Richard Mulholland is a director, writer, performer and educator whose career spans professional theatre, screen and both secondary and higher education.
He trained at Drama Centre London before completing an MA in Text and Performance at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), graduating with distinction. He also holds a degree in English Literature from Royal Holloway, University of London and a PGCLTHE in Theatre and Performing Arts from Rose Bruford College. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Richard has held senior leadership positions across a range of leading performing arts institutions. He was Course Director at Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts, where he led degree and diploma programmes in Musical Theatre and Dance, and subsequently served as Head of Stage & Screen for PQA (Pauline Quirke Academy), overseeing drama training, curriculum development and quality assurance across more than 200 academies throughout the United Kingdom.
He currently works as a Dissertation Supervisor at Bird College, supporting undergraduate research, academic writing and practice-based projects. He also teaches Acting, Public Speaking, Shakespeare and Musical Theatre at St Paul's Girls' School and City of London School for Girls. In addition, he has served as External Examiner for Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and as a board member of the Federation of Drama Schools.
As an educator and director, Richard has worked across some of the UK's leading drama training institutions, including RADA, Bird College, London College of Music, Identity School of Acting, Italia Conti and PQA. Alongside leading the training of performers at undergraduate and postgraduate level, he has extensive experience coaching young performers and preparing students for drama school auditions, helping many secure places at some of the UK's most prestigious conservatoires, including RADA, LAMDA, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, ArtsEd, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Alongside his work in education, Richard has enjoyed a varied career as a performer across theatre, television and film. His screen credits include Quills alongside Geoffrey Rush, Angel with John Hannah and Miss Potter starring Renée Zellweger.
Richard is also an accomplished writer of plays, musicals and screenplays, combining professional creative practice with a longstanding commitment to drama education and performer training.
In recognition of his contribution to drama and education, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2019.
