News

Central is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-serving Sovereign in British History.  Our condolences are with His Majesty King Charles III and the rest of the Royal Family.  

With 2022 marking the momentous 75th anniversary of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Central staff, students and alumni have been hard at work preparing and taking their shows to the festival. Central's staff team was especially excited to be back at the Fringe this year, in person for the first time since 2019, to celebrate this work and to welcome members of our community to the annual Central in Edinburgh Party. 

Central is pleased to announce that a number of staff have been represented in the shortlistings for the 2022 TaPRA Prizes. 

In July, Central is pleased to partner with New Earth and to host their intensive two-week New Earth Performers Academy. The only programme of its kind in the UK, New Earth Academy provides free, specialist training and opportunities for British East and South East Asians (BESEA) aged 18+ who are interested in developing their skills and engagement in theatre-making and performing arts. 

Congratulations to Dr Duška Radosavljević and the team behind The Aural/ Oral Dramaturgies Project on their recent award wins. 

This July, Central’s Dr David Shearing has taken over the historic marketplace in Romford with a unique interactive piece of public art, "The Rising Sun".  

Central is excited to announce that it has reached its target of raising more than £20,000 for bursaries for its Youth Theatre programme. The target was met thanks to the kindness of Central’s supporters who took part in a matched-funding appeal on The Big Give’s website between 14 – 21 June.  All donations made online during this period were matched by The Childhood Trust and Ros and Alan Haigh whose generosity made the appeal possible. 

In June, Central’s Conferment of Academic Titles Committee met to award academic titles to members of its staff in recognition of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and research. 

On 29 June, Central hosted the book launch for Dramatherapy: The Nature of Interruption, and welcomed an audience of students, staff, alumni, Dramatherapists and invited guests to its Embassy Theatre. The book, edited by Richard Hougham and Bryn Jones, celebrates 35 years of the dramatherapy programme at Central and 20 years of the MA Drama & Movement Therapy course. 

Central is pleased to announce that it has been awarded funding for its research through UK Research and Innovation’s Impact Acceleration Account (IAA). The funding, which has been awarded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), will enable the School to create a Centre for Research Impact in the Performing Arts to co-ordinate, expand, and promote its impact and Knowledge Exchange activities.

Congratulations to Central’s Programme Leader for Learning Development and Inclusion, Dr Javeria Khadija Shah, who has been nominated for a ‘Positive Role Model Award for Race, Religion & Faith’ at the 2022 National Diversity Awards!  

Throughout the Spring Term, Central’s Outreach Team has been busy working with young people across the country.