How LAMDA is leading the way in modernising drama school training

Many will know LAMDA as one of the world’s oldest and most renowned drama schools. But they might not realise the esteemed institution is still very much at the forefront of pioneering conservatoire training.

At a time when the performing arts is rapidly evolving, LAMDA is adapting its offering accordingly, being one of the first conservatoires in the UK to extend its training to include virtual production and motion capture for screen. Meanwhile, the school is keen to challenge perceptions of the performing arts being ‘elitist’ and has placed diversity and inclusion at the heart of its ethos.

Marketing executive Kimberley Ballard tells The Stage: “We’ll always respect our heritage, but we also want to focus on what LAMDA can give to young people today, especially young people who are interested in the performing arts but could be a bit intimidated by a place like LAMDA and think it might be closed off to them.”

Ballard says that the west London school prides itself on being a “very open, welcoming space”. Its “training without borders” strategy includes a Pathways Programme to help remove barriers to the performing arts for young people.

“LAMDA is a space where students can come and discover who they are and have the space and the freedom to hone their own unique voice,” she adds.

The conservatoire’s BA Acting course, which has a long list of successful graduates including David Oyelowo and Leah Harvey, does not need much of an introduction. Anyone looking to train as an actor will be likely to have this course on their radar. However, Ballard says, there is much more to LAMDA’s offering. To this point, the school’s current president, Benedict Cumberbatch, is a graduate from one of LAMDA’s postgraduate programmes.

‘LAMDA is a space where students can come and discover who they are and have the space and the freedom to hone their own unique voice’ – marketing executive Kimberley Ballard

The school has a second BA programme in Production and Technical Arts, a pioneering programme founded in 1965, which includes modules in production management, stage management, scenic construction, lighting and sound. Recent graduates include Corben Jones, head of lighting on the new production of Starlight Express at Wembley’s Troubadour Theatre, and the sound designer Tingying Dong, who graduated in 2019 and won The Stage Debut Award 2023 for best creative West End debut for her work on The Crucible at the National Theatre and Gielgud Theatre.

LAMDA boasts a selection of postgraduate master’s degree programmes, spanning a variety of acting options, directing and musical theatre performance. In 2024, the school took its musical theatre students to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with a production of Into the Woods, and will return to Edinburgh in 2025.

Technology is an important part of LAMDA’s focus moving forward. In 2023, the school received a £1.9 million government grant to invest in virtual production and motion capture technology to help address an “industry-wide skills gap”. These facilities are now integrated into the training courses, along with LAMDA’s three theatre spaces and its audio broadcast studio.

LAMDA’s facilities are state-of-the-art, with the drama school’s £28.2 million redevelopment having opened in 2017. Based in Baron’s Court in south-west London, the school boasts 16 rehearsal spaces, well-equipped theatre technical inventories and industry-standard screen and audio facilities.

The strides LAMDA has been taking to evolve its training are reflected in its recent achievements. The conservatoire got the top spot for Drama and Dance in the 2025 Guardian University Guide and was ranked in the top 10 drama schools in the world in the most recent Hollywood Reporter list.

Ballard adds: “We pride ourselves on being diverse, international, multicultural and having things in place that help young people from different backgrounds come to LAMDA.”

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