It was founded in 1980 out of an association between Monica Shallis (1939−2006), Mary G. Evans (born 1934) and the Northcott Theatre, Exeter, then under the direction of Richard Digby Day. It operates as a working theatre company, regularly producing plays to a professional standard, both at the Cygnet Theatre and on tour, giving its students a first-hand experience of life in the theatre industry. It is one of the smallest drama schools in the UK, only taking in an average of five students per year. Its Patron is Peter Brook.