London Academy of Dramatic Arts

London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art

The main entrance to LAMDA
Type	Drama school
Established	1861
Chancellor	Timothy West
Principal	Joanna Read
Location	London, England
Affiliations	Conservatoire of Dance and Drama
Website	Official website

The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) is a drama school situated in the west of London, United Kingdom. LAMDA is the oldest drama school in the UK.

LAMDA's president is Timothy West and its Principal is Joanna Read (who succeeded Peter James in 2010). In recent years, over 98% of LAMDA's stage management and technical theatre graduates have found work in their chosen field within weeks of graduation and the Academy's graduates work regularly at the Royal National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare's Globe, London's West End and Hollywood as well as on the BBC, HBO and Broadway. It is registered as a company under the name LAMDA Ltd and as a charity under its trading name London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. There is an associate organisation in America under the name LAMDA in America, Inc., previously known as The American Friends of LAMDA.

LAMDA examinations in the fields of speech, drama, communication and performance taken by external students are recognised by Ofqual, the regulator in England and its counterparts in Wales and Northern Ireland. LAMDA accredited examinations at Level 3 or above are recognised within the UCAS Tariff system.

As an affiliate of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama, LAMDA receives funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). This means that eligible UK/EU students are able to access loans to assist with their tuition fees and maintenance costs. In addition, LAMDA and the Conservatoire have a range of scholarships and bursaries available.

The London Academy of Music was founded by Henry Wylde in 1861; this makes the Academy the oldest of its kind in Britain. Providing training for, and examinations in, various musical disciplines was originally the dominant purpose of the institution. However, providing instruction in spoken English quickly became a core area of the Academy’s work.