Sonia Friedman aims to cultivate ‘creativity and compassion’ as Central's new president

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (RCSSD) has appointed producer Sonia Friedman as its new president. 

Friedman studied stage management on the school’s tech course; she graduated from Central in 1985, and went on to have a prosperous career producing shows such as The Book of Mormon and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. 

The newly-appointed president is taking the spot of Michael Grandage, who announced he was stepping down from the role in October after holding it for 12 years. 

On the appointment, Friedman said: ‘Whatever their discipline, artists, actors and arts practitioners need a space to grow – somewhere to start to understand themselves, their craft and, crucially, the world around them. 

‘It is in these spaces that we begin working out the ways in which we might contribute to, comment on and change society for the better. For me, that place was Central – a safe space for big adventures. It all started there.’

Friedman continued: ‘As president, I want this wonderful, forward-thinking school to be that place of personal and professional growth - of risk, empathy, creativity and compassion – for a diverse new generation of theatrical talent.’