Drama Centre London(often abbreviated asDrama Centre) was a British drama school inKing's Cross,London, where it moved in 2011 after a major reshaping of theUniversity of the Arts London.It was part ofCentral Saint Martins,a constituent college of the university.[1]Following a review in 2020, the school closed with the graduation of its final students in 2022.
| Active | 1963–2022 |
|---|---|
Parent institution | Central Saint Martins(University of the Arts London) |
| Location | London ,England, United Kingdom |
| Affiliations | Federation of Drama Schools |
| Website | arts |
Whilst in operation, Drama Centre London was a member of theFederation of Drama Schools,[2]it offeredBA (Hons)andMAacting courses.
History
editDrama Centre London was founded in 1963 by a breakaway group of teachers and students from theCentral School of Speech and Drama,led by John Blatchley,Yat Malmgrenand Christopher Fettes.[3]It was originally on Prince of Wales Road,Chalk Farm,but moved first to Back Hill,Clerkenwellin 2004, then toKing's Crossin 2011. From 1999 to 2020, it operated as an integral school ofCentral Saint Martins College of Arts and Design,offering degree programmes in acting, directing and screenwriting.
A principal aim in the school's founding was to bring some of the major developments in American and European theatre to the training of British and international actors. Its approach articulatedStanislavski's system,with the movement work ofRudolf Labanand the character typology ofCarl Jungto produce a 'movement psychology' for the analysis and development of characters. Its work also drew on the English tradition, particularly that ofJoan LittlewoodandTheatre Workshop.These approaches were taught as part of the Western theatrical tradition that began with the Greeks, on which the school placed great emphasis.[4]When the school was founded, it was England's only drama school with an acting class, and was considered the firstMethoddrama school in Britain.[5]
Because of its rigour, the school's nickname was "Trauma Center".[6]Like most drama schools, Drama Centre placed a particular emphasis on the work ofKonstantin Stanislavski,also training students in improvisation through theYevgeny VakhtangovandJacques Lecoqtraditions. It offered a theatre-based training incorporating both modern and classical texts; and prepared actors for the demands of screen acting, for which it had a two-year postgraduate course. In September 2005, it launched its MA Acting course (formerly 'European Classical Acting') including residencies at both the Vakhtangov Theatre Institute in Moscow and Imalis Center for Ancient Hellenic Theatre in Epidaurus, Greece.
The Drama Centre was the first British drama school to introduce some of the great classics of the Spanish, German and French repertoires, a precedent reflected in connections between many schools in the UK, US, Russia and China.
In March 2020 UAL announced that they were to close the Drama Centre, following an unfavourable review of the centre's provision for academic development, quality assurance and equal opportunities. Students currently enrolled would complete their training.[7][8][9]
Platform Theatre
editThe Platform Theatre is a receiving and producing theatre in the Central Saint Martin's complex at King's Cross. It holds 360 in a variety of configurations, has an orchestra pit and a fullflying towerand is equipped to high professional standards. It aims to present all aspects of the performing arts. Productions by students of Drama Centre London were presented there, and work by students of other colleges of the University of the Arts, London.
Alumni
editReferences
edit- ^"Drama Centre at Central Saint Martins".Archived fromthe originalon 19 April 2007.Retrieved15 January2007.
- ^Granger, Rachel."Rapid Scoping Study on Leicester Drama School"(PDF).De Montfort University Leicester. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 16 October 2019.Retrieved7 September2019.
- ^"Drama Centre London: About us".Archived fromthe originalon 5 February 2007.Retrieved15 January2007.
- ^Eva Mekler,Masters of the Stage: British Acting Teachers Talk About Their Craft.New York: Grove Weidenfeld, 1989. p.69, p.75.ISBN0-8021-3190-5.
- ^Eva Mekler,Masters of the Stage: British Acting Teachers Talk About Their Craftp.73-74.
- ^Raferty, Brian (5 February 2014)."Emilia Clarke, the Breakthrough Actress on 'Game of Thrones'".The Wall Street Journal.Archivedfrom the original on 15 December 2014.Retrieved5 February2014.
- ^"University of the Arts London announces consultation on its intention to close current acting provision at Central Saint Martins".University of the Arts London. 6 March 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 26 September 2022.Retrieved22 January2023.
- ^Hemley, Matthew (6 March 2020)."Drama Centre London to close following damning review".The Stage.
- ^Redmond, Adele (12 March 2020)."Drama school to close after review reveals courses 'pushed students to the edge'".Arts Professional.Retrieved22 January2023.