NEWS AND PRESS

RADA foundation course students (pictured left) and second year students recently performed at London’s Foundling Museum as part of the Back to Front Weekend.

Presented by artist Yinka Shonibare MBE, the events on Saturday 31 March and Sunday 01 April involved children taking charge of running The Foundling Museum for two days, including acting as tour guides, selling tickets and creating entertainment for visitors.

Yinka Shonibare MBE, described the initiative as: “A deliberately contrary project in which the institution will literally be taken over by children. The Foundling Museum has historically provided children with education and accommodation, the Back To Front Weekend will present a shift in power relations between those who have traditionally used the institution and those who have run the institution.”

The RADA students performed in costume with the children, entertaining museum visitors with 18th century dance workshops and combat demonstrations.

It was a great day for all involved and an inventive way to engage young people in art, performance and an important piece of London’s history.

The Foundling Museum can be found at 40 Brunswick Square, London WC1N1AZ. For more information on the museum please see their website. 

The Youth Company (formerly known as the Youth Group) provides access to drama training and performance opportunities for young people aged 16-20 who live in and around London. The Youth Company members meet on a weekly basis (Saturday) but are required to make an annual commitment.

The annual fee is £170 which can be paid either termly or annually. The course is run over three 12 week terms. Workshop auditions are held each year (in September) for new members.

Applications for the youth company for 2012/2013 are now open. 

To apply please download the application form and return to Joan Oliver, Education and Outreach Manager.

RADA has excelled in the BBC Carleton Hobbs Radio competition this year, receiving the most commendations and prizes out of all the drama schools competing.
 
The RADA team was given seven commendations overall, including a commendation for the team piece which was described by the judges as ‘...a very professional reading and one of the year’s best team pieces...’
 
RADA third year BA acting student, Adam Nagaitis won the top prize of a six month BBC Radio contract providing the opportunity to participate in the next season’s radio company. Joshua Silver, also a third year BA acting student, was awarded a role in a radio play as the runners up prize.
 
The competition has become increasingly competitive with more drama schools than ever entering and the audition process now taking four days to complete.   Congratulations to Adam Nagaitis, Joshua Silver, Rochenda Sandall and Scarlett Brookes for all the hard work and effort they put into preparing for the competition and RADA sight reading teacher, David Timson who coached the team this year.
 
RADA has been entering the Carleton Hobbs radio prize for many years and Carleton Hobbs himself was a student at RADA in the 1920’s before he became a specialist radio actor.
 

RADA graduates have achieved an impressive number of nominations for the Olivier awards this year with alumni represented in four categories including Best Set Design and Best Director.

Bryony Hannah is nominated for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for her part in The Children’s Hour, Bertie Carvel’s performance as Miss Trunchball in Matlida earned him a nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.  Offstage and behind the scenes, RADA graduate Rufus Norris was recognised for his direction of the new musical London Road at the Cottesloe Theatre and Michael Taylor was nominated for his set design of the West End success, The Ladykillers. 

The winners will be announced on 15 April at the Royal Opera House with specially created performances to celebrate the occasion.  Last year RADA graduate Michelle Terry won an Olivier for her performance in Tribes at the Royal Court, best of luck to all the graduates nominated this year.
 

RADA graduates Bethan Culliane and Robin Morrissey are representing RADA as part of a play in a day challenge run by Climate Week.  The project brings together the finest British theatrical talent to put on five original fifteen minute performances in 24 hours.  The aim is to showcase creative solutions to climate change as part of Climate Week which takes place on the 12-18 March.

Five teams will put their creativity, talent and stamina to the test by producing a performance against the clock. Each team comprises an award-winning writer and director, celebrity actors, and graduates from the UK’s top drama schools.

Thousands of events and activities are being planned by organisations from every part of society for Climate Week with the aim of renewing our ambition to create a more sustainable, low-carbon future.

To get tickets for the performances, visit the Arcola website.  For more information, please have a look at the Time Out website.

RADA is running our joint language course, Communicating with Confidence in English with leading language school ‘Language in London’ for a second year this summer.
 
This innovative course uses drama and literary texts, to show you how to use your voice, improve your pronunciation and really get the rhythm of the English language. Our practical approach brings the students learning to life and aims to develop your confidence as an English speaker.
 
The course is suitable for non-native native English speakers of any age, as long as you have an intermediate level of English.
 
Communicating with Confidence in English will run twice over the summer on 16 - 27 July or  6 - 17 August
 
Visit Language in London’s website for more details or phone directly on +44 (0)203 468 8598