The Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, formerly the Webber Douglas School of Singing and Dramatic Art, was a drama school, and originally a singing school, in London. It was one of the leading drama schools in Britain, and offered comprehensive training for those intending to pursue a professional performance career.
The school was founded in London in 1926 as the Webber Douglas School of Singing, [1] by Walter Johnstone Douglas (youngest son of Arthur Johnstone-Douglas) and Amherst Webber. [1] It was created from the singing academy founded in 1906 in Paris by Jean de Reszke. [1] By 1932, the school had added full theatrical training to its curriculum, and was renamed the Webber Douglas School of Singing and Dramatic Art. [2] [3] It was located at 30 Clareville St in South Kensington.
In 2006, the academy was absorbed into the Central School of Speech and Drama. [1] Many of the academy's past alumni have formed a theatre company dedicated to keeping the original spirit of the school alive. In 2009, the Central School of Speech and Drama renamed its Embassy Studio the Webber Douglas Studio. [1]
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