ROYAL ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ART - RADA
Main Building: 62-64 Gower Street, London WC1E 6ED
18 Chenies Street, London WC1E 7EX
Telephone: 020 7636 7076
Fax: 020 7323 3865
Email: enquiries@rada.ac.uk (admissions)
Website: http://www.rada.org
Course Titles:
Graduate Diploma in Theatre Technical Arts (25 x 2 years full time)
Graduate Diploma in Theatre Design (3 x 2 years full time)
Specialist Technical Graduate Certificate in Wardrobe (3 x 4 terms full time)
Specialist Technical Graduate Certificate in Scenic Art (3 x 4 terms full time)
Specialist Technical Graduate Certificate in Scenic Construction (3 x 4 terms full time)
Specialist Technical Graduate Certificate in Stage Electrics and Lighting Design (3 x 4 terms full time)
Specialist Technical Graduate Certificate in Property Making (3 x 4 terms fulltime)
Validating Body: King's College, University of London.
Hours per week: Minimum 35 hours
Places:
Graduate Diploma in Theatre Technical Arts: 25
Specialist Technical Graduate Certificates: 15 places covering all specialist courses
Entry requirements: Interview and portfolio
Minimum age: 18
Closing Date: Please refer to Academy prospectus and website.
School Principal: Nicholas Barter MA (Cantab) FRSA
Course Leaders: Lynsey Brown (Scenic Construction), Derek Cropper (Property Making), Matt Drury (Stage Electrics and Lighting Design), Diane Favell (Wardrobe), David Salter (Stage Management), Gary Thorne (Theatre Design), Sue Dunlop (Scenic Art)
Course Descriptions:
- Graduate Diploma in Theatre Technical Arts:
- This course embraces all the production disciplines involved in the mounting of professional performances, including lighting, sound, scenic art and design, stage carpentry and metalwork, property making, wardrobe, stagecraft, computer studies and stage management. A wide range of related subjects are also studied in depth,
such as the history of staging, movement, voice, make-up techniques and visits to radio and television studios and theatres.
The production techniques learned are applicable to many areas of public presentation such as theatre, television and video, trade shows and conferences, exhibitions and theme work. Administrative
skills such as bookings, contracts, budgeting and licensing agreements are also studied.
Students spend their first year in classes and practical workshops. Alongside the teaching, they work in every production department, experiencing a wide range of technical skills and production techniques.
In their second year,
students work on the Academy's productions in a full-time capacity. Some sixteen productions are mounted each year for presentation to the public. These offer students an opportunity to work with professional designers and directors in wide ranging areas of responsibility, including stage management. During the second
year, each student spends between four and six weeks on attachment to a professional theatre or organisation relevant to the career they wish to pursue.
- Graduate Diploma in Theatre Design:
- This two year course provides a broad based practical training in the area of Stage Design, enabling students to pursue a career as a theatre designer, or in other related fields. The course encompasses all aspects of stage design, both technical and creative, and aims to encourage in the student an intelligent understanding
of the artistic and collaborative process of stage design, and equally to foster the managerial and organisational skills essential to a career in this field. The course further enables students with the ability to transfer that understanding to other entertainment fields, and to enhance creativity across all aspects of the art
of theatre production. Each term consists of a mixture of practical project work and work on the Academy public productions.
- Graduate Certificate in Wardrobe:
- This course covers all aspects of a modern theatre wardrobe department, from Assistant to Supervisor. Lectures and practical sessions cover basic wardrobe skills and practices, ranging from alterations and maintenance, dyeing, basic wig maintenance, pattern cutting and costume interpretation to the history of costume, research
and budgeting. With the staff ratio often at 2:1, students are trained for a career in Wardrobe to a high standard recognised by the industry. Two complete period costumes are made from the fabric sampling stage through pattern cutting and fitting, to finishing. Students gain extensive practical experience working with professional
designers and directors on productions of an exceptionally high standard for public performance.
- Graduate Certificate in Scenic Art:
- This highly practical course covers all the main practices needed to prepare the student for a career in scenic art, or the flexibility to work on a freelance basis as an in-house painter for theatre, or any related industry, such as exhibition, film, interiors etc. Lectures and tutorial sessions cover the storage and handling of
scenic materials, scaling up, marking out, laying in, model work, groundplans, working drawings, perspective, colour theory, sign-writing, painting and texturing, budgeting and ordering. Lectures, tutorial sessions, practical and project work are incorporated into four terms of intensive work in our new and fully equipped workshops
with paint-frame, as well as in RADA's three in house theatres. The students experience working with professional designers and directors on the many varied productions for public performances, as well as spending up to six weeks on secondment in order to gain valuable contacts and experience in a fully professional capacity.
- Graduate Certificate in Scenic Construction:
- This course is aimed at preparing the student for a career in set construction in the entertainment industry. Past students have established careers in many aspects of this field, from bench work at major scenic construction workshops to starting up their own privately owned businesses in the industry. The course is practically based,
encompassing the handling and maintenance of tools; knowledge of timber, hardware and canvas; building, erecting, and maintaining sets in both timber and metal; mechanics of scenery handling and rigging; working drawings and ground-plans; budgeting and ordering. From the outset students assist in the construction
of the many publicly presented Academy productions, working with professional designers, eventually taking full responsibility for an entire set. RADA has extensively refurbished carpentry and steel fabrication workshops devoted to teaching set construction. As part of their course, the students are seconded to an industry related company
for up to six weeks to gain valuable contacts and experience in a fully professional capacity.
- Graduate Certificate in Stage Electrics and Lighting Design:
- Designed to provide the graduate with skills and experience in all aspects of lighting and sound, the course is primarily directed at those who wish to pursue a career in a theatre lighting department. The course is predominantly practical and begins with basic backstage work, including scenery handling and flying, and moves on to offer
experience in lighting board operation, production electrics, sound design & operation and lighting design. The student staff ratio is especially good, which allows the course to offer an unparalleled standard of training, and a great deal of flexibility in the course. Students with enthusiasm and commitment find themselves making speedy
progress through all the basic elements until finally assuming the role of Lighting Designer on productions of an exceptionally high standard for public performance. As lighting designer the student will work alongside professional Directors and Designers and their fellow students. Throughout the course visits, demonstrations and guest lecturers
are arranged to supplement the in-house teaching.
- Graduate Certificate in Property Making:
- This course covers the safe use of a multitude of materials and techniques and aims to equip the student for a career not only in theatre but also rewarding work in film, television, video and retail/theme projects. Areas covered include wood-turning, carving, sculpting, mould-making, upholstery, furniture making, paper props, and art-work.
The students gain extensive practical experience working with professional designers and directors on the many varied productions of an exceptionally high standard for public performances. The Academy boasts excellent studio facilities with all materials provided and a very good staff to student ratio, ensuring a unique training opportunity for
those committed to a career in this exciting industry.
- General information:
- All Home and EU students on full time courses are eligible for fees funding. Students receiving a fees award are required to contribute the mandatory student contribution.
Students may apply to their LEA for additional financial support towards the mandatory student contribution. This application is means tested. All full time students are
eligible to apply through their LEA for a student loan towards their maintenance costs.
Graduates should note that they are able to apply through their LEA for further student loans to contribute towards the cost of the mandatory student contribution.