From June 10 to 14, a delegation led by Vice President Xu Zhen of the Central Academy of Drama visited the UK, accompanied by Zhang Hongchen, Dean of the Department of Stage Design, Li Qian, Dean of the Department of Theatre Management, Tian Xu, Deputy Director of the Development Planning Office, and Chen Yi from the Foreign Affairs Office. The delegation visited the University of the Arts London (UAL), the Royal Opera House, the New Vic Theatre, and the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA), and held discussions with the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD).

On the morning of June 11, the delegation visited Chelsea College of Arts at UAL, where they met with Jane McFadyen, Head of Wimbledon College of Arts and Vice-Dean of Camberwell, Chelsea, and Wimbledon Colleges (CCW), and Jayne Knowles, Dean of Performance Arts and Foundation at CCW. Also present were colleagues from CCW's International Office, International Partnerships Office, and Research & Knowledge Exchange Office.

Jane McFadyen expressed her pleasure at the long-standing and deep cooperation between the two institutions, highlighting the frequent exchanges of faculty and students. She welcomed the delegation from the CAD and believed this visit would inject new momentum into their relationship. VP Xu Zhen echoed these sentiments, expressing a desire to broaden the cooperation with UAL. Both parties reached a consensus on the detailed implementation of the ‘3+2’ inter-institutional student project between the CAD’s Department of Stage Design and Wimbledon College of Arts, and explored the possibility of expanding cooperation to include more departments and programs, promoting postgraduate programs, and establishing joint research and laboratories.

Group photo with CCW representatives

The delegation also toured the stage design workshop and graduation exhibition at Chelsea College of Arts.

CAD delegation at the graduation exhibition at Chelsea College of Arts

In the afternoon, the delegation met with President James Purnell of UAL. Purnell touched upon his impression of CAD's practical teaching facilities from his visit a year ago before sharing the recent developments at UAL. The delegation signed a supplemental agreement to the inter-institutional exchange program, updating the professional offerings to benefit students.

The signing of the supplemental agreement

Photo with President James Purnell of UAL

Afterward, the delegation visited Wimbledon College of Arts, guided by colleagues fromCCW's Performing Arts Department. They observed the undergraduate graduation exhibition and the play ‘Slow Blue Love,’ as the final program of their visit to UAL.

CAD representatives at the graduation exhibition at Wimbledon College of Arts

On June 12, the delegation visited the Royal Opera House, accompanied by Jack Blue, Executive Assistant to the Directors of Opera, where they learned about the history of the theatre and watched a performance. Both sides expressed the desire to continue expanding Sino-British theatrical exchanges and cooperation.

CAD delegation at Royal Opera House

The delegation then visited the New Vic Theatre in London, where they watched a production by the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama titled ‘Couple Goals.’ After the performance, they held discussions with Jonathan Munby, Director of Performance, andcolleagues from the Arts Management Department and international cooperation office, reaching a consensus on furthering student exchanges, joint academic programs, and performance exchanges.

CAD delegation at Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama

Lastly, the delegation visited the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and met with Professor Mark O'Thomas, the Academy's Principal, along with from Chief Marketing Officer, Head of Academic Affairs and Research, and colleagues from Dramatic Arts Department. O'Thomas warmly welcomed the delegation and provided an overview of the Academy's disciplines, development philosophy, and research initiatives. He noted that he was impressed by the visit to CAD in May 2024, and believed that CAD’s visit would lay a solid foundation for further substantive cooperation between the two institutions. Xu Zhen was optimistic about the potential collaborations in student short-term study programs, joint productions, and exchanges of experts and scholars, after being briefed on the Academy’s academics, facilities and student structure.

CAD delegation with LAMDA representatives