Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance is a drama school in the south London suburb of Sidcup. The college has degree programmes in acting, actor musicianship, theatre arts and various disciplines of stagecraft. The college's undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications and programmes were validated by the University of Manchester, prior to the college gaining its own taught degree awarding powers in 2017. It is a member of the Federation of Drama Schools.
Bruford was born on 22 June 1904. She was educated at Kilburn High School, and later at Bath High School — where on one occasion a verse recital was given by Elsie Fogerty, the founder and Principal of the Central School of Speech and Drama. Bruford resolved to study drama at the Central School. While still a student, she took part in the Oxford Recitations of Spoken Verse, begun in 1923 by John Masefield. Here she met several poets, including W. H. Auden, Gordon Bottomley, Richard Church, Walter de la Mare, T. S. Eliot, Christopher Hassall, and John Drinkwater. W. B. Yeats encouraged her to speak some of his poems to the accompaniment of a small harp, and she made this part of her recitals. She graduated in 1928 with top honours for her verse-speaking. John Masefield became her champion and guide for the rest of her life. After graduating from the Central School, Bruford followed her parents' wishes never to work in the theatre. Instead, she became a visiting teacher of speech and drama. Between 1925–49 she taught regularly at 43 different schools. In 1941 she was appointed to the staff of the Royal Academy of Music where, starting with seven students, she built the drama course to 70 students. The Ministry of Education certified the course as a teacher-training programme. During this period, she spent three days per week at the Royal Academy of Music, and two teaching mime at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. In 1948 her first book, Speech and Drama, was published and was well-received. Meanwhile, she wanted better conditions and premises for her course at the Royal Academy of Music, but some of her views conflicted with those of the principal. She resigned; although she had little money, she began preparing to found her own school. The Kent Education Committee offered to rent her the mansion in Lamorbey Park for £5 per year. Bruford and other college staff established a training programme. Grants helped sustain the college in its early years, and it eventually became profitable.
Academics
Degree programmes and courses
The college currently offers courses in the following fields of performing arts training: Undergraduate Postgraduate
MA/MFA International Theatre Practice and Performance
Certificate of Higher Education
Graeae Ensemble, Theatre Making & Leadership
Online learning
BA Opera Studies
BA Theatre Studies
Research degrees
MPhil/PHD
PGCLTHE
Part-time, Foundation, summer, and youth programmes
Student satisfaction
In 2014, The Stage reported that 91.6% of Rose Bruford students were from state schools. In the same year, Rose Bruford College scored an overall satisfaction rating of 90% in the National Student Survey. Rose Bruford College rated 87% for overall student satisfaction in the 2013 National Student Survey. Rose Bruford College rated 86% in 2012 and 79% in 2011.
The college's research facilities and archives include: the Stanislavski Centre; the Clive Barker Library; and the David Bolland Collection, which is devoted to material about Kathakali. Members or former members of its faculty serve as editors and/or on the editorial boards of performing-arts journals like New Theatre Quarterly and Performance Prompt. In partnership with the London V&A Theatre Collections Online, the College also sponsors and supports TheatreVoice, an Internet forum about theatre sound. Its material relating to research, knowledge transfer, and community outreach is featured online in TheatreFutures.
