75 Years of Stage and Screen
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For 75 years, RCS has been at the forefront of training for the stage and screen, with around 5,000 people having studied here at degree level.
Founded in 1847 as the Glasgow Athenaeum, with a focus on music, the institution became the Scottish National Academy of Music in 1927.
And although some drama classes and performances took place as early as 1886, under the direction Walter Baynham, by the mid-20th century the need for formal actor training became undeniable.
Enter James Bridie…
Bridie was the nation’s most prominent living playwright and the founder of Glasgow’s Citizens Theatre Company in 1943, which held performances at the Athenaeum Theatre before relocating to its permanent home in Glasgow’s Gorbals.
Having founded the company, Bridie then turned his attention to actor training and began campaigning publicly for the creation of a school devoted to professional dramatic instruction.
Largely due to Bridie’s persistent advocacy, acting was formally added to the institution’s curriculum in 1950 with the creation of a distinct but affiliated College of Dramatic Art.
Although Bridie was pivotal in its foundation, he did not take up a teaching role. Instead, the college opened later that year under its founding director, Colin Chandler.
And the rest, as they say, is history…
1950-1970
1950
The College of Dramatic Art founded by James Bridie under the direction of Colin Chandler. John Cairney is the first student across the threshold. In addition to Colin Chandler, who taught acting, there were Mairi Pirie who taught movement and Geoffrey Nethercott who taught voice. Two courses were offered: a Diploma in Dramatic Art and a Diploma in Speech and Drama (both three years, the first for actor training and the second for drama teacher training).
Junior drama classes are introduced on Saturdays, where students are taught by seniors. It would develop into the Junior Academy. See 1964.
James Bridie (c/o University of Glasgow).
The entrance to the College of Dramatic Art, c.1950.
The Groves Television Studio.
1956
A one-year technical certificate is introduced, teaching scenic art, prop making and costume making. Previously these had been hired but this is the beginning of when productions were all made in-house.
1962
The Television Studio opens — the first British drama school to have a broadcast- specification facility. In time, it was named the Groves Studio after John Groves, former deputy director of the college.
1964
The Junior Academy is formally constituted with a mission to enable young people to fulfil their artistic potential, develop essential life skills and explore a world of possibilities within the arts and beyond. Famous names who have attended ‘Juniors’ include actor David Tennant, who enrolled in 1982 before continuing his acting studies at undergraduate level and former Scots Makar, Jackie Kay.
David Tennant’s matriculation photo for the Junior Academy, 1982.
Drama students photographed in 1957.
Her Majesty The Queen Mother painting scenery in the Technical and Production Arts Dept (1964).
1965
Cecil Williams, an anti-apartheid campaigner and theatre director, is appointed to the teaching staff in the College of Dramatic Art. Williams helped Nelson Mandela travel around South Africa (Mandela posed as his driver) to allow him to attend ANC meetings. He is also known for his efforts to have St George’s Place in Glasgow renamed Nelson Mandela Place.
1968
The institution becomes the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with degree courses validated by Glasgow University.
1980-2000
1981
BA Dramatic Studies is introduced. It became BA Contemporary Theatre Practice in 1999 and then BA Contemporary Performance Practice in 2009 with aim to develop socially engaged artists who can contribute in the world as performance-makers, educators, advocates and active citizens.
1987
Renfrew Street Building is completed and the institution moves from Buchanan Street/ St. George’s Place.
The Renfrew St Building c.1987.
Stephen Sondheim’s message in the Into the Woods 1997 programme.
1993
Degree-awarding powers are granted by the Privy Council, making the Academy the first conservatoire in the UK to attain this status.
1997
A performance of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods brings together drama and music students for the first time for the institution’s 150th anniversary gala. The performance programme was accompanied by a reproduction of a letter from Sondheim himself, wishing the cast and crew would ‘have fun with it’ and thanking them for ‘doing the show’.
In the same year, the Academy introduces BA Stage Management.
2000-2010
2001
BA Film & TV Production is added to the curriculum. It changes to BA Digital Film and Television in 2005, later becoming BA Filmmaking.
The programme went on to win Scottish BAFTAs in 2005 and 2006, and has won numerous Royal Television Society Student Awards. These can be viewed on this level in the cabinet beside the entrance and Box Office.
2006
The Centre for Voice in Performance is established.
The Tempest (2006).
The Seagull (2009) staged to celebrate 100 years since the first performances of Chekhov in English.
Jerry Springer The Opera at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe.
2008
The introduction of specialist training in stage automation using a state-of-the-art system from Stage Technologies (now TAIT) — the world’s first industry-endorsed training provider of this equipment, used in major productions around the world.
Master of Performance Musical Directing is introduced.
A new postgraduate degree in Classical and Contemporary Text enables emerging artists
to broaden and deepen their skills with advanced training in text-based theatre and new writing development.
2010
Inauguration of BA Musical Theatre, the first undergraduate Musical Theatre programme in Scotland and the only course in the UK in which students develop instrumental skills alongside acting, singing and dance.
Wallace Studios at Speirs Locks acquired and converted to award-winning purpose-built production arts and design facilities, ballet studios and large ensemble rehearsal rooms.
Wallace Studios.
2011-Present
2011
The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama becomes the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to reflect the diversity of artforms taught.
Actress Dame Judi Dench appointed president of RCS. Legendary theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh takes up the role the following year.
RSAMD signage being removed from the Renfrew St building.
Production Arts and Design students photographed in 2012.
2012
The BA Technical & Production Arts separates into BA Production Technology and Management and BA Production Arts and Design.
2014
A £2 million extension to the Speirs Locks campus opens, creating eight multi-purpose spaces including two large production rehearsal spaces and a production classroom.
RCS Staff and students contribute to the opening and closing ceremonies of Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games, seen by an estimated 1 billion people.
Inside the new Wallace Studios.
The first cohort of the BA Performance in British Sign Language and English programme.
2015
Acting alumnus James McAvoy establishes a scholarship to support access to pre-higher education drama training at RCS.
RCS and Glasgow’s Solar Bear theatre company launch the pioneering BA Performance in British Sign Language and English — the first conservatoire degree programme for D/deaf performers in Europe.
2021
BA Acting alumnus Sam Heughan establishes a ten-year drama scholarship for three undergraduate students across, drama, dance, production and film. It’s followed by Write Start: The Sam Heughan Creative Commission, an annual opportunity to encourage collaboration across the art forms, where the student or team of students behind the winning submission receives £5,000 to help bring their vision to life.
RCS alumnus Sam Heughan.
Raising the Curtain.
A Filmmaking student on location during the pandemic.
2022
RCS marks its 175th anniversary with the publication of the book Raising the Curtain, which charts the history of RCS and features Stage and Screen memories from alumni including Alan Cumming, Ros Steen and Ncuti Gatwa.
Teaching continues despite restrictions imposed by the global pandemic.
2024
Acting alumna Kate Dickie named a patron of the Junior Conservatoire of Drama, Production and Film.
Kate Dickie visits the Junior Conservatoire, 2024
2025
The School of Stage and Screen is established, encompassing Acting, Musical Theatre, Filmmaking and Production. Postgraduate degrees in Production are established along with an undergraduate degree in socially engaged practice (BA Arts With Community).
All facts and dates are presented in good faith and are considered accurate at the time of publication. Photography includes work by K.K. Dundas, Robbie McFadzean, Hope Holmes, John Young.