LAMDA

Based in Hammersmith, the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art offers courses focusing on both acting and production. Selecting only the best from a high number of applications means that entry is limited, with around 30 students enrolled on its BA (Hons) Professional Acting each year – just one of the qualifications offered by the school.

LAMDA is the oldest drama school in the UK, having opened in 1861 as the London Academy of Music. Many well-known names have undertaken training at LAMDA, including Dominic Cooper, Anna Chancellor, Katherine Parkinson, Toby Stephens and Benedict Cumberbatch, who was appointed the new President of LAMDA in January 2018.

The school continues to invest in its future, with the opening of a £28million complex next to its existing site one of the recent highlights. The complex includes the 200-seat Simon Sainsbury Theatre, the 120-seat Carne Studio Theatre, a new education wing with a digital screen and audio suite, and a suite of 10 training and rehearsal studios.