Royal Central School of Speech and Drama: Create theatre that changes lives

Performance of Waterlillies by students at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Photo: Patrick Baldwin

For more than a century, the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama has been shaping the future of theatremakers, building a reputation for world-leading training in acting, design, producing and, uniquely, the practice of applied theatre.

Now one of the UK’s most prestigious learning institutions, and a blend of a university and a drama school, Central has refreshed its BA (hons) Drama and Applied Theatre, building on decades of experience to design a course for a generation of artists who want to use theatre to make a difference.

Applied theatre is about taking theatremaking skills beyond the traditional stage, into schools, community centres, hospitals, prisons and unexpected spaces, course leader Marilena Zaroulia explains. “It’s about showing as much attention to the process of making work as to the final product – sometimes, in fact, the process is the product.” At the heart of this degree is social engagement. “We never simply make theatre for its own sake. We ask what skills and practices can be of value and use in the world we live in.”
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Royal Central School of Speech and Drama students in performance. Photo: Cam Harle

Zaroulia describes the degree as “a revamped and exciting iteration of a course that has been running for 30 years, reconceived to respond to the present moment”. The programme is newly structured, but draws on the university’s extensive expertise in applied theatre. “Alongside practitioners who have led projects all around the world, our team includes graduates of applied theatre degrees at Central. There’s a real legacy here.”

Students begin the degree with modules covering voice, movement, ensemble practice and innovative approaches to facilitation practice, including the application of new digital technologies for collaborative community-based projects. Students also explore the ethics and politics of working with communities. Their first year ends with a project created for specific audiences – recent students developed immersive performances on climate change for schools and cabaret pieces with professional artists at Hoxton Hall in east London.

By the second year, students experiment with performance technologies, choreography, digital media and new devising methods. A placement in an educational setting or youth theatre explores ways of applying theatre in education, then students form their own companies in residencies, leading projects for organisations. One recent group worked on an intergenerational project with queer communities in Brighton. “They showed how applied theatre can manifest in many forms: a stage show, a film, a digital piece, a zine publication.”

‘It’s a lab-like environment where collaboration thrives’ – Marilena Zaroulia, course leader

The final year is all about independence and professional preparation. Students take substantial placements – recent postings include Shakespeare’s Globe, Phosphoros Theatre (which works with refugees), casting agencies and TV production companies. Alongside this, they pursue personal research and deliver ambitious performance projects of their own, crafting their identities as artists and practitioners.

Central, says Zaroulia, is “an extremely vibrant place to learn”, and intensely creative and collaborative. The school is small enough for close mentorship but with a bustling community feel. “We know our students. They’re surrounded by peers in other disciplines. It’s a lab-like environment where collaboration thrives.” Its London location is another advantage: just 10 minutes by Tube from the West End, students regularly see cutting-edge work and connect with visiting artists and companies.

Recent graduates have gone on to run education departments in large theatres, teach drama, create new companies and lead participatory projects worldwide. Zaroulia emphasises their adaptability: “Our students become flexible, responsive practitioners, able to hold a room, facilitate and make meaningful work in many contexts.”

Central’s BA (hons) Drama and Applied Theatre offers the skills, the connections and the creative confidence for those who believe theatre can change lives.

For more info visit: cssd.ac.uk