Rose Bruford College: A Legacy of Theatre and Performance
Rose Bruford College, formerly known as Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance, stands as a distinguished higher education institution within the London Borough of Bexley. Its campus, a blend of history and modernity, is nestled in the verdant grounds of Lamorbey Park, a mere 25-minute train ride from central London. The college's origins are rooted in the vision of Rose Elizabeth Bruford, a trained actress and verse and speech teacher who sought to unify theatre practice and drama education.
Founding and Early Years
In 1950, Rose Bruford established her unique drama school, driven by the belief that theatre training should be accessible and not limited to an elite few. This vision aligned with a post-war movement that recognized the broader responsibilities of theatre practitioners as communicators and educators. The Kent Education Committee played a crucial role by leasing Lamorbey House, an 18th-century, Grade II listed manor house in Sidcup, to Bruford for a nominal £5 per year.
The Rose Bruford Training College for Speech and Drama officially opened on July 6, 1951, initially dedicated to training drama teachers. The curriculum emphasized the theories and principles of Konstantin Stanislavski, integrating acting and theatre-making skills with drama teaching. The college aimed to produce graduates fluent in both the theory and practice of theatre, equipped for diverse careers.
The early years saw rapid growth, with 150 students enrolled within three years. The college offered a three-year drama course and a one-year supplementary course for qualified teachers, fostering a distinctive initiative and vitality in its graduates. These graduates became known for their ability to take up a range of careers, and were empowered with a wider range of skills than students from more conventional drama schools.
The college also benefited from the support of prominent patrons such as Sir Laurence Olivier, Dame Peggy Ashcroft, Dame Sybil Thorndike, Michel St Denis, and Glen Byam Shaw. The poet laureate John Masefield commemorated the official opening with an inspiring verse.
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The Barn Theatre
Rose Bruford's resourcefulness was evident in the creation of the Barn Theatre. By securing permission to remodel an existing barn on the premises, she transformed it into a functional theatre for a fraction of the initially estimated cost. This marked the beginning of significant renovations to the Barn.
The 1960s: Growth and Traditions
By the 1960s, Rose Bruford College had established several traditions. The Strawberry Tea, coinciding with the dress rehearsal of the major show, brought Bruford alumni together. A dinner dance was held annually at a London hotel for members of the Bruford Club. The Verse-Speaking Festival became an annual event, with John Masefield instituting the Masefield Award, a cash prize for participants. In 1964, John Gielgud served as the adjudicator.
In June 1961, the Wheatcroft Brothers, renowned rose nurserymen, honored Rose Bruford by naming a small-flowered orange hybrid rose after her at the Chelsea Flower Show.
In 1966, the College established a link with the University of Kent. Six students per year could count their Bruford training towards a BA in English from the University of Kent, which they had to attend for a further two years.
Rose Bruford's Retirement
In 1967, Rose Bruford announced her retirement, marking the end of an era. After her retirement she was preparing a programme of performance poetry for herself.
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Campus and Facilities
The campus is situated in Lamorbey Park, in beautiful, green grounds just 25 minutes by train into central London. The campus clusters around the Grade II listed Lamorbey House with modern, purpose-built facilities, including a 330-seat theatre-in-the-round, a 100-seat flexible Barn theatre, two black box studio theatres, spacious rehearsal rooms, recording studios, technical laboratories, design and production workshops, a unique drama library and well-equipped study areas.
Academic Offerings
Rose Bruford College offers a diverse range of performance and production arts degrees across foundation, undergraduate, postgraduate and research levels. Students from over 40 different countries study on a range of performance and production arts degrees across foundation, undergraduate, postgraduate and research; some of which are the oldest running in the UK. These courses equip students with the skills and confidence to launch successful careers in performance or production. From day one, they work closely with talented tutors, supportive staff, and industry professionals.
The College is a member of the Federation of Drama Schools and recently received a Gold Award in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
Leadership
The College has been led by a series of Principals:
- 1950 - 1967: Ms Rose Elizabeth Bruford
- 1968 - 1969: Mr Clifford Williams
- 1970 - 1987: Mr Jean-Norman Benedetti
- 1987 - 1993: Mr Phil Robins
- 1993 - 2000: Prof Robert Ely
- 2001 - 2009: Dr Alistair Pearce
- 2009 - 2017: Prof Michael Earley
- 2017 - 2022: Ms Clarie Middleton
- 2022 - 2023: Prof Mary Oliver (Acting)
- 2023 - Present: Prof Randall Whittaker
In November 2024, College alumnus Ray Fearon followed as the new President of the College.
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Notable Alumni
Rose Bruford College boasts a distinguished alumni network that spans across the UK and globally, making waves in theatre, television, film, gaming, music, education and beyond. Graduates have made significant contributions to various fields within the performing arts and beyond. Here are some notable alumni:
Haruka Abe: An Anglo-Japanese actress known for her roles in Doctors, Casualty, and Ideal. She gained international recognition for her appearance in Clean Bandit's music video "Rather Be."
Juliet Ace: An educational specialist, working with children who had special needs and then with local community drama groups. She began writing plays in 1976 and has written for stage, screen and television. She has contributed many original scripts and dramatisations to BBC Radio Drama in many genres and styles over a long career, including The Archers, and wrote the script for the film Cameleon which won the Golden Spire Award for Best Dramatic Television Feature at the San Francisco International Film Festival, 1998.
Jarek Adams (Boanas): A writer & creative community producer working on therapeutic writing and with the Art of Silly podcasts due to be released early in 2023. She has been commissioned to write many interactive and immersive theatre events from a wide range of clients including the RNLI and the Natural History Museum.
Rob Adams: Since graduating in 1987 Rob has been an actor, drama tutor and facilitator. In November 2022 he wrote & performed a one-man comedy drama called Keeper of the flame, a fantastic, enthralling and witty piece of theatre about football, history, politics and more.
Caleb Adderley: Graduating from the acting course in 2018, one of the first to receive their degree from Rose Bruford College itself, Caleb went on to study for an MA in screenwriting at the London FIlm School. In 2023 he wrote and appeared in the short film Puck which premiered at the Manchester Film Festival and was shown at the NFFTY festival in Seattle and at Outfest, Los Angeles.
Emma Addinall: An actress, of Polish descent, known for Mass Effect: Andromeda (Video game, 2017), Night & Day (2001) and Silent Witness.
Peter Addis: Peter graduated from Rose Bruford College with First-class Honours as an Actor-Musician. He initially performed in shows such as Return to the Forbidden Planet; From a Jack to a King and Buddy, as well as appearing in several straight plays and in popular TV shows like EastEnders; The Bill and London’s Burning. However directing very soon became the mainstay of his career.
Paul Aitken: Paul has an extensive career in music. In addition he is an experienced CEO with a demonstrated history of working in the broadcast media industry. He has appeared as Rufaro in Otieno at Southwark Playhouse, Romeo in Romeo & Juliet touring for Box Clever Theatre Company, Lefty in Tap Baby Tap at the Oval House Theatre and the prestigious 24 Hour Plays at the Old Vic. In 2015 he appeared in the RSC's Othello and in 2019 he appeared in both As you like it and Measure for measure.
Rosemarie Akwafo: Rosemarie graduated from the BA Acting course in 2020. Since leaving Rose Bruford she made her West End Debut playing Annie in The Play That Goes Wrong (Mischief).
James Alexander: Shortly after graduation James (Jim) appeared as Ned Belcher in the TV soap Neighbours, but later went on to play Joe Walker in London's Burning (1998-2000) and Jamie Parker in Dream team (2000-03).
Marva Alexander: Marva Alexander is known for Degrees of Error (1995), Jonathan Creek (1997) and Harry Brown (2009).
Kareem Alexander (aka Alexander Yousri): Since graduating from Rose Bruford College's Acting course in 2014 Kareem has gone on to work in television, commercials, stage and independent film. He appeared in Litvinenko (2022), Marriage (2022), Vampire Academy (2022) and in the TV series Doctors (2024), Silent witness (2025) and Doctor Who (2025).
Ruth (Morag) Alexander: A graduate of the Theatre Arts course in 1994 and now an artistic director and producer at Theatre Yes in Edmonton, Canada. She played Lisa Dalton in Coronation Street and appeared in countless plays for BBC radio drama. In 2023 she wrote and performed a one-woman show, Dead in the water, at the Varscona Theatre, Edmonton.
Paul Alexander: Paul graduated from Rose Bruford in 1967 and has worked as an actor at the RSC, the Oxford Playhouse, the Cambridge Arts, the Northcott theatre, the Greenwich theatre, the Coventry Belgrade, the Birmingham theatre, the Welsh National theatre, the Young Vic, the King's Head, the Arts, The Ashcroft, the Ipswich theatre, the Perth theatre and the Edinburgh theatre. He has also appeared on TV, for example in Stephen Poliakoff's Perfect strangers (2001) and the film version of War horse (2011).
Foz Allan: A British producer and scriptwriter who trained as an actor at Rose Bruford College. He began his career as an Associate Director at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre and as a radio drama producer with productions for BBC Radio 4, Radio Wales and the BBC World Service. He is known for his work as the creator of popular BBC drama Robin Hood, the first series of the CBBC show The Dumping Ground, and more recently Sky Atlantic's Riviera.
Genevieve (Gigi) Allenbury: An actress, known for King David (1985), Menace Unseen (1988) and Galavant (2015). She appeared in two roles on Coronation Street (1996 and again in 2004) and has appeared in Emmerdale (2008).
Erin Ambler aka Erin Towey: A graduate of the European Theatre Arts programme in 2002 Erin's career moved into administration and management resulting in her becoming founder and owner of thritysixdegrees, providing high-quality, flexible, creative and innovative marketing and business solutions.
Melissa Amoroso: An Acting graduate from 2021, Melissa went to work as a stylist with Kate Spade New York (2021-23) and is now a Team Leader with Penhaligons involved in marketing and visual merchandising at the newly opened Battersea Power Station.
Lashay Anderson: A graduate of the Acting course in 2021, Lashay is an up-an-coming British actress. Ahead of graduating she had booked the lead role of Clara in Rebel Cheer Squad, an eight-part drama for Netflix and BBC. Then in June 2022 she was cast as Bunny Pringle in Hulu’s adaptation of Charmaine Wilkerson’s heart-breaking family drama Black Cake. In 2023 she had a lead role as Natalie in the TV drama Consent.
Viktor Andonov: Graduated from the European Theatre Arts course in 2023 and appeared in GuyMart at the King's Head Theatre in June-July 2023.
Diego Andres: A French actor based in London, and an Acting graduate from Rose Bruford in 2021. He played Tibalt in Romeo and Juliet at the Butterfly Theatre (2022), and appeared as Jerome Dupont in the TV series Wreck in 2022.
Mac Andrews (McCamley): He attended Rose Bruford as Andrew McCamley graduating in 1977. He has appeared in Nanny (1981-83), The Bill, Eastenders, Boon, Casualty (1986), Prime Suspect (1991), The Last of the Mohicans (1992), Blue Ice (1992), Kavanagh QC and Frontiers.
Adam Annand: A graduate of the Community Theatre Arts course in 1990 Adam worked as an actor and teach with GYPT (Greenwih Young People's Theatre) from 1994-2004. In 2021 he became the Chief Executive officer of Speech Bubbles.
Lloyd Anthony: An actor, known for Holby City (1999), the series Pig Heart Boy (1999), and The Isolation of Subject #136 (2009).
Rebecca Arch: A graduate from the theatre course in 1995 (specialising in actor-musicianship) who went on to become a music teacher and director for local school choirs.
Cheryl Fergison: Best known for her role as Heather Trott in EastEnders.
Ray Fearon: The new President of the College in November 2024, Fearon is known for his extensive stage work, including being the first black actor to play Othello on RSC main stages for over 40 years. He also appeared in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Coronation Street.
Giovanna Fletcher: An author, actress, blogger, vlogger, and presenter, known for winning I'm a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and presenting The Baby Club.
Kate Ford: Known for playing Tracy Barlow in Coronation Street.
Francis Lee: A film director and screenwriter, known for God's Own Country and Ammonite.
Ilona Linthwaite: An actress who trained at Rose Bruford College, graduating in 1966. She appeared as Myra Bruhl in Deathtrap (1984).
Nick Lashbrook: An actor and actor-musician who has appeared in various musical productions and plays.
Sharon Lawrence: A British actress who trained at Rose Bruford College and has appeared in EastEnders, New Tricks, and PREMature.
Clive Llewellyn (Hutchinson): Graduated from the Community Theatre Arts course in 1991 and now a professional actor, business role player and personal development coach with over 20 years of experience.
Alex Lovell: A TV presenter known for Playhouse Disney and BBC Points West.
tags: #rose #bruford #college #history #notable #alumni
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