Fact sheet, Summer Term 2026 Drawing London's Theatres: Circus, Opera and Ballet
When
Mondays, 27 April to 29 June, 10am to 5pm
Where
Royal Drawing School Shoreditch Studio 2, and various out of house locations, see below.
Who
About
Take inspiration from London’s renowned theatre history and bring performance, dynamism and character to your drawing. Artists have always worked in theatre; Canaletto and his father painted backdrops for Venice’s many theatres, Piranesi trained first in theatre, Osbert Lancaster, Laura Knight, Hockney and Degas have all designed for the stage and found themselves obsessed. We will explore the sets, the performers and their costumes. The course begins with visits to the National Theatre and Royal Festival Hall, a theatrical experience in and of itself.
In the studio we will work with models who have been on stage and they bring their unique insight and experience to the course. There will be a variety of poses from short to full day. We will draw clothed models using colour and a variety of media; music will play, dancers will dance, and the stage will be set. There will be other visits to the V&A, The Wallace
Collection, London Circus School, among others.
Location & timetable
Occasionally locations/meeting points may need to change so please check your emails the night before classes are due to take place and bring your mobile phone with you on the day so that the administrator can contact you if need be.
It is also very important that you arrive punctually (in time for the class to begin at 10am) for each class as the class will usually move away from the meeting point quite quickly at the beginning of the day.
Week 1 — 27 Apr
Please meet at Royal Drawing School Shoreditch, Ground Floor Studios.
When: 10am
Nearest Tube: Old Street
Week 2 — 4 May
Bank Holiday - no class
Week 3 — 11 May
Please meet at St Martins in the Fields porch at Trafalgar Square.
When: 10am
Nearest Tube: Leicester Square
Nearest Train: Charing Cross
Lunch is from 1 -2pm.
After lunch please meet in The Royal Opera House Covent Garden at 2pm in the downstairs cafe. At 3.30pm we will walk to Theatre Royal Drury Lane and cross the Waterloo Bridge to the National Theatre. We conclude at The Royal Festival Hall (exterior only)
Week 4 — 18 May
Please meet at the Wallace Collection, Manchester Square. Walk up from Oxford Street with Selfridges on your left and you will meet Manchester Square. Please
arrive promptly as we will enter as a group.
When: 10am
Nearest Tube: Bond Street
Week 5 — 25 May
Bank holiday - no class
Week 6 — 1 June
Please meet at Royal Drawing School Shoreditch, Ground Floor Studios
When: 10am
Nearest Tube: Old Street
Week 7 — 8 June
Please meet at Royal Drawing School Shoreditch, Ground Floor Studios
When: 10am
Nearest Tube: Old Street
Week 8 — 15 June
Please meet at Royal Drawing School Shoreditch, Ground Floor Studios.
When: 10am
Nearest Tube: Old Street
Week 9 — 22 June
Please meet at Royal Drawing School Shoreditch, Ground Floor Studios.
When: 10am
Nearest Tube: Old Street
Week 10 — 29 June
Please meet at Royal Drawing School Shoreditch, Ground Floor Studios.
When: 10am
Nearest Tube: Old Street
Materials
Free charcoal is provided in the studios.
There will be newsprint, Snowdon cartridge, and some watercolour paper in the studios. You are welcome to bring alternative types of paper along with you.
Paper Fees: We charge a one -off fee for the use of our paper stock within the studios, prior to the start of your course. We are no longer taking payments for single sheets, on a pay-as-you-go system. Paper stations will be set up around the studios to make accessibility easier.
You are welcome to bring your own additional materials for personal use only, in the studio. Students are encouraged to bring a range of their preferred coloured and monochrome drawing materials (wet or dry). Our suggestions include:
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Drawing Pencils - H, HB, 2B and 4B,
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Conté Crayons
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Pastels
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Ink Pens
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Coloured Pencils
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Putty and Hard Erasers
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Pencil Sharpener
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Sketchbook
For the out of house days please only bring materials that you are happy to carry for the day. Including a sketchbook, or drawing board and paper, and dry, non-messy materials for use inside museums. These days will involve walking, so please wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.
We recommend that students label their materials with their name and if bring their own personal bull-dog clips to attach paper to the drawing board.
*If you wish to use ink or watercolour in the studios, please also bring your own water pots and brushes, as we will not have containers available
What to expect
Easels, drawing boards, and charcoal are provided for free in the studios. A full health and safety talk is given at the start of each course but please be aware that we have a strict no phone and no photography policy within our studios. Sharp blades such as Stanley knives, Swiss pocket knives and other carving tools are also not permitted in the studios.
Please arrive promptly for every session. If you arrive late you may need to wait for a break until you are able to enter the studio. You will be able to arrive up to 15 minutes before the start of the session. Once inside the building you will need to sign in at reception by scanning your QR code, which will be sent to you prior to the start of the course. You will then be allowed up to the studios.
There is step free access up to the 4th floor studios.
There will be a one-hour lunch break generally between 1-2pm each day and regular breaks throughout the day.
Contact
If you are unable to attend a class or know that you will be delayed, please email admin@royaldrawingschool.org or call 020 7613 8568 (option 1) in as far advance as possible.