Sir Kenneth Ralph Barnes, KGB, CBE (11 September 1878 – 16 October 1957) was director of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, from 1909 until 1955.
He was born in Heavitree, near Exeter, one of six siblings. His sisters, Irene and Violet became actresses.
In 1921 he instigated the building of a new theatre for RADA which unfortunately was totally demolished by bombing in 1941. A new Vanbrugh Theatre was opened by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 1954 shortly before Sir Kenneth's retirement. He was knighted in 1938.
Famous quotes containing the words kenneth and/or barnes:
“All successful revolutions are the kicking in of a rotten door. The violence of revolutions is the violence of men who charge into a vacuum.”
—John Kenneth Galbraith (b. 1908)
“The heart of the jealous knows the best and most satisfying love, that of the other’s bed, where the rival perfects the lover’s imperfections.”
—Djuna Barnes (1892–1982)