Last modified: 11 January 1996
The National Council for Drama Training was established in 1976 following the report (entitled Going on the Stage) of the Committee of Inquiry set up by the Gulbenkian Foundation into professional training for drama.
The Council (NCDT) is composed of representatives from the three main sections of the theatrical profession: the British Actors Equity Association (the union), the Conference of Drama Schools (training) and the Theatrical Management Association, the Society of London Theatre, the British Broadcasting Corporation and Channel Four Television (employers/directors/management).
It is an independent body, registered as a charity and is funded by the participating organisations mentioned above. It also receives financial support in the form of donations from some of the independent television companies: Border, Channel, Grampian, Ulster, Granada and London Weekend Television.
There are 21 members of the Council, seven nominees from each of the three main wings of the profession as represented by the participating organisations, and an independent Chairman.
The purpose of the Council is the encouragement of the highest possible standards of vocational education and training for the professional theatre and the provision of a forum within which the various sides of the profession can discuss matters of common interest in relation to training. It is particularly concerned to promote the possible links between those engaged in training and those working in the profession.
Since its establishment, the Council has perceived the accreditation of courses in drama schools as its first priority. The reasons are fourfold:
There are two Accreditation Boards - one for acting courses and one for stage management courses - to which the Council has delegated responsibility for the accreditation of courses and the process whereby it is undertaken. Each Board has 48 members drawn from all sides of the profession. Small panels which undertake visits to courses to review or evaluate them, are made up of members of the appropriate Board and reflect the various aspects of the composition of the Council. Reports from the panels are submitted to the appropriate Board which in turn makes recommendations to the full Council.
A copy of the list of courses accredited by the Council and the addresses of the drama schools in which they are available is provided below. It is important to note that the Council accredits courses and not schools and that the accreditation of a course in a school does not necessarily indicate that other courses offered by the same school have been similarly accredited. The minimum age for entry to the two- and three-year courses is 18 years; and to the one-year courses, 21 years.
It should be noted that, in general, the NCDT is not an advice-giving body, but one concerned with the establishment, maintenance and enhancement of standards of professional training in the field of drama. Only relevant information is available from the NCDT office. It does not cover any of the following: amateur theatre & local drama groups; stage schools for children; part-time or summer courses and workshops; degree courses in universities (unless vocational); individual tuition; courses in directing; courses for drama teachers or those intending to become drama teachers; drama therapy, stunt work or stage make-up
Chairman: Peter Plouviez
Executive Secretary: Adele Bailey
5 Tavistock Place
London WC1H 9SS
Tel: 0171 387 3650
UK:-) [ Email
: These pages are donated and maintained by the UK Theatre Web
]
)-:TW [ Tel/Fax: +44 (0)1993 704 268 Address:
P.O.Box 124, Witney, OX8 6WX, UK ]