29-490: Brian Capron (born 11 February 1947) is an English actor who trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art . He is best known for his role as serial killer Richard Hillman in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 2001 to 2003. He had previously appeared in the series as the social worker Donald Worthington in 1981–1982, and 1986. Capron first came to public attention through his role of
58-481: A Master of Arts, Master of Acting, Master of Science, Master of Fine Arts , Doctor of Arts , Doctor of Fine Arts , or Doctor of Philosophy degree. Entry to drama school is usually through a competitive audition process. Some schools make this a two-stage process. Places on an acting course are limited (usually well below 100) so those who fare best at the audition are selected. Most academies state that applicants must be over 18 years of age. Auditions usually involve
87-646: A husband who is always rowing and fighting his wife Joanna. Capron played this role twice, firstly in the series 4 episode "Trouble & Strife" and later on in the series 5 episode "Out to Lunch". In the Series 8 episode "Tip off", he played a prisoner, Keith Grounds. He has also played narrator in The Rocky Horror Show in London's West End, alongside Suzanne Shaw , in January 2007. In 2007, Capron played Nathan Detroit on
116-589: A perfect score of 100. It is also ranked 6th in the world by The Hollywood Reporter 's annual list of the 25 top drama schools and is currently rated as the top UK drama school for student satisfaction according to the 2024 National Student Survey . The academy's graduates work regularly at the Royal National Theatre , the Royal Shakespeare Company , Shakespeare's Globe , and the theatres of London's West End and Hollywood , as well as on
145-551: A single national authority Drama UK responsible for both the provision of Drama Training and accreditation of official courses. In 2017, Drama UK was replaced by the Federation of Drama Schools . Top drama schools in the UK are members of the mission group Conservatoires UK , which also includes the country's world-leading music schools. In the UK, funding varies from drama school to drama school. Historically drama schools were not part of
174-743: Is in partnership with the Fulbright Program . Each year one U.S. applicant is awarded a Fulbright Scholarship by the US/ UK Fulbright Commission to study for a Master of Arts in classical acting at the school. LAMDA Examinations in the fields of speech, drama, communication, and performance are taken by external students and are recognised by Ofqual , the regulator in England, and its counterparts in Wales and Northern Ireland . LAMDA-accredited examinations at Level 3 or above are recognised within
203-489: The Guys and Dolls tour, opposite Claire Sweeney . In September 2007, Capron was announced as one of the contestants to take part in the fifth series of Strictly Come Dancing . He was partnered by Karen Hardy , who was Series 4 champion with cricketer Mark Ramprakash . After finishing in last place on the first show, he found himself in the dance-off along with Kenny Logan, but the judges voted in favour of saving Logan and Capron
232-703: The BBC , HBO , and Broadway . It is registered as a company under the name LAMDA Ltd and as a charity under its trading name London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. There is an associate organisation in America under the name of American Friends of LAMDA (AFLAMDA). A very high proportion of LAMDA's stage management and technical theatre graduates find work in their chosen field within weeks of graduation. LAMDA alumni have received 5 Academy Awards (out of 13 Oscar nominations ), 10 SAG Awards , 13 Tonys , 15 Emmys , 19 Golden Globes , 21 BAFTAs , and 39 Olivier Awards . LAMDA
261-607: The Conservatoire for Dance and Drama , having joined in 2004, and received funding through the Conservatoire from the Office for Students . It left the Conservatoire on 31 July 2019 to become an independent institution, and now receives funding directly from the Office for Students and Research England . LAMDA is a member of Conservatoires UK - an elite group of drama and music schools in
290-502: The Juilliard School ) that specializes in the pre-professional training in drama and theatre arts, such as acting, design and technical theatre , arts administration , and related subjects. If the drama school is part of a degree-granting institution, undergraduates typically take an Associate degree , Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts , or, occasionally, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Design . Graduate students may take
319-515: The UCAS Tariff system. LAMDA's Principal is Professor Mark O'Thomas, who succeeded Director Sarah Frankcom in 2022. Benedict Cumberbatch succeeded Timothy West as President of LAMDA's board of trustees in 2018. The London Academy of Music was established by Henry Wylde in 1861 in St. James's Hall ; there were separate sections for men and women. Teaching began on 15 November 1861, at which time
SECTION 10
#1733094500813348-484: The Hampstead Academy was also amalgamated. The name was changed to the current name in 1935, under the direction of Wilfrid Foulis. In 1939, it was moved from London due to the war; when it reopened in 1945, it no longer provided musical training. However, singing has remained integral to LAMDA's actor training and in 2023 it introduced a new MFA Musical Theatre programme. LAMDA was previously an associate member of
377-639: The Sainsbury Theatre, the Carne Studio Theatre and the Linbury Studio. 51°29′26″N 0°12′52″W / 51.49056°N 0.21444°W / 51.49056; -0.21444 Drama school A drama school , stage school or theatre school is an undergraduate and/or graduate school or department at a college or university, or a free-standing institution (such as the Drama section at
406-672: The UK are the Dance and Drama Awards . This is a government scheme which subsidises the training offered at a selection of the leading performing arts schools in the fields of dance, drama, musical theatre and stage management. A number of third-level institutions provide courses in Drama and Theatre Studies, including Trinity College, Dublin , NUI Maynooth, and Dublin City University. A decision by Trinity in January 2007 to drop its BA in Acting Studies to cut costs met with disappointment from
435-410: The UK's and the world's oldest drama school still in existence and was established in 1861. The Conference of Drama Schools was an organisation that comprised Britain's 22 leading Drama Schools. CDS existed to strengthen the voice of the member schools, to set and maintain the highest standards of training within the vocational drama sector, and to make it easier for prospective students to understand
464-610: The Unexpected , Full House , Shoestring , Bergerac , Casualty , Birds of a Feather , Murder Most Horrid , The Bill , Taggart , Peak Practice , Judge John Deed , Crocodile Shoes , and Where the Heart Is and Emmerdale Farm . His feature film appearances have included roles in Emma (1996), 101 Dalmatians (1996), Still Crazy (1998) and Ambleton Delight (2009). In The Bill he played Antionio Mancini,
493-682: The United Kingdom. In August 2021 it was announced that Sarah Frankcom would step down as Director, and that LAMDA was conducting a search for a successor. In August 2022, LAMDA announced that Professor Mark O'Thomas had been unanimously appointed by the board of trustees as principal and chief executive, with Dr. Philippa Standberg-Long appointed as head of actor training. In 2003, LAMDA decided to move its teaching school and theatre to its current location in Hammersmith in West London. It acquired
522-652: The United Kingdom. In 1904, the school was amalgamated with two other London music institutions that had sprung up since the academy was founded, namely the London Music School (founded 1865) and the Forest Gate School of Music (founded 1885) renamed in 1906 the Metropolitan Academy of Music. (The Metropolitan Academy of Music severed its links with the London Academy of Music in 1907. ) In due course
551-426: The cost per annum was 15 guineas , or £15 15s 0d. Students of all ages "with a decided talent, or showing an aptitude for learning" were admitted. Full scholarships were available. The first philharmonic concert was held on 29 April 1863, following a public rehearsal on 25 April. It was a performance of Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3 . Providing training for, and examinations in, various musical disciplines
580-618: The future of the graduates and serves as a showcase of what the students can do. In 1833, actress Frances Maria Kelly managed the Royal Strand Theatre where she funded and operated a dramatic school, the earliest record of a drama school in England. In 1840 she financed the building of the Royalty Theatre in Soho which opened as Miss Kelly's Theatre and Dramatic School. The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) remains both
609-789: The guest role of Andrew Donelson in Taggart in the episode "A Fistful of Chips", in 1999. He was cast as George Godley in Jack the Ripper (1988), with Barry Foster as Inspector Frederick Abberline , and the two started filming in October 1987. It was later decided to recast with Michael Caine as Abberline and Lewis Collins as Godley in order to attract larger audiences in the United States. Other notable TV credits include: Z-Cars , Dixon of Dock Green , Angels , The Sweeney , Blake's 7 , Tales of
SECTION 20
#1733094500813638-676: The mainstream academic system, and therefore were not funded on the same basis as universities. Some drama schools are now part of a university, such as Guildhall School of Music and Drama , which is part of the City University of London , and Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance, which is part of the University of Manchester, and these tend to charge similar tuition fees to universities. Student loans, drama awards and scholarships may help to provide students with their funding. The most prominent funding scheme for performing arts education in
667-744: The old premises of the Royal Ballet School on Talgarth Road . The move to the Talgarth Road enabled LAMDA to develop a campus with new training facilities designed by Niall McLaughlin Architects . The site was previously home to the Royal Ballet School, which moved to new, purpose-built facilities adjacent to the Royal Opera House . The LAMDA complex has three theatres and various rehearsal spaces and meeting rooms. The three theatres are
696-459: The performance of monologues , singing, and group workshops. The courses offered by drama schools focus on practical courses, rather than theoretical classes. Their aim is to train students as professional actors for stage, film, and television. At the beginning of the final year (usually the third), most drama schools stage a series of performances throughout the academic year to which agents and casting directors are invited. This helps to build
725-523: The range of courses on offer and the application process. Founded in 1969, the 22 member schools continue to offer courses in Acting, Musical Theatre, Directing and Technical Theatre training. Graduates of CDS courses are currently working on stage, in front of the camera and behind the scenes in theatres and studios across Britain. In 2012, CDS was merged with the National Council for Drama Training to create
754-640: The teacher Mr Stuart "Hoppy" Hopwood in Grange Hill from 1980 to 1983. In 1984, he appeared as Fred, one of a pair of confidence tricksters in the Minder episode Around the Corner. Also that year, he appeared in The Gentle Touch episode "Do It Yourself" as lead character Maggie Forbes' gay hairdresser Toby. He also acted in BBC soap opera EastEnders , playing Jerry McKenzie from 1993 to 1994. He played
783-580: The theatre sector. A Forum for Acting Training was convened with leading professionals who recommended in a 2008 report, that an Academy for Dramatic Arts, independent of a University, but with third level accreditation should be created. The report was submitted to the Irish Government. On 1 August 2008, The Irish Times reported that a RADA graduate, Danielle Ryan , granddaughter of the late Tony Ryan who founded Ryanair , had announced plans to develop an Irish Academy of Dramatic Arts part-funded from
812-633: Was eliminated from the show. He lives in Brighton . London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art ( LAMDA ) is a drama school located in Hammersmith , London . It is the oldest specialist drama school in the British Isles and a founding member of the Federation of Drama Schools . The institution is ranked 1st in the UK in the " Drama and Dance " category by The Guardian University Guide rankings for 2025 with
841-416: Was originally the dominant purpose of the institution. However, providing instruction in spoken English quickly became a core area of the academy's work. In the 1880s, LAMDA began offering speech examinations to the public. Since then, these examinations have been refined and developed into a comprehensive system of performance evaluation. LAMDA Examinations has emerged as the largest Speech and Drama Board in
#812187