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:
“I would think until I found
Something I can never find,
Something lying on the ground,
In the bottom of my mind.”
—James Kenneth Stephens (1882–1950)
“After all, it is not where one washes one’s neck that counts but where one moistens one’s throat.”
—Djuna Barnes (1892–1982)