RADA Graduate Launches London's Newest Theatre Company

Hawaii-born actor and director Jack Yearsley founds independent production company Lion & Swan Productions

Mar. 4, 2026 at 4:09pm

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Jack Yearsley, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), has launched an independent theatre company called Lion & Swan Productions in London. The company will produce classical and contemporary theatrical works, provide professional performance services, and offer master-level acting instruction grounded in psychophysical training methodology.

Why it matters

London's theatre sector continues to outperform other entertainment industries, with West End attendance exceeding Premier League football and cinema in recent years. Lion & Swan Productions enters this thriving market with a model built for longevity, combining independent production capability with a professional performance and education offering.

The details

Lion & Swan Productions will serve both performing arts audiences and the broader creative industry through three core offerings: producing theatrical works, providing high-caliber acting for stage, screen, and voiceover, and delivering performance education at the master teacher level. Yearsley brings extensive performance background and advanced training from RADA's rigorous MA Theatre Lab program.

  • Lion & Swan Productions officially launched in March 2026.
  • West End venues recorded over 17.1 million attendees in 2024, an 11 percent increase on pre-pandemic levels.

The players

Jack Yearsley

The founder of Lion & Swan Productions, Yearsley is a Hawaii-born actor and director who holds an MA from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Lion & Swan Productions

An independent theatre company based in London that produces classical and contemporary theatrical works, provides professional performance services, and offers master-level acting instruction.

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What they’re saying

“Founding Lion & Swan Productions is the natural next step in a journey that has taken me from Hawaii to the stages of London. This company exists to create theatre that demands something of its audience, and to build a space where serious performance training meets bold, original production work.”

— Jack Yearsley, Founder, Lion & Swan Productions

“The most important thing we can do right now is establish a body of work that speaks for itself. London is one of the great theatre cities in the world, and this company is here to contribute to that tradition while pushing it forward.”

— Jack Yearsley, Founder, Lion & Swan Productions

What’s next

Lion & Swan Productions intends to expand its reach into the United States and continental Europe over the next 12 months, with New York and Los Angeles identified as primary target markets.

The takeaway

The launch of Lion & Swan Productions, founded by a RADA graduate, comes at a time when London's thriving theatre sector continues to outperform other entertainment industries, signaling the company's potential to contribute to the city's rich performing arts tradition while pushing it forward with bold, original production work.