Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art

The Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art was a drama school in South Kensington, London. It started as a singing school in 1906 in Paris before moving to London in 1926. Walter Johnstone Douglas and Amherst Webber founded the London branch, which later added full theatrical training. By 1932 it had become the Webber Douglas School of Singing and Dramatic Art. The school was once one of the leading drama schools in Britain. The Webber Douglas Academy trained many actors who later became well known. In 2006 it was absorbed into the Central School of Speech and Drama. The Central School later renamed one of its studios the Webber Douglas Studio in its honour. The original building stood at 30 Clareville Street in South Kensington. Its history reflects the growth of British theatre training in the 20th century. Visitors to South Kensington can still find traces of the academy’s presence. The Webber Douglas Studio remains part of the Central School of Speech and Drama. The area around Clareville Street keeps the memory of the school’s former home. South Kensington’s quiet streets and cultural atmosphere suit a place once dedicated to the arts. The legacy of Webber Douglas lives on in the training of new performers.