View source for London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art

{{short description|Drama school in Hammersmith, London}}
{{redirect|LAMDA|the AI|LaMDA|other uses|Lambda (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
 | latin_name             = 
 | image                  = [[File:LAMDA building.jpg|250px|border|alt=Gower Street entrance]]
 | caption                = The main entrance to LAMDA
 | motto                  = 
 | mottoeng               = 
 | established            = {{start date|1861}}
 | type                   = [[Drama school]]
 | endowment              = 
 | staff                  = 
 | president              = [[Benedict Cumberbatch]]
 | principal              = Mark O'Thomas
 | rector                 = 
 | students               = 
 | undergrad              = 
 | postgrad               = 
 | logo                   = File:London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art logo.svg
 | logo_size              = 
 | doctoral               = 
 | colours                = 
 | location               = [[Hammersmith]], [[London]], England
 | campus                 = 
 | free_label             = 
 | free                   = 
 | affiliations           = {{plainlist|
*[[Federation of Drama Schools]] [[Conservatoires UK]]
}}
 | website                = {{Official URL}}
}}

The '''London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art''' ('''LAMDA''') is a [[drama school]] located in [[Hammersmith]], [[London]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Find Your Local Council:search |url=https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council/hammersmith-and-fulham}}</ref> Founded in 1861, it is the oldest specialist drama school in the [[British Isles]] and was a founding member of the [[Federation of Drama Schools]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.backstage.com/uk/magazine/article/the-drama-schools-uk-actors-should-know-67213/#section4 |title=The 16 Best Drama Schools all UK Actors Should Know |last=Ross |first=Eleanor |work=Backstage |date=November 26, 2024 |access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref> In January 2025 the school expanded its training grounds to [[New York City]] through a partnership with A.R.T. New York in [[Manhattan]] to provide studio training to actors in the [[US]]<ref>{{Cite web | date=12 December 2024 |title=U.K.'s LAMDA to Open Offices and Studios in NYC |url=https://www.americantheatre.org/2024/12/12/lamda-announces-new-offices-and-training-in-nyc/ |url-status=live |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20241213153406/https://www.americantheatre.org/2024/12/12/lamda-announces-new-offices-and-training-in-nyc/ | archivedate = 13 December 2024 |website=American Theatre}}</ref>. LAMDA was ranked as the No. 1 drama school in the [[UK]] by [[The Guardian University Guide]] in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2024/sep/07/the-guardian-university-guide-2025-the-rankings |title=The Guardian University Guide Dance and Drama |author=<!-- not stated --> |website=The Guardian |date=September 11, 2024 |access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lamda.ac.uk/news/lamda-ranks-number-one-for-drama-in-the-guardian-2025-league-tables |title=The Guardian ranks LAMDA number one school for Drama |author=<!-- not stated --> |publisher=lamda |website=lamda |date=September 11, 2024 |access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.americantheatre.org/2024/12/12/lamda-announces-new-offices-and-training-in-nyc/ |title=UK's LAMDA to Open Offices and Studios in NYC |author=<!-- not stated --> |publisher=AMERICAN THEATRE |website=americantheatre |date=December 12, 2024 |access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref>

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 theatre|West End]] and [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]], as well as on the [[BBC]], [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]], and in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe|MCU]]. It is registered as a company under the name LAMDA Ltd<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.do-business.net/Indexer/Company/Lamda-Ltd|title=Lamda Ltd|access-date=2018-10-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107055532/http://www.do-business.net/Indexer/Company/Lamda-Ltd|archive-date=2017-11-07|url-status=live}}</ref> and as a charity under its trading name London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.<ref>[http://www.charitiesdirect.com/charities/london-academy-of-music-and-dramatic-art-312821.html London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, charitiesdirect.com] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120722201028/http://www.charitiesdirect.com/charities/london-academy-of-music-and-dramatic-art-312821.html |date=2012-07-22 }}</ref> There is an associate organisation in America under the name of American Friends of LAMDA (AFLAMDA).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aflamda.org/|title=LAMDA {{!}} AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LONDON ACADEMY OF MUSIC & DRAMATIC ART|website=aflamda.org|access-date=2019-10-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lamda.org.uk/development/america/friends.htm|title=What's On – LAMDA|access-date=2018-10-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224201546/http://www.lamda.org.uk/development/america/friends.htm|archive-date=2012-02-24|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 40 [[Olivier Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/top-25-drama-schools-319963/ |title=The Hollywood Reporter's List of the 25 Top Drama Schools |last=Appelo |first=Tim |date=May 4, 2012 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lamda.ac.uk/students-alumni/alumni |author=<!-- not stated --> |title=LAMDA Students and Alumni |website=LAMDA |publisher=London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Ltd. |access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/winners/ |author=<!-- not stated --> |title=Olivier Award Archive |website=OfficialLondonTheatre |publisher=Official London Theatre |access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/awards/nominees-winners/2024/outstanding-comedy-series |author=<!-- not stated --> |title=Winners |website=TelevisionAcademy |publisher=Television Academy |access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bafta.org/awards |author=<!-- not stated --> |title=BAFTA Awards Archive |website=BAFTA |publisher=British Academy of Film and Television Arts |access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tonyawards.com/winners/ |author=<!-- not stated --> |title=Tony Awards History Year by Year |website=Tony Awards |publisher=The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards |access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2025 |author=<!-- not stated --> |title= Experience Over Nine Decades of the Oscars From 1927 to 2025 |website=Oscars |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref>

LAMDA has a long-established 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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://us.fulbrightonline.org/countries/europe-and-eurasia/united-kingdom/1785|title = United Kingdom: 1 Fulbright/John Wood LAMDA Award in Classical Acting |website=fulbrightonline.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MA Classical Acting for the Professional Theatre | work = London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art |url=https://www.lamda.ac.uk/all-courses/acting-directing-courses/ma-classical-acting-professional-theatre |access-date=2022-10-04 | language=en}}</ref> LAMDA Examinations in the fields of speech, drama, musical theatre, 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 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Benedict Cumberbatch becomes president of Lamda drama school|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42708021|access-date=8 March 2018|publisher=BBC|date=16 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308125227/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42708021|archive-date=2018-03-08|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=LAMDA appoints Professor Mark O'Thomas as principal and chief executive|url=https://www.dramaandtheatre.co.uk/news/article/lamda-appoints-professor-mark-o-thomas-as-principal-and-chief-executive|website=dramaandtheatre.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2022-08-16}}</ref><ref name="lamda.ac.uk">{{Cite web |url=https://www.lamda.ac.uk/news/lamda-announces-next-principal-and-chief-executive |title=LAMDA announces next Principal and Chief Executive |date=2022-08-16 |website=lamda.ac.uk|access-date=2022-08-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/manchester-theatre/news/sarah-frankcom-artistic-director-royal-exchange_48603.html|title=Sarah Frankcom to step down as artistic director of Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre {{!}} WhatsOnStage|website=whatsonstage.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-10-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lamda.org.uk/development/press/releases/LAMDAAppointsANewPrincipal_000.pdf|title=Press Office|access-date=2018-10-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514193536/http://www.lamda.org.uk/development/press/releases/LAMDAAppointsANewPrincipal_000.pdf|archive-date=2013-05-14|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== History ==

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.<ref name="Grove" /><ref name= lloyds>"[https://www.newspapers.com/image/390344023/ London Academy of Music]". ''Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper'' (London, England). 15 December 1861. p. 8.</ref> Teaching began on 15 November 1861, at which time the cost per annum was 15{{nbsp}}[[Guinea (coin)|guinea]]s, or £15 15s 0d.<ref name=1861-telegram>"[https://www.newspapers.com/image/784566520/ The London Academy of Music]". ''The Daily Telegraph'' (London, England). 6 November 1861. p. 1.</ref> Students of all ages "with a decided talent, or showing an aptitude for learning" were admitted.<ref name=1861-telegram/> Full scholarships were available.<ref name=1861-telegram/> The first philharmonic concert was held on 29 April 1863, following a public rehearsal on 25 April.<ref>"[https://www.newspapers.com/image/396201696/ New Philharmonic Concerts]". ''The Morning Post'' (London, England). 25 April 1863. p. 4.</ref><ref name=30-apr-1863>"[https://www.newspapers.com/image/784115703/ New Philharmonic Concerts]". ''The Daily Telegraph'' (London, England). 30 April 1863. p. 3.</ref> It was a performance of [[Symphony No. 3 (Mendelssohn)|Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3]].<ref name=30-apr-1863/>

Providing training for, and examinations in, various musical disciplines 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 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 Organ School and College of Music|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.<ref>'Country and Colonial News'.The Musical Times, Vol. 48, No. 768 (1 Feb. 1907), p.119.</ref>) In due course 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.<ref name="Grove">{{Cite Grove |last=Rainbow |first=Bernarr |last2=Kemp |first2=Anthony |title=London (i), §VIII: Educational institutions, 3. Conservatories|name-list-style=amp}}</ref> However, singing has remained integral to LAMDA's actor training and in 2023 it introduced a new MFA Musical Theatre programme.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MA Musical Theatre {{!}} London academy of music & dramatic art |url=https://www.lamda.ac.uk/all-courses/acting-directing-courses/ma-musical-theatre |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=www.lamda.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref>

LAMDA was previously an associate member of 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]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Snow |first1=Georgia |title=RADA and LAMDA leave Conservatoire for Dance and Drama to become independent institutions |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/rada-and-lamda-leave-conservatoire-for-dance-and-drama-to-become-independent-institutions |access-date=19 August 2020 |work=The Stage |date=26 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Annual Report & Financial Statements For the year ended 31 July 2019 |url=https://ww2.lamda.ac.uk/sites/default/files/LAMDA%20Limited%20Signed%20Accounts%20YE%2031%20July%202019.pdf |website=London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art |access-date=19 August 2020}}</ref> LAMDA is a member of [[Conservatoires UK]] - an elite group of drama and music schools in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet our members |url=https://conservatoiresuk.ac.uk/meet-our-members/ |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=Conservatoires UK |language=en-US}}</ref>

In August 2021 it was announced that Sarah Frankcom would step down as Director, and that LAMDA was conducting a search for a successor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2021/aug/10/lamda-boss-to-leave-job-amid-conduct-and-management-style-complaints?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other|title = Lamda boss to leave job amid 'conduct and management style' complaints|website = [[The Guardian]]|date = 10 August 2021}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/faces/othomas-named-lamda-principal-and-chief-executive|title=O'Thomas named LAMDA Principal and Chief Executive|website=artsprofessional.co.uk|date=18 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/lamda-appoints-mark-othomas-principal|title=LAMDA appoints Mark O'Thomas principal|website=TheStage.co.uk|date=16 August 2022}}</ref><ref name="lamda.ac.uk"/>

== Facilities ==
[[File:London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, 24 February 2020.jpg|thumb|The LAMDA building on Talgarth Road]]
In 2003, LAMDA decided to move its teaching school and theatre to its current location in [[Hammersmith]] in West London. It acquired 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]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/backstage-why-lamdas-28-million-extension-is-making-jaws-drop/ |title=Backstage: Why LAMDA's £28 million extension is making jaws drop |last=Hoggart |first=Paul |date=10 July 2017 |website=The Stage |access-date=15 January 2020 }}</ref> 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 the Sainsbury Theatre, the Carne Studio Theatre and the Linbury Studio.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hire a Space |url=https://www.lamda.ac.uk/life-lamda/hire-space |website=London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art |access-date=19 August 2020}}</ref>

==Boards and Honorary Fellows==
*Patron: [[Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trustees | work = London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art |url=https://www.lamda.ac.uk/trustees |access-date=2024-03-19 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rumsby |first=Kieran |date=2022-08-06 |title=Tell me about...Princess Alexandra |url=https://thecrownchronicles.co.uk/explanation/tell-me-about-princess-alexandra/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=The Crown Chronicles |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Board of trustees===
*President: [[Benedict Cumberbatch]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-01-16 |title=Benedict Cumberbatch becomes president of Lamda drama school |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-42708021 |access-date=2024-03-19 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
*Vice-president: [[Patricia Hodge]]
*Chairman: [[Nigel Carrington|Sir Nigel Carrington]]<ref>{{Cite web | date=2025-01-07 |title=LAMDA names new chair | work = Arts Professional |url=https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/faces/lamda-names-new-chair |access-date=2025-09-02 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
*Vice Chair: [[Thomas Lyttelton, 3rd Viscount Chandos|Tom Chandos]], [[Shirley Pearce|Dame Shirley Pearce]]
*Other Board members: Shamez Alibhai, David Roper, Professor Naren Barfield, Georgia Brown, Mohammad Dastbaz, Frances Corner, Nese Guner, Joanne Hirst, Katie Channon, Nathan Richardson, Thomas Laing-Baker,  Joanne Hirst, Helen Protheroe, Michelle Daisley, [[Leah Harvey]], [[Rory Kinnear]], [[Dame Shirley Pearce]], Helen Wright<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lamda.ac.uk/trustees|title=LAMDA Trustees {{!}} LAMDA|website=lamda.ac.uk|access-date=2023-01-22}}</ref>
*Staff Trustee: Annabel Mutale Reed

===Honorary Fellows===
{{unreferenced section|date=January 2023}}
{{Div col}}
*[[Norman Ayrton]]
*Eileen Collins
*Colin Cook
*[[Zoë Dominic]]
*Michael Forrest
*Brian Tilston
*Philip Carne
{{Div end}}

==Notable alumni==
{{See also|:Category:Alumni of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Federation of Drama Schools|state=collapsed}}
{{Performing Arts Schools in the United Kingdom}}

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{{authority control}}

[[Category:London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art| ]]
[[Category:1861 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Drama schools in London]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1861]]