ANNOUNCING BADA’S NEW DEAN

After a wide-ranging and rigorous search process, the Board is delighted to announce that Ben Naylor has been appointed as Dean of BADA to succeed Eunice Roberts who steps down at the end of August.

Ben joins BADA from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London, one of the UK’s leading drama schools. Ben joined Central in 2006 and during his time there he has taught a huge range of courses. He is currently Senior Lecturer in Acting and Course Leader for the MA Classical Acting, a one-year advanced actor training programme he designed.

Ben Naylor photograph by Cam Harle

He brings to BADA a wide range of experience as a director, acting teacher, mentor, researcher and educator.

Ben has worked extensively with American students, including teaching at Florida State University’s Theatre Academy London, Shakespeare’s Globe and the Shakespeare Centre in Stratford-upon-Avon, as well as work with many other US universities. He has also taught at Cambridge University, Royal Holloway, Kingston University and LAMDA (the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art).

As a director, Ben has worked across the UK and internationally with projects in Italy, Spain, Greece, Germany, Israel, Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand. He has researched and written on Shakespeare, and early modern performance, and has worked as a script consultant and editor, including original translations for classic European plays.

Ben trained as a director at the National Theatre, Young Vic, the Caird Company and in the West End, and subsequently trained as an actor at Drama Centre London.

We are confident that Ben’s experience and expertise will be of huge benefit to BADA and we very much look forward to working with him in the future.

Ben will officially assume the role of Dean on 1st September but will be meeting our staff, faculty, partners and students in the coming months as he familiarises himself with BADA.

Please join us in welcoming Ben to BADA and the BADA family.

Maggie Whitlum, Interim Chair of the Trustees British American Drama Academy