My only criticism is that the Summer School was too short ~An extra week would have been welcomed which possibly would have allowed shorter days. However the hard work was definitely worth it and I enjoyed every minute. The expert tuition and input was really appreciated and was a very valuable experience.

I really enjoyed seeing the project through from nothing to a working model. I found it fascinating creating these new 'worlds' and they pretty much became a reality.

I left feeling I had really achieved something and I am seriously considering pursuing a future in theatre design after finishing my Fine Art degree.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to have such a wonderful experience.

(Anna Lavelle)

Thank you so much for the time and organisation and teaching that you put into the Design Summer School. I loved being surrounded by so many creative and imaginative people - both the other designers and all of the other people drafted in to help us. It really created a hothouse environment (and I do not refer to the heatwave in the weather!), which really pushed the growth of inspiration and ideas.

I genuinely felt as if I was being pushed physically and mentally to create a response to the brief. I did feel that I could have done with more time on the job - but I would not have forsaken (any part of it) for this time.

Actually, having been on the Summer School, I am now considering applying for (a) longer Course.
I want to thank you again for all of your help on the School - which gave me so much inspiration, motivation and practical knowledge.

(Gillian Bennetts)

I found the School to be very busy and well organized as I have looked back at it a few times and wondered how we fitted all that into a two week time period. I also felt it was all worthwhile. The opportunity to work with the guest designers was an invaluable resource as they were great people to bounce ideas off and to brainstorm solutions with.

Personally, I took some very key things from the School. Having only worked on set designs in a classroom setting previous to this, the experience of a director-designer relationship was helpful in getting a grasp on the workings of that. I also found there was a great deal of encouragement within the studio to continue with ideas that were not completely clear at the outset so that they had time to transform and clarify themselves within an appropriate environment.

I found out about the School through the internet at first and I strongly recommend keeping information about the School on your website. This School has been a great opportunity to work on portfolio material and to get advice on the preparation of a portfolio. The class varied in backgrounds and I think we all benefitted from the range of experience present

Thanks very much for an incredible experience.

(Kerri Leeper)

First, I would like to say how fantastic the School was. I would especially like to thank everybody for their help, advice, endless patience and ability to remain cheerful at all times, they were always approachable no matter what. I would like to give my deepest gratitude to Jonathan who is a truly amazing person, a well of knowledge of a material kind, inspiring and with a zest for dealing with the tricky and whacky ideas. He is a great teacher

It was owing to everyone who put in so much time and effort that made this School such a wonderful experience.

The School was very exhausting, 9 until 9 plus getting up early and getting to bed late, it was a very long day. I could have done with an extra week, although my bank balance wouldn't agree ...

It amazed me just how much I take for granted! It's incredible how much detail is needed ...
I can't remember the last time I have worked so hard but the results were well worth it. I will recommend this School to anyone interested in theatre design, it has been one of the best times I have had Thank you for everything.

(Judith Thei)

I found the overall RADA experience fabulous. I felt privileged to be studying at RADA and learnt a completely new subject from scratch. Positive feedback I'd like to give is firstly to Jonathan: he came across as extremely understanding, he listened to everyone, was gentle in giving advice, and he was a fun leader. I hope others in the future will get to enjoy his teaching on the School.

Everything we did at the School was extremely valid in our learning, but I would like to suggest that perhaps the School should be a few days longer ...

Everything else was spot on and contributed to a most amazing two week experience.

(Unattributed, 2002)

I'm glad to say that I found the Design School an extraordinary experience ... Some lessons to improve drawing skills might be very useful to students without a Fine Art background. Maybe you should consider a 3 or 4 weeks School (instead of two weeks) in order to include such tuition and give more time. Apart from that I really enjoyed the School and I'm seriously considering attending next year. Thank you.

(Fotini Papathanassiou)

I truly enjoyed my experience at RADA and I feel that I gained an invaluable insight to the workings "backstage".

Although the background differed a lot among the participants, I feel that there was enough space for each individual to achieve different targets.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere too: being back at school - what a dream I appreciated the whole organisation of the School, its mix of tutorials and model-making.

I wish we had had more time and I would have appreciated an insight into figure drawing. I found completing the tasks in the given time quite challenging and now I need to go back to my costume design in order to put together a complete portfolio.

In a nutshell the RADA Design Summer School was a very positive and exciting experience. I hope this is a good omen for the career I hope to follow in the future. Thanks for everything.

(Donatella Lazzari)

I found the two weeks very enjoyable. I learnt a lot about all aspects of set and costume design. I think and hope the School has equipped me with the knowledge I need for the future.

(Kate Chapman)

The RADA Design Summer School has been a fantastic experience and a worthwhile undertaking. Speaking as a teacher, I would have no hesitation in recommending the School to School leavers, or pupils on an AS or AZ level Theatre Studies course.

I am also keen to tell my fellow Drama and English teachers about the potential for learning that the School affords. The GCSE and K53 curriculums in English are very much geared towards theatre as a wholly textual experience - however, the RADA School redresses that balance and has given me the confidence to go back to my pupils and talk about lighting, set and costume design with a new awareness and an improved range of technical vocabulary.

I feel sure that my pupils will benefit from this, and from the design projects that I intend to work into my lessons. The School is comprehensive, the facilities impressive and the instructors anything but patronising. Students of the School are given the space and creative freedom to experiment whilst always being absolutely supported by professionals who are helpful and passionate about design.

The School justifies its existence by the new found enthusiasm and ambition that we all now have to make theatre design part of our lives and our work.

(Lyndsey Turner)

I would like to thank everyone involved in this program, especially all of the designers and artists who directly helped with my model and ideas. I came from practically no design experience . . I feel the School is not for beginners like myself.

I feel the School has a laot lot to offer, but feel it is generally geared to people with a fair amount of experience. I am pleased with the work I accomplished and proud of what I have to show in my portfolio and I am glad I chose to stay the Course. Again, much thanks to everyone and best of luck in the future.

(Sasha Yazdgerdi)

Time has raced away and I haven't had a chance to tell you how much I enjoyed being part of your Design Summer School.

I thought that all the students had come up with really interesting ideas and concepts which could easily, or not so easily in some cases, be made reality for our stage. They had all understood the demands of our space, the demands of the show, and the role of the designer in the production process. All their models bore the fruit of this along with their own individual stamp. This made my visits to the group hugely rewarding.

I want to thank both you and Jonathan for involving the Aldwych Theatre and myself in this year's School, and also congratulate you both on what you achieve. I was frustrated at not being able to get away from the Theatre for the presentation afternoon but am sure all the end designs were great and fascinating for you to see.

James Bierman, ALDWYCH THEATRE