The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art

Analysis

The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in October 1962, 64 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. It says it makes grants to individuals, provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides services.

In the financial year ending July 2025, The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art reported income of £16.7m and spending of £17.0m, spending 102% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from July 2021 to July 2025, income grew from £9.0m to £16.7m (+87%), an average of +17% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to July 2022, when income rose by 53%. Over the whole period it spent 110% of the income it received.

Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Roundhouse Trust (£16.6m), Stoke Ferry Village Hall (£16.9m) and The Royal Ballet School (£16.6m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 47%, trading 44% and donations and legacies 7.7%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £35k. Charitable activities took 61% of spending and raising funds 36%. Reserves of £1.0m would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 139 people.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.