
Queen Mary University of London
Informally known as QM, Queen Mary University of London is a federal University of London member institution and a public research university in London, England.
In addition to having campuses in China, France, Greece, and Malta, Queen Mary maintains five campuses spread throughout East and Central London in Mile End, Whitechapel, Charterhouse Square, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, and West Smithfield. Queen Mary is organized into three faculties – the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry.
- Visit their Website
- Location: Mile End Rd, Bethnal Green, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
- See other locations.
- Course Duration: 3 years
- Apply to QMUL.
The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD)
The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD) is a performing arts college located in Cardiff, Wales. It has been part of the University of Wales since its inception in 1967 and offers courses in music, drama and dance at undergraduate level.
The college’s facilities include two theaters: the Studio Theater with seating for around 100 people; and the Dance Pavilion which can seat up to 340 people.
The RWCMD also has six rehearsal rooms available throughout its buildings including a 450-seat theater where students perform their final examinations such as GCSEs or A levels.
- Visit their Website
- Location: North Rd, Cardiff CF10 3ER, United Kingdom
- Course Duration: 3 years
Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
Mountview Academy of Theater Arts is one of the most prestigious drama schools in the UK. It’s located in north London and offers a 3-year BA in Acting, and a 2-year BA in Theater Arts.
The school was founded by actress Lesley Manville, who has been teaching there since 1987.
Mountview’s Acting Department also hosts an elite group of actors who have appeared on stage at some of Britain’s most prestigious theaters such as National Theatre Live (NTL), Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and Royal National Theatre (RNT).
- Visit their Website
- Location: 120 Peckham Hill St, London SE15 5JT, United Kingdom
- Course Duration: 3 years
- Apply here
Arts Educational Schools, London
Arts Educational Schools, London (AES) is one of the oldest and most prestigious drama schools in the UK. It was founded in 1871 by William Macready and John James, who shared a passion for theater arts.
The school has two campuses: one in Chiswick and another in Battersea.
Both campuses offer courses from beginner level to A-Levels as well as offering vocational training opportunities for students who wish to pursue careers after graduation from AESs.
- Visit their Website
- Location: Cone Ripman House, 14 Bath Rd, London W4 1LY, United Kingdom
- Course Duration: 3 years
- Apply here.
FAQs
What is the best drama school in London?
Top Drama Schools In London:
- Drama Centre London
- Academy of Live & Recorded Arts (ALRA)
- London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA)
- Central School of Speech & Drama (CSSD)
- Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)
2. What is the hardest acting school to get into?
Offering degree programs in drama, music, and dance, Juilliard is highly selective in its admission process, including an in-person audition for all students.
3. Is it difficult to get into RADA?
Places in drama schools like RADA are very limited and the number of applicants each year is thousands (from all over the world), thus the competition is high.
For you to have a chance to get accepted, it’s imperative you give yourself a fighting chance by being as prepared as possible.
How hard is it to get into drama school in the UK?
Getting into a top drama school is very competitive, with up to 100 applicants per place offered, more competitive than medicine!
What do drama schools offer?
The courses offered by drama schools focus on practical courses, rather than theoretical classes. Their aim is to train students as professional actors for stage (theater or musical theater) and camera-based work (film and television shows).
How competitive is drama school?
The competition can get very tough, as each establishment only picks only a handful of applicants.
How long is drama school?
Three years
Acting degrees typically last three years; you can apply straight from school or college, though you might find it helps to do a foundation course first.
What is the difference between drama and acting?
Although they may sound practically the same, drama classes and acting classes are different in many ways. To put it as simply as possible, drama classes are offered by a tertiary education institution while acting classes tend to be run by private establishments.
Conclusion
We hope that this post has been useful in giving you some background on the best schools in the London area. We also advise you to check over their student profiles on their websites.
Remember that in the end, these decisions are yours to make, but these will provide you with all the knowledge you need to make an informed choice about which school is best for you.
The type of acting school you attend and your knowledge about the art goes a long way to determining how good you will be at acting.