Editing Royal Academy of Dramatic Art

{{Short description|Drama school in London, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Redirect|RADA|other uses|RADA (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Royal Academy of Dramatic Art<!--official name-->
 | other_name             = RADA
 | logo                   = [[File:Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) logo.svg|260px|Official logo]]
 | image                  = [[File:RADA 62 Gower Street, London WC1E 6ED. Frontage dates from 1905.JPG|250px|alt=Gower Street entrance]]
 | caption                = Main entrance on [[Gower Street, London|Gower Street]], London
 | motto                  = 
 | mottoeng               = 
 | established            = {{start date and age|1904|4|25|df=yes}}
 | type                   = [[Drama school]]
 | endowment              = 
 | staff                  = 
 | head_label             = Royal Patron
 | head                   = [[King Charles III]]
 | chairman               = Marcus Ryder
 | president              = [[David Harewood]]
 | principal              = Niamh Dowling
 | vice president         = [[Cynthia Erivo]]
 | undergrad              = 
 | postgrad               = 
 | doctoral               = 
 | colours                = 
 | city                   = [[London]]
 | country                = England, UK
 | campus                 = 
 | coordinates            = {{Coord|51.5218|N|0.1314|W|type:edu|display=inline,title}}
 | affiliations           = {{plainlist|
*[[Federation of Drama Schools]]
*[[King's College London]]
*[[Birkbeck, University of London]]
*[[The Lir Academy]]
}}
 | website                = {{URL|rada.ac.uk}}
 | Director of Technical Training = 
}}
The '''Royal Academy of Dramatic Art''', also known by its abbreviation '''RADA''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|ɑː|d|ə}}), is a [[drama school]] in [[London]], England, which provides vocational conservatoire training for [[theatre]], [[film]], [[television]], and [[radio]]. It is based in [[Bloomsbury]], [[Central London]], close to the [[Senate House (University of London)|Senate House]] complex of the [[University of London]], and is a founding member of the [[Federation of Drama Schools]]. 

RADA is one of the oldest drama schools in the United Kingdom, founded in 1904 by Sir [[Herbert Beerbohm Tree]]. It moved to buildings on Gower Street in 1905. It was granted a [[royal charter]] in 1920 and a new theatre was built on Malet Street, behind the Gower Street buildings, which was opened in 1921 by [[Edward VIII|Edward, Prince of Wales]]. It received its first government subsidy in 1924. RADA currently has five theatres and a cinema. The school's principal industry partner is [[Warner Bros. Entertainment]].

RADA offers a number of foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Its higher education awards are validated by [[King's College London]] (KCL). The royal patron of the school is [[King Charles III]], following the death of [[Queen Elizabeth II]] in 2022. The president is [[David Harewood]], who succeeded Sir [[Kenneth Branagh]] in February 2024, with [[Cynthia Erivo]] appointed vice president.<ref name="Harwood">{{cite news |title=David Harewood and Cynthia Erivo appointed new President and Vice President of RADA |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/news-and-press/david-harewood-and-cynthia-erivo-appointed-new-president-and-vice-president-rada/ |access-date=8 March 2024 |publisher=RADA}}</ref> The chairman is Marcus Ryder,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fabrique |title=Marcus Ryder appointed new Chair of RADA Council — RADA |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/news-and-press/marcus-ryder-appointed-new-chair-rada-council/ |access-date=2021-05-03 |website=www.rada.ac.uk |language=en-gb |archive-date=30 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430091715/https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/news-and-press/marcus-ryder-appointed-new-chair-rada-council/ |url-status=live }}</ref> who succeeded Sir [[Stephen Waley-Cohen]] in 2021. Its vice-chairman was [[Alan Rickman]] until his death in 2016.<ref>{{cite news |title=Alan Rickman (1946–2016) |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/news-and-press/alan-rickman-1946-2016/ |access-date=4 January 2022 |agency=RADA |archive-date=4 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104225203/https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/news-and-press/alan-rickman-1946-2016/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The current principal of the academy is Niamh Dowling, who succeeded [[Edward Kemp (playwright)|Edward Kemp]] in 2022.<ref name="Dowling">{{Cite web |title=Niamh Dowling appointed new Principal of RADA |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/news-and-press/niamh-dowling-appointed-new-principal-rada/ |access-date=21 July 2022 |website=The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |archive-date=11 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711005717/https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/news-and-press/niamh-dowling-appointed-new-principal-rada/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=RADA appoints Niamh Dowling as principal |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/rada-appoints-niamh-dowling-as-principal |access-date=21 July 2022 |website=The Stage |archive-date=21 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721221729/https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/rada-appoints-niamh-dowling-as-principal |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Tragedy - geograph.org.uk - 2492667.jpg|thumb|upright|left|The sculpture above the entrance to RADA features masks which depict Tragedy (pictured) and Comedy (which appears opposite). A symbol of theatre, they are also known as [[Sock and Buskin]].]]
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art was founded on 25 April 1904 by actor-manager Sir [[Herbert Beerbohm Tree]] (the grandfather of actor [[Oliver Reed]]) at the [[West End theatre|West End]]'s [[His Majesty's Theatre, London|Her Majesty's Theatre]] (now His Majesty's) situated  in [[Haymarket, London|Haymarket]] in the [[City of Westminster]], London.<ref>{{cite web |title=RADA Celebrates 100 Years Of Drama |url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/rada-celebrates-100-years-of-drama |website=London Theatre Guide |date=8 June 2016 |access-date=26 October 2020 |language=en |archive-date=19 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211219064330/https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/rada-celebrates-100-years-of-drama |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1905, RADA moved to 62 Gower Street, and a managing council was set up to oversee the school. Its members included [[George Bernard Shaw]], who later donated his royalties from his play ''[[Pygmalion (play)|Pygmalion]]'' to RADA and gave lectures to students at the school.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://hidden-london.com/nuggets/rada/ |title=RADA &#124; Hidden London |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=30 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530214126/https://hidden-london.com/nuggets/rada/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1920, RADA was granted a royal charter and, in 1921, a new theatre was built on Malet Street behind the Gower Street buildings. Edward, Prince of Wales, opened the theatre. In 1923, Sir [[John Gielgud]] studied at RADA for a year. He later became president of the academy and its first honorary fellow.<ref>{{cite news |title=Westminster Abbey to honour Sir John Gielgud |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/news-and-press/westminster-abbey-honour-sir-john-gielgud/ |access-date=24 April 2024 |publisher=RADA}}</ref> In 1924, RADA received its first government subsidy, a grant of £500. The Gower Street buildings were torn down in 1927 and replaced with a new building, financed by Bernard Shaw, who also left one-third of his royalties to the academy on his death in 1950.<ref>{{cite news |title=An Irishman's Diary on George Bernard Shaw and the National Gallery of Ireland |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/an-irishman-s-diary-on-george-bernard-shaw-and-the-national-gallery-of-ireland-1.2336519 |access-date=24 April 2024 |work=Irish Times}}</ref> The academy has received other government funding at various times, including a £22.7 million grant from the Arts Council National Lottery Board in 1996, which was used to renovate its premises and rebuild the Jerwood Vanbrugh Theatre.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rada aims for consistency in brand review |url=https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/october-2007-online/rada-aims-for-consistency-in-brand-review/ |access-date=24 April 2024 |work=Design Week}}</ref>

[[File:RADA sign.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|right|RADA entrance sign]]
In 2000, the academy founded RADA Enterprises Ltd, now known as RADA Business, providing training programmes and coaching for organisations and individuals in communications and team building which use drama training techniques in a business context. The profits are fed back into the academy to help cover its costs.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.radabusiness.com/about-us/ |title=About Us – Rada Business – The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art — RADA Business |website=www.radabusiness.com |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=20 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420002121/https://www.radabusiness.com/about-us/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2001, RADA joined with the London Contemporary Dance School to create the UK's first [[Conservatoire for Dance and Drama]] (CDD).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cdd.ac.uk/schools/ |title=Schools |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=14 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414220139/http://www.cdd.ac.uk/schools/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> RADA left the CDD in August 2019 to become an independent higher education provider.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/rada-and-lamda-leave-conservatoire-for-dance-and-drama-to-become-independent-institutions |title=RADA and LAMDA leave Conservatoire for Dance and Drama |website=The Stage |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=17 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117171001/https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/rada-and-lamda-leave-conservatoire-for-dance-and-drama-to-become-independent-institutions |url-status=live }}</ref> RADA is also a founder member of the [[Federation of Drama Schools]], established in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.federationofdramaschools.co.uk/about-us/partner-schools |title=Partner Schools – Federation of Drama Schools |website=www.federationofdramaschools.co.uk |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417171941/https://www.federationofdramaschools.co.uk/about-us/partner-schools |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2004, celebrity photographer [[Cambridge Jones]] was commissioned to create a body of work published as a book, ''Off Stage: 100 Portraits Celebrating the RADA Centenary'', in 2005 to celebrate RADA's centenary. The photographs include [[John Hurt]], [[Alan Rickman]], [[Sheila Hancock]], Sir [[Anthony Hopkins]], [[Ralph Fiennes]], [[Edward Woodward]], Sir [[Ian Holm]], [[Richard Attenborough]], [[Joan Collins]], [[Tom Courtenay]], [[Warren Mitchell]], [[Imelda Staunton]], [[June Whitfield]], [[Richard Briers]], [[Glenda Jackson]], [[Juliet Stevenson]], [[Jonathan Pryce]], [[Kenneth Branagh]], [[Ioan Gruffud]], [[Susannah York]] and [[Timothy Spall]].<ref name=radabook>{{cite book |title=Off Stage: 100 Portraits Celebrating the RADA Centenary, by Cambridge Jones |via=LensCulture.com |url=https://www.lensculture.com/books/4795-off-stage-100-portraits-celebrating-the-rada-centenary |access-date=19 May 2023 |quote=With a foreword by Lord Attenborough, the book includes an introduction by the Observer writer Miranda Sawyer, as well as interviews with all the actors. |archive-date=19 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519111523/https://www.lensculture.com/books/4795-off-stage-100-portraits-celebrating-the-rada-centenary |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Off stage : 100 portraits celebrating the RADA centenary |author=Jones, Cambridge |author-link=Cambridge Jones |via=[[Internet Archive]] |date=2005 |publisher=Dewi Lewis Media |isbn=9780954684327 |url=https://archive.org/details/offstage100portr0000jone |access-date=19 May 2023}}</ref>
In 2011, [[the Lir Academy]] was established in association with RADA at [[Trinity College Dublin]], with the partnership of the Cathal Ryan Trust. Following RADA’s conservatoire-style, practical theatre training, the Lir Academy modelled its courses after the London-based school.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/who-we-work-with/ |title=Who we work with — RADA |last=Fabrique |website=www.rada.ac.uk |language=en-gb |access-date=2019-10-06 |archive-date=12 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412125742/https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/who-we-work-with/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

RADA has been registered with the Office for Students as a higher education institution since July 2018. The current principal of the academy, Niamh Dowling, succeeded [[Edward Kemp (playwright)|Edward Kemp]] in 2022.<ref name="Dowling"/> The current president, [[David Harewood]], succeeded Sir Kenneth Branagh in February 2024, with [[Cynthia Erivo]] appointed vice president.<ref name="Harwood"/><ref>{{cite news |title=David Harewood, Cynthia Erivo Appointed to Lead RADA |url=https://variety.com/2024/biz/global/david-harewood-cynthia-erivo-rada-president-1235911250/ |access-date=24 April 2024 |work=Variety}}</ref>

==Courses==
[[File:RADA 1963.jpg|thumb|upright|RADA diploma awarded in 1963]]
RADA's higher education awards are validated by [[King's College London]] (KCL)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/about/rada-an-introduction |title=RADA: An introduction |publisher=Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |access-date=20 May 2016 |archive-date=30 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630004807/https://www.rada.ac.uk/about/rada-an-introduction |url-status=live }}</ref> and its students graduate alongside members of the [[King's College London Faculty of Arts and Humanities|KCL Faculty of Arts & Humanities]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums |title=Faculty of Arts & Humanities &#124; King's College London |website=www.kcl.ac.uk |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=20 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820115145/https://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums |url-status=live }}</ref> It is based in the [[Bloomsbury]] area of [[Central London]], close to the [[Senate House (University of London)|Senate House]] complex of the [[University of London]].<ref name=visiting>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rada.ac.uk/about/visiting-us |title=Visiting us |publisher=Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |access-date=9 November 2010 |archive-date=13 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113053249/http://www.rada.ac.uk/about/visiting-us |url-status=live }}</ref> It is a founder member of the Federation of Drama Schools.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dora.dmu.ac.uk/xmlui/bitstream/handle/2086/17394/Scoping-Curve_FINAL_Dec2018..pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Rapid Scoping Study on Leicester Drama School |last=Granger |first=Rachel |publisher=De Montfort University Leicester |access-date=7 September 2019 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308114131/https://www.dora.dmu.ac.uk/xmlui/bitstream/handle/2086/17394/Scoping-Curve_FINAL_Dec2018..pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |url-status=live }}</ref>

RADA has expanded its course offering over the years. The school offers a three-year BA (Hons) in acting degree. The first stage management course was introduced in 1962 under the directorship of [[Dorothy Tenham]], and today students on the technical theatre and stage management degree learn theatre production skills including lighting, sound, props, costume and make-up, stage management, production management and video design.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/theatre-production/ |title=Theatre production — RADA |website=www.rada.ac.uk |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603115803/https://www.rada.ac.uk/theatre-production/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the 1990s it launched a programme of short courses for actors and theatre technicians from around the world, including a special course for students at the [[NYU Tisch School of the Arts]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://tisch.nyu.edu/special-programs/study-abroad/london-rada |title=Shakespeare in Performance at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=27 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230427153158/https://tisch.nyu.edu/special-programs/study-abroad/london-rada |url-status=live }}</ref>

Other courses include a one-year acting foundation course introduced in 2007; an MA in Text & Performance, affiliated with [[Birkbeck, University of London]], introduced in 2010; and an MA Theatre Lab course introduced in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |title=MA Theatre Lab |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/courses/ma-theatre-lab/ |access-date=16 May 2024 |publisher=RADA}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=MA Text and Performance |url=https://www.masterscompare.co.uk/masters-course/text-and-performance/23022 |access-date=16 May 2024 |publisher=Masters Compafe}}</ref>

==Campus==
[[File:RADA Chenies St.JPG|thumb|right|The RADA building on [[Chenies Street]], London]]
RADA is based in the Bloomsbury area of Central London. The main RADA building where classes and rehearsals take place is on [[Gower Street (London)|Gower Street]] (with a second entrance on [[Malet Street]]), with a second premise nearby in [[Chenies Street]] where [[RADA Studios]] is located. The [[Goodge Street tube station|Goodge Street]] and [[Euston Square tube station|Euston Square]] underground stations are both within walking distance.<ref name=visiting/>

The Gower and Malet Street building was redeveloped in the late 1990s to designs by [[Bryan Avery]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/jul/06/bryan-avery-obituary |title=Bryan Avery obituary |date=6 July 2017 |website=The Guardian |access-date=19 January 2018 |archive-date=4 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404171439/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/jul/06/bryan-avery-obituary |url-status=live }}</ref> and incorporated the new theatres and linking the entrances on both streets.

===Theatres===
RADA has five theatres and a cinema. In the Malet Street building, the [[Jerwood Foundation#History|Jerwood Vanburgh Theatre]] is the largest performance space with a capacity of 194; the George Bernard Shaw Theatre is a [[black box theatre]] with a capacity of up to 70; and the Gielgud Theatre is an intimate studio theatre with a capacity of up to 50.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/venue-hire/ |title=Venue hire — RADA |website=www.rada.ac.uk |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=11 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811183419/https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/venue-hire/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2012, RADA acquired the lease to the adjacent Drill Hall venue in Chenies Street and renamed it [[RADA Studios]]. The Drill Hall is a Grade II listed building with a long performing arts history, and was where Nijinsky rehearsed with Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in 1911.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.russianballethistory.com/ |title=History of Ballets Russes |access-date=6 June 2016 |archive-date=14 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614040109/http://www.russianballethistory.com/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref> This venue has a 200-seat space, the Studio Theatre, and a 50-seat space, the Club Theatre.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/about/venue-hire/theatres |title=RADA: The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art – Theatres & The Screen @ RADA |last=(admin) |first=Jed Staton |access-date=6 June 2016 |archive-date=15 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315060150/https://www.rada.ac.uk/about/venue-hire/theatres |url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2016, planning permission was granted for the redevelopment of the Chenies Street premises as part of the [[Richard Attenborough]] Campaign.<ref>{{cite news |title=RADA gets go-ahead for 300-seat theatre and on-site student digs |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/rada-gets-go-ahead-for-300-seat-theatre-and-on-site-student-digs |access-date=24 April 2024 |work=The stage}}</ref>

===Library===
The RADA library contains around 30,000 items. Works include around 10,000 plays; works of or about biography, costume, criticism, film, fine art, poetry, social history, stage design, technical theatre and theatre history; screenplays; and theatre periodicals.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/about/library |title=RADA: The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art – Library |last=(admin) |first=Jed Staton |access-date=6 June 2016 |archive-date=15 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315190655/https://www.rada.ac.uk/about/library |url-status=live }}</ref> The collection was started in 1904 with donations from actors and writers of the time such as Sir [[Squire Bancroft]], [[William Archer (critic)|William Archer]], Sir [[Arthur Wing Pinero]] and George Bernard Shaw.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Attar |first1=Karen |title=A Directory Of Rare Book And Special Collections In the UK And Republic Of Ireland |date=2016 |publisher=American Library Association |page=220}}</ref>

===Other facilities===
Other facilities at RADA include acting studios, a scenic art workshop with paint frame, costume workrooms and costume store, dance and fight studios, design studios, wood and metal workshops, sound studios, rehearsal studios, and the RADA Foyer Bar, which includes a fully licensed bar, a café and a box office.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/ |title=About us — RADA |website=www.rada.ac.uk |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=31 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831121018/https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Admissions==
[[File:RADA Theatre, Malet Street, London.JPG|thumbnail|right|200px|The RADA Theatres on [[Malet Street]], London]]
RADA accepts up to 28 new students each year into its three-year BA (Hons) in Acting course, with a 50–50 split of male and female students.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/courses/ba-hons-acting/ |title=BA (Hons) in Acting — RADA |website=www.rada.ac.uk |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=7 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607213735/https://www.rada.ac.uk/courses/ba-hons-acting/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Admission into the three-year BA (Hons) in Acting course is based on suitability and successful audition, via the four-stage audition process, spanning several months. Auditions are held in London as well as in New York, Los Angeles, Dublin, and across the UK – in recent years this has included Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Chester, Leicester, Sheffield, Manchester, Newcastle and Plymouth. Free auditions are offered to any applicants with a household income of under £25,000.<ref name="auto2"/>

RADA also teaches Technical Theatre & Stage Management (TTSM) – a two-year foundation degree and with a further 'completion' year to BA level which has to be separately applied for and which allows for specialisation in all theatre craft areas. The TTSM course admits up to 30 students a year with a 50–50 gender balance, with the option to interview in Manchester and Plymouth.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/news-and-press/audition-for-radas-acting-training-across-the-uk/ |title=Audition and interview for RADA's training across the UK — RADA |website=www.rada.ac.uk |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928183514/https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/news-and-press/audition-for-radas-acting-training-across-the-uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

RADA’s postgraduate training currently comprises a MA Theatre Lab programme and a Postgraduate Diploma in Theatre Costume (both validated by King's College London). RADA also jointly teaches an MA in Text and Performance with Birkbeck, University of London, where students on this course are enrolled at RADA as well as registered at Birkbeck. Both MA courses frequently collaborated according to their specialisms (i.e. directors on the Text & Performance programme using actors from the Theatre Lab course). Rehearsals and performances for the programmes are done mostly in the Chenies Street and Malet Street buildings.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/acting/ |title=Acting — RADA |website=www.rada.ac.uk |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=23 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423071005/https://www.rada.ac.uk/acting/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In addition, RADA offers a series of short courses, masterclasses and summer courses for a range of standards and ages. Previous attendees have included [[Allison Janney]], [[Liev Schreiber]], [[Maggie Gyllenhaal]] and [[Emma Watson]]. The Academy’s education, widening participation and outreach work includes two Youth Companies,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/access-participation/ |title=Access and participation — RADA |website=www.rada.ac.uk |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=10 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510085531/https://www.rada.ac.uk/access-participation/ |url-status=live }}</ref> schools' workshops, Access to Acting workshops for young disabled people,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/schools-outreach-access/access-acting/ |title=RADA: Access to Acting |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=13 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513075347/https://www.rada.ac.uk/schools-outreach-access/access-acting/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Shakespeare tours to secondary schools<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/schools-outreach-access/shakespeare-schools-tour/ |title=Shakespeare for young audiences |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=14 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814151210/https://www.rada.ac.uk/schools-outreach-access/shakespeare-schools-tour/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the RADA Shakespeare Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/short-courses/?course_type=6 |title=Short courses — RADA |website=www.rada.ac.uk |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928202338/https://www.rada.ac.uk/short-courses/?course_type=6 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Undergraduate students are eligible for government student loans. RADA also has a scholarships and bursaries scheme, which offers financial assistance to students.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/courses/acting-and-performance/ba-hons-in-acting/fees-funding |title=RADA: The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art – Fees & Funding |last=(admin) |first=Jed Staton |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408200759/https://www.rada.ac.uk/courses/acting-and-performance/ba-hons-in-acting/fees-funding |archive-date=8 April 2016 |access-date=6 June 2016}}</ref>

==Leadership==
The Royal Patron of the Academy is King [[Charles III]], following the death of Queen [[Elizabeth II]] in 2022. The president is [[David Harewood]], who succeeded Sir [[Kenneth Branagh]] in February 2024, with [[Cynthia Erivo]] appointed vice president.<ref name="Harewood">{{cite news |last1=Gallagher |first1=Charlotte |title=David Harewood: Homeland star named new president of drama school Rada |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68295042 |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=BBC |date=15 February 2024}}</ref> The chairman is Marcus Ryder, who succeeded Sir [[Stephen Waley-Cohen]] in 2021. Its vice-chairman was [[Alan Rickman]] until his death in 2016. The current principal of the academy is Niamh Dowling, who succeeded [[Edward Kemp (playwright)|Edward Kemp]] in 2022.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |title=RADA staff |url=http://www.rada.ac.uk/about/rada-staff |access-date=9 November 2010 |publisher=Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |archive-date=21 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131121221446/http://www.rada.ac.uk/about/rada-staff |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Furness |first=Hannah |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-news/11907947/Sir-Kenneth-Branagh-made-president-of-RADA-to-upstage-the-posh-brigade.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-news/11907947/Sir-Kenneth-Branagh-made-president-of-RADA-to-upstage-the-posh-brigade.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Sir Kenneth Branagh made president of RADA to upstage the posh brigade |date=3 October 2015 |access-date=3 October 2015 |work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/about/governance-and-advisors |title=Governance and advisers |publisher=Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |access-date=9 November 2010 |archive-date=30 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630015956/https://www.rada.ac.uk/about/governance-and-advisors |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Principals===
*Sir [[Herbert Beerbohm Tree]] (founder)
*Sir [[Kenneth Barnes (director)|Kenneth Barnes]] (1909–1955)
*John Fernald (1955–1966)
*[[Hugh Cruttwell]] (1966–1985)
*Oliver Neville (1984–1993)
*Nicholas Barter (1993–2007)
*[[Edward Kemp (playwright)|Edward Kemp]] (2007–2021)
*Niamh Dowling (2022–present)

===Presidents===
[[File:David Harewood 2015.jpg|thumb|180px|RADA alumnus [[David Harewood]] was appointed president of the school in February 2024]]
*Sir Squire Bancroft (1906)
*Sir [[Johnston Forbes-Robertson]] (1927–1928)
*Sir [[Gerald du Maurier]] (1929–1930)
*[[Henry Ainley]] (1931–1933)
*[[Helen Maud Holt|Lady Tree]] (1934–1935)
*[[Cyril Maude]] (1945)
*Dame [[Irene Vanbrugh]] (1946–1947)
*Dame [[Sybil Thorndike]] (1948–1949)
*[[Athene Seyler]] (1950–1951)
*Sir [[Felix Aylmer]] (1954)
*Dame [[Flora Robson]] (1955–1963)
*Dame [[Edith Evans]] (1964–1976)
*Sir [[John Gielgud]] (1977–1989)
*[[Diana, Princess of Wales]] (1989–1997)
*[[Richard Attenborough|Richard, Lord Attenborough]] (2002–2014)
*Sir [[Kenneth Branagh]] (2014–2024)
*[[David Harewood]] (2024–present)

===Honorary fellows===
[[File:Sir John Gielgud 3 Allan Warren.tif|thumb|180px| Sir [[John Gielgud]], first honorary fellow of the school]] 
Listed alphabetically by date of appointment

*Sir [[John Gielgud]] (1989)
*[[Cicely Berry]] (2018)<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/news-and-press/rada-appoints-three-new-honorary-fellows/ |title=RADA appoints three new honorary fellows — RADA |website=www.rada.ac.uk |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=23 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423065504/https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/news-and-press/rada-appoints-three-new-honorary-fellows/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Thelma Holt]] (2018)<ref name="auto3"/>
*[[Glenda Jackson]] (2018)<ref name="auto3"/>
*Francine Watson Coleman (2019)<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/news-and-press/four-new-honorary-fellows-appointed-rada/ |title=Four new Honorary Fellows appointed at RADA — RADA |website=www.rada.ac.uk |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=23 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423065505/https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/news-and-press/four-new-honorary-fellows-appointed-rada/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Mona Hammond]] (2019)<ref name="auto"/>
*Sir [[Anthony Hopkins]] (2019)<ref name="auto"/>
*[[Stephen Sondheim]] (2019)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/news-and-press/stephen-sondheim-awarded-honorary-fellowship-new-york/ |title=Stephen Sondheim awarded Honorary Fellowship in New York — RADA |website=www.rada.ac.uk |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=28 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428180453/https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/news-and-press/stephen-sondheim-awarded-honorary-fellowship-new-york/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Kathryn Hunter]] (2023)
*[[Winsome Pinnock]] (2023)

==Notable alumni==
{{Main|List of alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art}}
<!-- PLEASE KEEP ALPHABETISED! Please note that this should just be a brief selection of the most noteworthy/interesting alumni; there is a separate article which contains a longer list-->
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Mark Addy]] – ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', ''[[The Full Monty]]''
*[[Jonas Armstrong]] – ''[[Robin Hood (2006 TV series)|Robin Hood]]'', ''[[Edge of Tomorrow]]''
*[[Gemma Arterton]] – ''[[Quantum of Solace]]'', ''[[Clash of the Titans (2010 film)|Clash of the Titans]]''
*[[Richard Attenborough]] – ''[[The Great Escape (film)|The Great Escape]]'', ''[[Miracle on 34th Street (1994 film)|Miracle on 34th Street]]'', ''[[Jurassic Park (film)|Jurassic Park]]''
*[[David Bamber]] – ''[[Pride and Prejudice (1995 TV series)|Pride and Prejudice]]'', ''[[Valkyrie (film)|Valkyrie]]''
*[[Sean Bean]] – ''[[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[GoldenEye]]'', ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', ''[[Broken (British TV series)|Broken]]''
*[[Brian Bedford]] – ''[[Robin Hood (1973 film)|Robin Hood]]'', seven [[Tony Award]] nominations
*[[Stephen Beresford]] – ''The Last of the Haussmans'', ''[[Pride (2014 film)|Pride]]''
*[[Eve Best]] – ''[[The Honourable Woman]]'', ''[[The King's Speech]]'', ''[[House of the Dragon]]''
*[[Michael Blakemore]] – (''[[Privates on Parade (film)|Privates on Parade]]'')
*[[Peter Bowles]] – ''[[To the Manor Born]]'', ''[[I, Claudius (TV series)|I, Claudius]]''
*[[David Bradley (English actor)|David Bradley]] – ''[[Harry Potter (film series)|Harry Potter]]'', ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', ''[[Doctor Who]]''
*[[Kenneth Branagh]] – ''[[Henry V (1989 film)|Henry V]]'', ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]'', ''[[Dunkirk (2017 film)|Dunkirk]]'', ''[[Tenet (film)|Tenet]]'', ''[[Oppenheimer (film)|Oppenheimer]]''
*[[Barbara Bryne]] – ''[[Sunday in the Park with George]]'', ''[[Into the Woods]]'', ''[[Amadeus (film)|Amadeus]]''
*[[Jessie Buckley]] – ''[[War & Peace (2016 TV series)|War and Peace]]'', ''[[Wild Rose (2018 film)|Wild Rose]]'', ''[[Judy (film)|Judy]]''
*[[Tom Burke (actor)|Tom Burke]] – ''[[The Musketeers]]'', ''[[Strike (TV series)|Strike]]'', ''[[Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga]]'', ''[[Black Bag]]''
*[[Bertie Carvel]] – ''[[Matilda the Musical]]'', ''[[Doctor Foster (TV series)|Doctor Foster]]''
*[[Eva Ceja]] – ''[[Aquarium of the Dead]]'', ''[[The Amityville Harvest]]'', [[Touch (2022 film)|''Touch'']]
*[[Lolita Chakrabarti]] – ''[[Red Velvet (play)|Red Velvet]]'', ''[[Jekyll and Hyde (TV series)|Jekyll & Hyde]]''
*[[Chipo Chung]] – ''[[Fortitude (TV series)|Fortitude]]'', ''[[A.D. The Bible Continues]]''
*[[Sian Clifford]] – ''[[Fleabag]]''
*[[Richard Coleman]] – ''[[Ben-Hur (1959 film)|Ben-Hur]]'', ''[[There's a Girl in My Soup (play)|There's a Girl in My Soup]]'', ''[[...And Mother Makes Three]]'', ''[[...And Mother Makes Five]]''
*[[Joan Collins]] – ''[[Dynasty (1981 TV series)|Dynasty]]'', ''[[The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing]]''
*[[Daisy May Cooper]] – ''[[This Country]]''
*[[Lauren Crace]] – ''[[EastEnders]]''
*[[Roland Culver]] – ''[[Thunderball (film)|Thunderball]]''
*[[Ian Dallas]] – ''[[8½]]''
*[[Timothy Dalton]] – ''[[The Living Daylights]]'', ''[[Licence to Kill]]'', ''[[Hot Fuzz]]'', ''[[The Crown (TV series)|The Crown]]''
*[[Arthur Darvill]] – ''[[Doctor Who]]'', ''[[Broadchurch]]''
*[[David Dawson (actor)|David Dawson]] – ''[[My Policeman (film)|My Policeman]]'', ''[[The Last Kingdom (TV series)|The Last Kingdom]]''
*[[Frank Dillane]] – ''[[Fear the Walking Dead]]'', ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]''
*[[Adetomiwa Edun]] – ''[[Merlin (2008 TV series)|Merlin]]'', ''[[Alex Hunter (character)|FIFA video games]]''
*[[Taron Egerton]] – ''[[Kingsman: The Secret Service]]'', ''[[Rocketman (film)|Rocketman]]''
*[[Tom Prior]] – ''[[Firebird (2021 film)|Firebird]]'', ''[[Kingsman: The Secret Service]]'', ''[[The Theory of Everything (2014 film)|The Theory of Everything]]''
*[[Denholm Elliott]] – ''[[Alfie (1966 film)|Alfie]]'', ''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'', ''[[Trading Places]]''
*[[Robert Englund]] – ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street]]''
*[[Cynthia Erivo]] – ''[[Wicked (2024 film)|Wicked]]'', ''[[Harriet (film)|Harriet]]''
*[[Trevor Eve]] – ''[[Shoestring (TV series)|Shoestring]]'', ''[[Waking the Dead (TV series)|Waking the Dead]]''
*[[Patsy Ferran]] – ''[[Jamestown (TV series)|Jamestown]]'', ''[[Summer and Smoke#Stage performances|Summer and Smoke]]''
*[[Ralph Fiennes]] – ''[[Schindler's List]]'', ''[[Harry Potter (film series)|Harry Potter]]'', ''[[Skyfall]]'', ''[[The Grand Budapest Hotel]]'', ''[[Conclave (film)|Conclave]]''
*[[Albert Finney]] – ''[[Saturday Night and Sunday Morning]]'', ''[[Erin Brockovich (film)|Erin Brockovich]]''
*[[Edward Fox (actor)|Edward Fox]] – ''[[The Day of the Jackal (film)|The Day of the Jackal]]'', ''[[Edward & Mrs. Simpson]]''
*[[Laurence Fox]] – ''[[Lewis (TV series)|Lewis]]'', ''[[Elizabeth: The Golden Age]]''
*[[Michael Gambon]] – ''[[Harry Potter (film series)|Harry Potter]]'', ''[[The King's Speech]]'', ''[[Fantastic Mr. Fox (film)|Fantastic Mr. Fox]]''
*[[John Gielgud]] – ''[[Arthur (1981 film)|Arthur]]'', ''[[Gandhi (film)|Gandhi]]''
*[[Iain Glen]] – ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', ''[[Silo (TV series)|Silo]]''
*[[Julian Glover]] – ''[[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade]]'', ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'', ''[[Game of Thrones]]''
*[[Eva Gray (actress)|Eva Gray]] – ''The Trudy Lite Show'', ''The Trudy Lite Chat Show'', ''[[Marilyn Monroe]]'', ''[[Sooty Heights]]''
*[[Hugh Griffith]] – ''Ben-Hur'', ''[[Oliver! (film)|Oliver!]]''
*[[Ioan Gruffudd]] – ''Hornblower'', ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]'', ''[[Fantastic Four (2005 film)|Fantastic Four]]''
*[[Sheila Hancock]] – ''[[Cabaret (musical)|Cabaret]]'', ''[[Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street|Sweeney Todd]]''
*[[Terry Hands]] – founder of Liverpool Everyman Theatre, artistic director of [[Royal Shakespeare Company]]
*[[Bryony Hannah]] – ''[[Call the Midwife]]''
*[[Cedric Hardwicke]] – ''[[The Ten Commandments (1956 film)|The Ten Commandments]]''
*[[David Harewood]] – ''[[Homeland (TV series)|Homeland]]'', ''[[The Night Manager (TV series)|The Night Manager]]''
*[[Rosemary Harris]] – ''[[Tom & Viv]]'', ''[[Holocaust (miniseries)|Holocaust]]''
*[[Nyasha Hatendi]] – ''[[Casual (TV series)|Casual]]''
*[[Sally Hawkins]] – ''[[Godzilla (2014 film)|Godzilla]]'', ''[[The Shape of Water]]'', ''[[Paddington (2014 film)|Paddington]]''
*[[James Hayter (actor)|James Hayter]] – ''[[The Pickwick Papers (1952 film)|The Pickwick Papers]]'', ''[[Trio (1950 film)|Trio]]'', ''[[The Onedin Line]]''
*[[Tom Hiddleston]] – ''[[Loki (TV series)|Loki]]'', ''[[War Horse (film)|War Horse]]'', ''[[The Night Manager]]''
*[[Ciarán Hinds]] – ''[[Munich (2005 film)|Munich]]'', ''[[There Will Be Blood]]'', ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2]]''
*[[Ian Holm]] – ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]'', ''The Lord of the Rings''
*[[Anthony Hopkins]] – ''[[The Silence of the Lambs (film)|The Silence of the Lambs]]'', ''[[The Lion in Winter (1968 film)|The Lion in Winter]]'', ''[[Westworld (TV series)|Westworld]]''
*[[Jane Horrocks]] – ''[[Little Voice (film)|Little Voice]]'', ''[[Absolutely Fabulous]]''
*[[Trevor Howard]] – ''[[Brief Encounter]]'', ''[[The Third Man]]''
*[[Tom Hughes (actor)|Tom Hughes]] — ''[[Victoria (British TV series)|Victoria]]'', ''[[Cemetery Junction (film)|Cemetery Junction]]''
*[[John Hurt]] – ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]'', ''[[The Elephant Man (1980 film)|The Elephant Man]]''
*[[Wilfrid Hyde-White]] – ''[[My Fair Lady (film)|My Fair Lady]]''
*[[Glenda Jackson]] – ''[[Women in Love (film)|Women in Love]]'', ''[[Sunday Bloody Sunday (film)|Sunday Bloody Sunday]]''
*[[Marianne Jean-Baptiste]] – ''[[Secrets & Lies (film)|Secrets & Lies]]'', ''Broadchurch''
*[[Lionel Jeffries]] – ''[[Chitty Chitty Bang Bang]]''
*[[Mervyn Johns]] – ''[[Jamaica Inn (film)|Jamaica Inn]]'', ''[[Scrooge (1951 film)|Scrooge]]''
*[[Celia Johnson]] – ''Brief Encounter'', ''[[The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (film)|The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie]]''
*[[Gemma Jones]] – ''[[Sense and Sensibility (film)|Sense and Sensibility]]'', ''[[Bridget Jones's Diary]]''
*[[Alex Kingston]] – ''[[Croupier]]'', ''[[ER (TV series)|ER]]'', ''Doctor Who''
*[[Charles Laughton]] – ''[[Mutiny on the Bounty (1935 film)|Mutiny on the Bounty]]'', ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939 film)|The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]''
*[[Tamara Lawrance]] – ''[[King Charles III (film)|King Charles III]]'', ''[[The Long Song (TV series)|The Long Song]]''
*[[Vivien Leigh]] – ''[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]]'', ''[[A Streetcar Named Desire (1951 film)|A Streetcar Named Desire]]''
*[[Mike Leigh]] – ''[[Abigail's Party]]'', ''[[Secrets & Lies (film)|Secrets & Lies]]''
*[[Tom Lewis (actor)|Tom Lewis]] – ''[[Gentleman Jack (TV series)|Gentleman Jack]]''
*[[Anton Lesser]] – ''[[Wolf Hall (TV series)|Wolf Hall]]'', ''[[Endeavour (TV series)|Endeavour]]''
*[[Adrian Lester]] – ''[[Hustle (TV series)|Hustle]]'', ''[[Henry V (play)|Henry V]]''
*[[Robert Lindsay (actor)|Robert Lindsay]] – ''[[My Family]]'', ''[[Me and My Girl]]''
*[[Andrew Lincoln]] – ''[[The Walking Dead (TV series)|The Walking Dead]]'', ''[[Love Actually]]''
*[[Joan Littlewood]] – director ''[[A Taste of Honey]]'', ''[[Oh, What a Lovely War!]]''
*[[Margaret Lockwood]] – ''[[The Lady Vanishes]]'', ''[[Night Train to Munich]]''
*[[Ida Lupino]] – ''[[The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (film)|The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes]]''
*[[Emma Lowndes]] – ''[[Harry Potter and the Cursed Child]]''
*[[Matthew Macfadyen]] – ''[[Succession (TV series)|Succession]]'', ''[[Deadpool & Wolverine]]''
*[[Stephen Mangan]] – ''[[Episodes (TV series)|Episodes]]'', ''[[Postman Pat: The Movie]]''
*[[Nathaniel Martello-White]] – ''[[Collateral (TV series)|Collateral]]''
*[[Stefanie Martini]] – ''[[Prime Suspect 1973]]'', ''[[Crooked House (film)|Crooked House]]''
*[[Daniel Mays]] – ''[[Ashes to Ashes (British TV series)|Ashes to Ashes]]'', ''[[Line of Duty]]''
*[[Gugu Mbatha-Raw]] – ''[[Black Mirror]]'', ''[[Loki (TV series)|Loki]]''
*[[Steve McFadden]] – ''[[EastEnders]]''
*[[Paul McGann]] – ''[[Withnail and I]]'', ''[[Alien 3]]'', ''[[Doctor Who (film)|Doctor Who]]''
*[[Ian McShane]] – ''[[John Wick]]'', ''[[Deadwood (TV series)|Deadwood]]'', ''[[American Gods (TV series)|American Gods]]''
*[[Janet McTeer]] – ''[[Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights|Wuthering Heights]]'', ''[[The Menu (2022 film)|The Menu]]''
*[[Tobias Menzies]] – ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', ''[[Outlander (TV series)|Outlander]]'', ''[[The Crown (TV series)|The Crown]]''
*[[Roger Moore]] – ''[[The Saint (TV series)|The Saint]], [[James Bond in film|James Bond]]''
*[[Robert Morley]] – ''[[The African Queen (film)|The African Queen]]''
*[[Wunmi Mosaku]] – ''[[Lovecraft Country (TV series)|Lovecraft Country]]'', ''[[Luther (TV series)|Luther]]''
*[[Corey Mylchreest]] – ''[[Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story]]''
*[[Alan Napier]]  – ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]''
*[[John Neville (actor)|John Neville]]  – ''[[The Adventures of Baron Munchausen]]''
*[[Vincenzo Nicoli]] – ''[[Alien 3]]'', ''[[The Dark Knight]]''
*[[Sue Nicholls]] – ''[[Coronation Street]]''
*[[Dean Norris]] – ''[[Breaking Bad]]'', ''[[Under the Dome (TV series)|Under the Dome]]''
*[[Rufus Norris]] – artistic director, [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]]
*[[Sophie Okonedo]] – ''[[Hotel Rwanda]]'', ''[[Dirty Pretty Things (film)|Dirty Pretty Things]]'', [[Ratched (TV series)|Ratched]]
*[[Joe Orton]] – playwright ''[[Loot (play)|Loot]]'', ''[[What the Butler Saw (play)|What the Butler Saw]]''
*[[Peter O'Toole]] – ''[[Lawrence of Arabia (film)|Lawrence of Arabia]]'', ''[[The Lion in Winter]]''
*[[Clive Owen]] – ''[[Children of Men]]'', ''[[Sin City (film)|Sin City]]''
*[[Bruce Payne]] – ''[[Passenger 57]]'', ''[[Highlander: Endgame]]''
*[[Maxine Peake]] – ''[[Silk (TV series)|Silk]]'', ''[[The Village (2013 TV series)|The Village]]''
*[[Jon Pertwee]] ''[[Worzel Gummidge]]'', ''Doctor Who'' (expelled)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-jon-pertwee-5615100.html |title=Obituary: Jon Pertwee |work=The Independent |first=Nick |last=Smurthwaite |date=18 September 2011 |access-date=12 April 2021 |archive-date=9 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309035638/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-jon-pertwee-5615100.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Siân Phillips]] – ''I, Claudius''; ''[[Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (TV series)|Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy]]''
*[[Jonathan Pryce]] – ''[[Brazil (1985 film)|Brazil]]'', ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean (film series)|Pirates of the Caribbean]]''
*[[Paul Pyant]] – lighting designer, ''[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (musical)|Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]]''
*[[Basil Radford]] – ''Jamaica Inn'', ''Night Train to Munich''
*[[Claude Rains]] – ''Casablanca'', ''The Invisible Man'', ''Notorious''
*[[Jessica Raine]] – ''Call the Midwife'', ''[[Jericho (2016 TV series)|Jericho]]''
*[[Anne Reid]] – ''[[Dinnerladies (TV series)|Dinnerladies]]'', ''[[Last Tango in Halifax]]''
*[[Matthew Rhys]] – ''[[Brothers & Sisters (2006 TV series)|Brothers & Sisters]]'', ''[[The Americans]]''
*[[Paul Rhys]] – ''[[The Assets]]'', ''[[Chaplin (film)|Chaplin]]''
*[[John Rhys-Davies]] – ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[Indiana Jones]]''
*[[Alan Rickman]] – ''[[Harry Potter (film series)| Harry Potter]]'', ''[[Die Hard]]'', ''[[Sense and Sensibility (film)|Sense and Sensibility]]''
*[[Diana Rigg]] – ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', ''[[On Her Majesty's Secret Service (film)| On Her Majesty's Secret Service]]''
*[[Andrea Riseborough]] – ''[[Birdman (film)|Birdman]]'', ''[[Oblivion (2013 film)|Oblivion]]''
*[[Mark Rylance]] – ''Wolf Hall'', ''[[Bridge of Spies (film)|Bridge of Spies]]''
*[[Grace Saif]] – ''[[13 Reasons Why]]''
*[[Peter Sallis]] – ''[[Last of the Summer Wine]]'', ''[[Wallace and Gromit]]''
*[[Fiona Shaw]] – ''[[My Left Foot]]'', ''[[Harry Potter (film series)|Harry Potter]]'', ''[[Andor (TV series)|Andor]]''
*[[Robert Shaw (actor)|Robert Shaw]] – ''[[Jaws (film)|Jaws]]'', ''[[A Man for All Seasons (1966 film)|A Man for All Seasons]]''
*[[Sebastian Shaw (actor)|Sebastian Shaw]] – [[Return of the Jedi]]
*[[Michael Sheen]] – [[Good Omens (TV series)|''Good Omens'']], ''[[Midnight in Paris]]''
*[[Kyle Soller]] – ''[[Poldark (2015 TV series)|Poldark]]''
*[[Timothy Spall]] – ''[[Harry Potter (film series)|Harry Potter]]'', ''[[The King's Speech]]''
*[[Imelda Staunton]] – ''[[Harry Potter (film series)|Harry Potter]]'', ''[[Vera Drake]]'', ''[[Another Year (film)|Another Year]]''
*[[Juliet Stevenson]] – ''[[Truly, Madly, Deeply (film)|Truly, Madly, Deeply]]'', ''[[Bend It Like Beckham]]''
*[[Michelle Terry]] – artistic director, [[Shakespeare's Globe]]
*[[John Thaw]] – ''[[Inspector Morse (TV series)|Inspector Morse]]'', ''[[Kavanagh QC]]''
*[[Luke Thompson (actor)|Luke Thompson]] – ''Bridgerton'', ''[[Transatlantic (TV series)|Transatlantic]]'', ''[[A Little Life (play)|A Little Life]], [[Love's Labour's Lost|Love Labour's Boat]]''
*[[Indira Varma]] – ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', ''[[Mission: Impossible (film series)|Mission: Impossible]]''
*[[John Vernon]] – ''[[The Outlaw Josey Wales]]''
*[[Phoebe Waller-Bridge]] – ''[[Fleabag]]'', ''[[Killing Eve]]''
*[[Chris Walley (actor)|Chris Walley]] – ''[[The Young Offenders (film)|The Young Offenders]]'', ''[[The Lieutenant of Inishmore#Production history|The Lieutenant of Inishmore]]''
*[[Jason Watkins]] – ''[[Being Human (British TV series)|Being Human]]'', ''[[Lark Rise to Candleford (TV series)|Lark Rise to Candleford]]''
*[[David Warner (actor)|David Warner]] – ''[[Straw Dogs (1971 film)|Straw Dogs]], [[Star Trek]]'', ''Titanic''
*[[Ben Whishaw]] – ''[[Skyfall]]'', ''[[Paddington (film)|Paddington]]'', ''[[The Lobster]]''
*[[June Whitfield]] – ''[[Terry and June]]'', ''[[Absolutely Fabulous]]''
*[[Tom Wilkinson]] – ''[[Michael Clayton]]'', ''[[Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind]]''
*[[Michael Williams (actor)|Michael Williams]] – ''[[Elizabeth R]]'', ''[[Educating Rita (film)|Educating Rita]]''
*[[Richard Wilson (Scottish actor)|Richard Wilson]] – ''[[One Foot in the Grave]]'', ''Merlin''
*[[Susan Wokoma]] – ''[[Chewing Gum (TV series)|Chewing Gum]]'', ''[[Year of the Rabbit (TV series)|Year of the Rabbit]]''
*[[Aimee Lou Wood]] – ''[[Sex Education (TV series)|Sex Education]]'', ''[[The White Lotus]]''
*[[Edward Woodward]] – ''[[The Wicker Man]]'', ''[[The Equalizer (1985 TV series)|The Equalizer]]''
*[[Owain Yeoman]] – ''[[The Mentalist]]'', ''[[Troy (film)|Troy]]''
*[[Susannah York]] – ''[[Tom Jones (1963 film)|Tom Jones]]'', ''[[They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (film)|They Shoot Horses, Don't They?]]'', ''[[Superman (1978 film)|Superman]]''
*[[Kit Young]] – ''[[Shadow and Bone (TV series)|Shadow and Bone]]''
{{div end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Royal Academy of Dramatic Art}}
*{{Official website}}

{{Conservatoire for Dance and Drama}}
{{Federation of Drama Schools|state=collapsed}}
{{Performing Arts Schools in the United Kingdom|acting}}
{{King's College London}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Royal Academy of Dramatic Art| ]]
[[Category:Education in the London Borough of Camden]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1904]]
[[Category:King's College London]]
[[Category:Performing arts education in London]]
[[Category:Schools of the performing arts in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Drama schools in London]]
[[Category:1904 establishments in England]]