New Writing

The work of living and new writers has formed a central part of RADA’s activity from its earliest days: George Bernard Shaw was one of the Academy’s first supporters and work with contemporary scripts forms a central part of many areas of RADA training, both on acting and technical courses.

RADA is the only drama school which employs a full-time dramaturg, who not only teaches acting students but also advises on repertoire and seeks opportunities to foster writer development within RADA.

This work has recently been supported by ASRADA made possible by a generous contribution from the Annenberg Foundation and bursaries have been established in the name of RADA graduate and screenwriter Sara Sugarman for two writers on attachment to be based at RADA for a year.

Some script development occurs within the second year actors’ curriculum. Much more is available through workshops in the evenings, weekends, and longer sessions in the Academy’s vacations.

This resource is made up largely of RADA graduates from across five decades, younger directors with a proven interest in new writing, and other members of the profession. It ranges from improvising an initial concept through structured workshops, to readings for a variety of audiences at appropriate stages of development, including promotional readings open to the public.