Sylvia Young, founder of famed theatrical school, dies at 86
Her school helped launch the careers of actors and singers including Amy Winehouse, Emma Bunton, Daniel Kaaluya and Nicholas Hoult
The Jewish founder of one of the UK’s best known theatre schools, who helped launch the careers of performers including Amy Winehouse, Rita Ora and Billie Piper, has died at the age of 86.
Sylvia Young, who launched her eponymous theatre school in 1972, was born in Hackney in 1939 to a Jewish family. She originally dreamed of becoming a dancer, but channelled her energy into creating a school for gifted children of all backgrounds. In a 2022 interview with the Guardian, around the time she won a special recognition Olivier award for 50 years of drama teaching, she described how her drama school grew out of 10p-a-lesson classes she held for children at her daughters’ primary school.
“Talent needs nurturing,” she would often say, “but belief is what really sets a child free.”
Her school became a launching pad for the careers of some of the UK’s most high profile actors, singers and presenters, with former pupils also including Spice Girl Emma Bunton, Melanie Blatt, Natalie Appleton and Nicola Appleton of girl group All Saints, actors Keeley Hawes, Daniel Kaaluya and Nicholas Hoult, and reality tv stars Gemma Collins and Mark Wright. A range of other pupils would star in some of the UK’s most popular and long-running musicals and soap operas, with others going on to become directors, casting agents and entertainment executives. One of Young’s daughters, Frances Ruffelle, won a Tony award for her portrayal of Eponine in Les Miserables and represented the UK in the 1994 Eurovision song contest. One of her granddaughters is the popstar Eliza Doolitle.
In a statement released yesterday, Young’s daughters Alison and Frances described their mother as “a true visionary. She gave young people from all walks of life the chance to pursue their performing arts skills to the highest standard.
“Her rare ability to recognise raw talent and encourage all her students contributed to the richness of today’s theatre and music world.
“She believed hard work with a bit of luck brought success, and she was an example of that herself.”
In 2005, Sylvia Young was awarded an OBE for services to the arts—a fitting recognition for a woman who reshaped the creative landscape of the UK. She is survived by her daughters Frances and Alison, five grandchildren, including Eliza, and a great-grandson, Felix.
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