An open letter from LAMDA and the Federation of Drama Schools

LAMDA Principal Joanna Read has joined with our Federation of Drama Schools colleagues to support The Royal Court Theatre’s Code of Behaviour, as published on 3 November 2017. 

In an open letter to the editor of The Stage newspaper written on 9 November, the Federation spoke of how all member schools believe in empowering students and colleagues to speak out against any form of harassment. You can read the letter in full below.

Dear Alistair,

In light of reports and allegations across our industry on sexual harassment and unacceptable behaviour we welcome the contents of the Code of Behaviour published by the Royal Court Theatre on Friday 3 November. We are grateful to all those who contributed their stories and insights during the Day of Action on 28th October.

All of the member schools in the Federation of Drama Schools have robust measures, policies and mechanisms in place to prevent unacceptable or inappropriate conduct including sexual harassment in school and to support their students as they transition into the profession.

We believe in empowering students and colleagues to be confident and speak out. We therefore fully support the contents of the Code of Behaviour and will continue to work with our students, colleagues and the wider industry to make positive changes to our industry’s norms and values, and build a sustainable culture of dignity and respect.

Federation members will be discussing how best we can further address these issues together at an extraordinary meeting later this month and during our annual conference (13th January 2018), to which the Royal Court Theatre team have been invited.

Yours sincerely,

Leon Rubin (Chair, Federation of Drama Schools & E15 Principal), Niamh Dowling (Rose Bruford, Head of School of Performance), Stephen Jameson (Mountview, Principal), Joanna Read (LAMDA, Principal) & Kit Thacker (Drama Studio London, Managing Director).

On behalf of the Federation of Drama Schools:

Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (alra) 
Arts Educational Schools (ArtsEd) 
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire 
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School 
Drama Centre, London 
Drama Studio London 
East 15 
Guildford School of Acting 
Guildhall School of Music & Drama 
Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts 
LAMDA 
LIPA 
Manchester School of Theatre 
Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts 
Oxford School of Drama 
Rose Bruford College 
RADA 
The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama 
The Royal Conservatoire Scotland 
The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama