LAMDA - The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art

Anna Cathryn

A LAMDA exam (standing for London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) is the speech and drama equivalent of a music grade - beginning at Grade 1 and working up to Grade 6 (bronze) Grade 7 (silver) and Grade 8 (gold). Through the last 3 grades, children gain a medal and their results count towards UCAS points for when they enter university. 

LAMDA offers many different types of performance examinations, however our main focus at The Olive Tree are the examinations in acting. The children have a choice of working either as a solo (monologue) or in a pair (duologue) and begin by searching for and choosing their exam pieces that they feel inspired by. The children then, working alongside myself as their coach, work on the three areas:

• Interpretation

• Technique

• Knowledge

The exams use performance to develop self confidence, physical presence, a strong speaking voice and the ability to work in a supportive team - offering constructive and useful feedback to one another. 

Alongside their preparation for their exam pieces, the children also enjoy a variety of warm up team games, with a specific focus on improving improvisation skills - an extremely valuable skill within the arts. 

The students gain excellent results within these exams - with our last set of candidates all gaining distinctions - and all my LAMDA students are engaged, passionate and motivated within each session and at home. 

Anna Johnson - LAMDA coach at The Olive Tree