Central School of Speech and Drama (North London) has an impressive reputation as one of the world’s leading theatre training institutions, with an alumni body that include Judi Dench, Laurence Oliver, James Nesbitt, Christopher Eccleston, Jennifer Saunders, Gael Garcia Bernal and Catherine Tate. In its centenary year (2005), it’s level of outstanding tuition was formally recognised when the UK Government’s designated it the UK’s Centre for Excellence in Training for Theatre.

What's on offer
The short courses, saturday classes and summer school Our twice-weekly evening classes, Saturday classes, and summer school are based on the methodologies and principles learnt during the last 100 years of training. You don’t need a high level of experience to apply for one of the above courses, just enthusiasm and a passion for theatre.

In the early 19th century, Laurence Olivier said of Central's founder 'She placed her forefinger firmly upon the base of my hair-line and slid it down to the bridge of my nose. "You have a weakness here", she said' (Fogie, by Marion Cole). Today, our staff are equally authoritative in their teaching of skills and techniques used to train actors. Our courses include acting, music theatre, shakespearean theatre, text work, voice work, elocution (for actors who's first language is not English), singing, combat, and mask. We've also developed a specialist core of staff who are dedicated to using similar skills and techniques to diagnose and improve the communication of the business professional (usually with a focus on presentation techniques, leadership skills, or elocution).

The staff
Central employs an extensive range of visiting specialists, ensuring that their students are in the enviable position of learning directly from distinguished practitioners in the field. This is one way that their learning remains fused with current industry practice. The biographies of some of most recent tutors are available on www.cssd.ac.uk (in the short course, or summer school, or course for the business community sections).

Contact information

Write to:Central School of Speech and Drama
Embassy Theatre
2 Eton Avenue
London NW3 3HY

Tel: +44 (0)20 7722 8183/020 7559 3960
Email: enquiries@cssd.ac.uk
Website: www.cssd.ac.uk
Nearest Train/Tube Station: Swiss Cottage