News

News, Updates and Announcements from Central

Lighting being installed in an empty theatre

News, updates and announcements from Central

Ahead of the ceremony on 11 April, Central is delighted to announce that alum Ruby Ablett and Public and Cultural Engagement Fellow Dr Naomi Paxton, have been nominated for The Pantomime Awards 2023.

The Pantomime Awards 2023 text and star logo in gold against a magenta background.

Central is delighted to announce that its Technical & Production team has recently signed up as a Supporter of Backstage Niche.
The membership provides Central with access to their diverse network of Freelancers, working across various disciplines, from Stage Management to Sound to Set Design.

Orange Backstage Niche logo on black background

The People’s Kitchen, a touring community art project that aims to bring people together for a hot bowl of soup and meaningful dialogue, has opened in Rainham, Havering and will take place daily through 18 March.   More than just a pop-up kitchen, The People’s Kitchen is a space of hope and togetherness where local people, community groups and organisations can come together to plant seeds for new food and cultural legacies, inspire social change, and imagine new futures. 

Image showing a glowing white light box sign with the words 'The People's Kitchen' written on it in black lettering

Central’s Embassy Theatre has once again played host to the Association of Lighting Production and Design (ALPD) and White Light Ltd New Technology Showcase. The annual industry event featured the latest in lighting technology and was supported by Central staff and students from the School’s Lighting Design and Production Lighting courses. 

Photo credited to White Light Ltd

White Light Ltd photo taken of the 2023 new technology showcase showing the embassy theatre stage illuminated with bright blue and pink lights.

On Tuesday 28 February, nominations for the 2023 Olivier Awards were announced and we are delighted to be able to celebrate news that several Central graduates have been recognised this year across a wide range of categories.

Text over a black background reading "nominations announced Olivier Awards"

Central is excited to partner with The Stage for the first in-person Future of Theatre Conference. 

Now in its third year, the industry event will take place on March 29th, 2023 in Central's Embassy Theatre. It will also run online, as in previous years. 

Black background with the words future of theatre in white, alongside a graphic showing a delegate logged into a laptop attending a conference digitally

On Saturday 25 February, the hello stranger UK Festival of Performance Design, curated by Central's Dr Kathrine Sandys and Lucy Thornett, launches with its inaugural event at the Edinburgh College of Art.

The Festival, which is free to attend and which takes place across the United Kingdom, runs through the end of April.

*Photo shows students taking part in a workshop in Derby; Photo by Xristina Pena

Students on a stage and in an auditorium gather to take part in a workshop

A roundup celebrating a selection of Central graduate’s news and successes, covering alumni award wins and nominations, and their numerous contributions in all areas of stage and digital theatre, television and film, as well as in the wider community.

A close-up image of Nic Redman smiling as they sit before a recording microphone

Central was delighted to host Poetry Off the Page’s one-day conference Taking the Mic: Black British Spoken Word Poetry Since 1965 – Aesthetics, Activisms, Auralities.

A red paper event programme with the words 'Taking the Mic' is held by an attendee.

In the Autumn term, Central was pleased to host the premiere of the documentary film 'My Name Is.' in the Embassy Theatre.

The award-winning 20-minute mini documentary series follows individuals with non-western names, its link to their identity and pressures to conform to western norms.

Yellow banner with person with black block over eyes. Award and festival laurels and credits. My Name Is Screening premiere event 15th October

On Saturday 22 January, Dr Dani Ploeger’s sci-fi short film The Cults (2021) will be screened at the Curzon Soho cinema as a part of the official selection of the London Short Film Festival. 

Promotional image for Dr Dani Ploeger's film The Cults

The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama has once again been recognised as a ‘world-leading’ specialist provider by the Office for Students (OfS). 

Office for students logo - blue lettering showing the name of the office for students against a solid white background