Drama Foundation in association with RADA

"I am consistently impressed by the enthusiasm and dedication of the staff at CSVPA and by the standard of their students at audition. I believe the course is a valuable introduction not only for those who know they want to train as an actor, but for anyone with an interest in drama or performance."

Edward Kemp, Artistic Director, RADA

The ONLY drama school associated with RADA

The CSVPA / RADA Drama Foundation is aimed at confident individuals with a passion for the performing arts and who are considering a career in acting.

Under the mentorship and guidance of our RADA approved lecturing staff, who are themselves practicing theatre professionals, you will train in a variety of disciplines and be challenged to grow both professionally and personally.

The course covers the core performing arts disciplines: acting, voice, movement, singing, dance and theatre history. In addition you will receive intensive one-to-one preparation for auditions.

About the course...

Why train at CSVPA?
The programme
Lecturing staff
Our success rate
The audition process
Sample Timetable

Our actors & productions...

Gallery of recent productions

About RADA...

The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)
RADA Shakespeare Certificates

Professional actor training

"The combination of individual attention and top teaching that students receive at CSVPA enables their growth both as performers and as human beings." - Brian Stirner, RADA Acting Coach

Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts (CSVPA) is acknowledged to be one of the best drama schools offering foundation drama in the UK. Our longstanding association with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) provides us with a unique opportunity to offer our students an intensive one year theatre training programme in Cambridge.

A significant part of the course is dedicated to audition technique with intensive one-to-one feedback. You will also prepare for a fully staged public end of year production to showcase the skills you have learned over the year (past productions include: The Threepenny Opera, The Government Inspector, The Merry Wives of Windsor, A Midsummer Night’s Dream).

The CSVPA / RADA foundation programme consists of 35 – 40 hours per week of practical tuition and is divided as follows:

In addition, you will receive:

• coaching for RADA Shakespeare Certificates
• exclusive RADA master classes (at CSVPA and RADA's London campus)
• external master classes (past sessions include: Frantic Assembly, Jeremy Stockwell, Hoipolloi)
• lectures with RADA alumni

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Learn from professional, RADA qualified theatre practitioners

"Training at CSVPA was probably the best year of my life so far! The teaching is superb and guides you into the right direction, and makes sure you have fun along the way." - Emma Richardson, former student

All our lecturers are performance specialists who have ongoing professional experience within the theatre industry, both in the UK and internationally.

Jean Stewart
Head of Drama & Performing Arts

Jean is the lead acting lecturer on the CSVPA / RADA Foundation programme bringing with her more than 20 years of professional performance and teaching experience.

Jean trained at The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) and Glasgow University and holds an MA in Contemporary Theatre.  She has worked in theatre in education both in the UK and in Europe (Spain and Germany) and most recently directed a workshop of the Greek play A Thread in the Dark for the University of Crete.

She has developed new writing for young people through the National Theatre’s New Connections programme, working on plays such as Friendly Fire, by Peter Gill, and acted with Menagerie Theatre Company during their 2006 season of New Writing. Jean’s other directing credits span a diverse number of plays, most recently Brecht’s Threepenny Opera, The Grouch by Ranjit Bolt, and Bryony Lavery’s More Light, all for CSVPA.

Rebecca Cuthbertson
Head of Voice

Rebecca trained in voice at the Central School of Speech and Drama and is the lead voice lecturer on the CSVPA/RADA foundation programme; she also counts East 15 and RADA among some of the educational institutions for whom she has taught.

She specialises in developmental voice and classical texts and was the voice and text coach for the 2009/2010 Young Person’s Shakespeare production of Hamlet produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Her other voice coaching credits include: john & jen (Finborough Theatre), A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer (London premiere), A Devilish Exercise (The Rose Theatre Trust), Timon and Beckett’s Shorts (Central School of Speech and Drama), Comedy of Errors (Creation Theatre, Oxford), Full Frontal Diva (Finborough Theatre).

Rebecca also holds a Bachelors degree in Education and a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Theatre Arts. Her chapter “Breath and the Science of Feeling” was published in the recent book Breath in Action.

Christopher Lane
Head of Movement

Christopher is the lead lecturer in movement studies at CSVPA and also works as a freelance director in London specialising in musical theatre and the classics.

His work as an actor spans thirty years and he holds numerous stage credits as well as film and television experience. He trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama completing an MA in Directing in 2005.

His directing credits include the autumn 2010 UK premiere of the musical Bright Lights, Big City (This Stage Ltd, Hoxton Hall),  john & jen (UK premiere. Finborough Theatre), A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer by Eve Ensler (London premiere), A Devilish Exercise: Conjuring Marlowe at the Rose (The Rose Theatre Trust), Timon (a site-specific adaptation of Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens), and Beckett’s Shorts (an anthology of Samuel Beckett).

Christopher is a visiting lecturer for the Central School of Speech and Drama and has extensive lecturing credits from his native Canada.  He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a BA (Hons) in History.

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Outstanding acceptance rate at leading UK and international drama schools

"I’d certainly advise the CSVPA Foundation. Even though I felt completely ready for drama school, the Foundation year made me prepare for having to commit to a three year programme. It also helped to bolster my determination to become an actress." - Charlie Russell, former student

One of the indicators of the success of this programme can be found in the acceptance rate of our students into drama schools. Over the past three years we have had students leave us to attend RADA, LAMDA, Bristol Old Vic, The Drama Centre, Guildhall, East 15, Rose Bruford, RSAMD, Mountview, ALRA and The Lecoq School of Mime as well as drama schools in New York, California and Madrid.

Just a few examples of our Drama Foundation student results:

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

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Audition process

Auditions take place throughout the year in Cambridge and London and placement offers are generally given out on a rolling basis. We also occasionally audition in New York.

The audition should take the form of two monologues, one taken from contemporary and one from classical drama. Each monologue should last no longer than 2 minutes and should be delivered from memory.

If you are unable to attend auditions in person, we also accept video / DVD submissions.

Application packages & auditions can be arranged by contacting admissions at:

Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts

Bridge House

Bridge Street
Cambridge
UK
CB2 1UA


Tel: +44 (0) 1223 345698

Fax: +44 (0) 1223 346181

Email: admissions@ceg-uk.com

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Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)

The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) is the UK’s leading school for the dramatic arts. Courses at RADA include a BA (Hons) in Acting, validated by King’s College, London, and Graduate Diplomas in Theatre Technical Arts.

RADA alumni include: Sophie Okonedo, Matthew Macfadyen, Clive Owen, Maggie Gyllenhall, Ioan Gruffudd, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Caine, Gemma Arterton, Sean Bean, Kenneth Branagh and many more...

RADA Shakespeare Certificates explained

The RADA Shakespeare Certificates, at bronze, silver and gold levels, provide a benchmark for students wishing to improve their techniques and their confidence in delivering complex language. Each term there will be opportunities to prepare for, and take, these highly regarded qualifications.

The certificates are awarded following a successful presentation before RADA examiners at specially arranged examinations in Cambridge.

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Sample Timetable

Download sample timetable