Rose Bruford College (formerly Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance) is a higher education institution in the Greater London borough of Bexley. Bruford has degree programmes in acting, actor musicianship, directing, theatre arts and various disciplines of stagecraft.[2]

Rose Bruford College
TypePerforming Arts University
Established1950
Affiliation
  • []
ChairmanJennifer Sims
PresidentRay Fearon
PrincipalProfessor Randall Whittaker
Students1,025 (2022/23)[1]
Undergraduates855 (2022/23)[1]
Postgraduates170 (2022/23)[1]
Location
London
,
United Kingdom

51°26′20″N 0°6′24″E / 51.43889°N 0.10667°E / 51.43889; 0.10667
CampusSuburban
Websitebruford.ac.uk

Its undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications and programmes were validated by the University of Manchester,[3][4] until it received taught degree awarding powers in 2017.[citation needed]

History

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In 1950 Rose Elizabeth Bruford established The Rose Bruford Training College of Speech and Drama, with the help of poet laureate John Masefield and actors Laurence Olivier and Peggy Ashcroft, who formed part of the Board of Governors.[citation needed] Rose Bruford "pioneered the first acting degree in 1976".[3]

The Kent Education Committee offered to lease to her Lamorbey House, an 18th-century, Grade II listed manor house in the Lamorbey district of Sidcup, for £5 per year (equivalent to £216 in 2023). Grants helped sustain the college in its early years, and it eventually became profitable.[5][6]

The campus has since been expanded. Construction of several new buildings was completed in 2002.[5] The college's research facilities and archives include the Stanislavski Centre and the Clive Barker Library.[7] Members or former members of its faculty serve as editors and/or on the editorial boards of such performing-arts journals as New Theatre Quarterly and Performance Prompt.[8]

In 2014, The Stage reported that 91.6% of Rose Bruford students were from state schools.[9] In the same year, Rose Bruford College scored an overall satisfaction rating of 90% in the National Student Survey.[10]

In April 2022. when Academy of Live and Recorded Arts closed, Rose Bruford offering a place to all ALRA's students.[11]

Alumni

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College alumnus Ray Fearon followed as the new President of the College in November 2024. Bernardine Evaristo, the 2019 Booker Prize winner, succeeded Richard Eyre as college president in 2021.[12] Other alumni include Hayley Squires,[13] Gary Oldman, Mathew Baynton, Tom Baker, Tom Hopper, Graham Hamilton, Edward Peel, Christopher Pizzey, Lake Bell, Rosalie Craig, Giovanna Fletcher, Stephen Graham, Nick Darke, Sam Palladio, Jessica Gunning, Kerry Godliman, Mem Fox, and Marc Duret.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c "Where do HE students study?". Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Rose Bruford College Official Website". bruford.ac.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
  3. ^ a b "Rose Bruford College". The Guardian. London. 1 May 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
  4. ^ Rose Bruford College. "Courses". bruford.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 4 April 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2008. Our undergraduate and post-graduate programmes are validated by the University of Manchester (the Foundation Degree in Organising Live Arts is validated by London Metropolitan University) and, where appropriate, courses are accredited by the National Council of Drama Training [sic] (NCDT).
  5. ^ a b "About the College: College History". bruford.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 24 November 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
  6. ^ "Quality Assessment Report by the HEFCE". qaa.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 13 March 2005. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
  7. ^ "The Clive Barker Library Naming Event". College News: News & Press Releases. Rose Bruford College. 9 November 2005. Retrieved 2 May 2008.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "New Theatre Quarterly". journals.cambridge.org. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
  9. ^ "Drama Schools Rubbish Elitist Claims", The Stage
  10. ^ "Student Satisfaction up at Drama Schools", The Stage. Profile, thestage.co.uk; retrieved 13 May 2017.
  11. ^ "Students offered places at Rose Bruford following ALRA Drama School closure". Office for Students. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Professor Bernardine Evaristo OBE is appointed President of Rose Bruford College". bruford.ac.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Bafta nominee Hayley Squires on I, Daniel Blake, and why working-class girls aren't victims". The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 March 2017.

Further reading

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