Knowledge Exchange

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Participants walking around a theatre space interacting with a range of different objects arranged in a circle by colour
Movement and text improvisation are used to explore the dynamics of interpersonal space in this workshop hosted by Prof David Harradine and Samantha Butler, in collaboration with Associazione Culturale MeNO and CeSDAS: International Centre of Experimentation for Applied Dramaturgy in Space.
Image credit: CeSDAS

Knowledge Exchange, the practise of working with external partners and using the expertise of both partner and academic for mutual benefit, is embedded into every aspect of our work, from research and scholarship to student placements, alumni relations, short courses and continuing professional development. We have a team dedicated to facilitating relationships and projects and are interesting in developing formal partnerships with a wide range of organisations from the creative industries, SMEs, charities and NGOs.  

We aim to be an institution where the creative industries and the academy come together to maximise the benefits that we can generate for wider society.  

For more details about our strategy, ambitions and activity please read on. If you are interested in working with us, in any capacity, please get in touch via knowledge.exchange@cssd.ac.uk  

Blog

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  •  Knowledge Exchange

Race, Motion Data, and Artificial Intelligence Gathering #2

Central staff Kate Elswit and Tia-Monique Uzor talk about their recent international gatherings, leading conversations about motion data.

Image of a black box studio room. On the right is a table with computer screens on it. Two people are behind this table, looking at the screens. One person is sitting on the floor to the left of the table, with their back to the camera and three people stand on the left of the shot, looking at a tv screen at eye level.

On Saturday 27 May, Central hosted a Virtual Reality (VR) sandpit event that brought together academics, researchers, and practitioners in the field of theatre and performance interested in VR.

New media artist, researcher and lecturer at Central, Dr Nicola Plant reflects on her experience of the workshop exploring the potentials, trends and challenges of VR in theatre and performance.

Five people stand in a wooden floored hall. They are wearing virtual reality headsets and all look in different directions.
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  •  Knowledge Exchange

I had fun with my colleagues: a binaural sound training session

Malachy Orozco is a member of theatre company collective ROOM and a member of staff in Central’s Technical and Production team. He took part in a workshop to explore new binaural sound equipment with colleagues and reflects on the experience here.

Image of a person outside in the street. They are wearing headphones and carrying a stylised grey head on a pole - a binaural sound head
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  •  Knowledge Exchange

Community Lifelines: legacy and your story your way

Dr Nicola Abraham, Senior Lecturer in Applied Theatre practices took her work to Northern Ireland recently, to collaborate with the Laurencetown, Lenaderg and Tullylish Community Association. Here, she reflects on the project and what they’ve achieved so far.

Image of a community hall. There is a semi-circle of people sitting with their backs to the camera. They are being conducted by a woman at the front who is facing the camera. She is standing in front of a stage.

Central alumni Emma Wainer came back to the Swiss Cottage in May to run a workshop for students on commercialising creativity. We spoke to her about her time at Central and what it has meant to her career.

A black and white image. Two women are sitting on the floor. One on the left has blonde hair and a black top and trousers. She is listening intently. The one on the right has a dark bob with a side parting and a floral shirt. She is speaking and gesturing with her left hand.
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  •  Knowledge Exchange

Challenging Racialized Representations

Central faculty member Tom Six is working with Emma Jude Harris and Aneesha Srinivasan of Global Origins to develop ways of challenging racialized representations in the theatre and they're looking for input from people of global majority heritage who work in the theatre. We talked to Tom about this research.

A simple line drawing of a bus is drawn in black lines on a bright yellow background. The top line of the bus contains the words global origins
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  •  Knowledge Exchange

Transmission: Sissy TV

Performance artist and Central lecturer Nando Messias talks about their project Transmission: Sissy TV, recently performed in London. It aims to reimagine archival practice and address the gap in the representation of trans and non-binary voices.

A room with white walls and a mirror with three sections in the middle. Artist Nando Messias stands in front of the middle mirror wearing a pink satin dress. They are reflected in the other two.
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  •  Knowledge Exchange

The People's Kitchen

David Shearing describes his project The People's Kitchen which was hosted in Rainham, a small town in the east of London. It brought together local people, community groups and organisations to cook, eat and converse together.

Image of a light room with white walls. There are three tables, one in the back is set up as a kitchen and has a sign saying The People's Kitchen. foreground, one in the middle ground and one at the back of the image. The one at the back
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  •  Knowledge Exchange

Central in Palermo

We spoke with a number of the contributors to this Knowledge Exchange project Associazione Culturale MeNO and CeSDAS: International Centre of Experimentation for Applied Dramaturgy in Space in Palermo, Sicily, in December 2022.

Students participate in workshop, sitting on the floor opposite each other with a plant in between them
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  •  Knowledge Exchange

Coriolano - Ben Naylor

We spoke with Ben Naylor about Taller Coriolano/Il Jornadas de Teatro Clásico de Málaga: William Shakespeare, the 2020 collaboration with Teatro Kamikaze in Madrid.

Black and white image of workshop participants around a table

Knowledge Exchange Strategy

This infographic displays the activity, outputs, outcomes, milestones and longterm goals which make up the Knowledge Exchange strategy.
This infographic displays the activity, outputs, outcomes, milestones and longterm goals which make up the Knowledge Exchange strategy.

Download an accessible pdf version of the Knowledge Exchange Strategy infographic below.

Performance Lab

The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama has been awarded £1.37 million in investment from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to support the launch of Performance Lab, a catalyst for research and development in Theatre and Performance in immersive performance and digital technologies.

3 members of staff standing together at a table wearing headphones

Short courses and professional development

Benefit from our expertise with our range of short courses and continuing professional development opportunities all led by experienced industry professionals. Our areas of teaching include acting, playwriting, movement, audition techniques and voice and all courses are taught by those who are practitioners as well as teachers. The full range of courses can be found on the Short Courses page.   

Central for Business offers a range of practical communication courses based on our expertise in actor training and the voice. Available ‘off the peg’ or we can work with you to devise bespoke training. 

View all of our nonaccredited short courses, including diploma courses, professional training and lectures

Groups of actors on a stage set that is lit in green and designed to look like a seedy alleyway

Bring Central's training into your workplace with communication courses designed for teams and individuals. Online options available.

Communication Courses at Central

Student Enterprise

We support students to develop their own commercial, social and charitable enterprises. Workshops are open to all students over the course of the year and competitive funding is available for graduating students at the end of the academic year.

Infographic showing the timeline for student placements as part of the Student Enterprise programme

Download an accessible pdf version of the Student Enterprise infographic below.