Sylvia Young
Sylvia Young | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Sylvia Bakal 18 September 1939 Hackney, London, England |
| Died | 30 July 2025 (aged 85) |
| Known for | Sylvia Young Theatre School |
| Spouse |
Norman Ruffell (m. 1961) |
| Children | 2, including Frances Ruffelle |
| Relatives | Eliza Doolittle (granddaughter) |
Sylvia Ruffell OBE (née Bakal; 18 September 1939 – 30 July 2025), known professionally as Sylvia Young,[1] was a British theatre school founder who was the founder and principal of Sylvia Young Theatre School in London, England.[2]
Sylvia Young Theatre School
Young founded her theatre school in 1981 in Drury Lane, London, before moving to its current Marylebone premises in 1983.[3][4] The school is co-educational and provides a combination of academic and vocational classes for children aged 10 to 16 years. The academic curriculum encompasses GCSEs, while the vocational curriculum teaches acting, dance and music.[5][6]
Personal life and death
Young married Norman Ruffell in Hackney, London, in 1961 and had two children, actresses Frances Ruffelle and Alison Ruffelle. Young's granddaughter is pop singer Eliza Doolittle.[7]
Young died on 30 July 2025, at the age of 85.[8][9]
Styles and honours
She was the subject of This Is Your Life in December 1998 when she was surprised by Michael Aspel at the Sylvia Young Theatre School.[10] Young was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2005 Birthday Honours for her services to the arts.[11]
References
- ^ Sayer, Emine (11 April 2022). "'I don't want any stage school brats!': Sylvia Young on nurturing Billie Piper, Daniel Kaluuya and a host of stars". The Guardian.
- ^ Evans, Connie (24 March 2022). "Theatre school founder among recipients of special Olivier award". Belfast Telegraph.
- ^ Beckett, Andy (18 May 1999). "Blonde ambition". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
- ^ Welham, Jamie (19 September 2008). "Sylvia Young Theatre School to stage an exit". West End Extra. Retrieved 27 August 2008.
- ^ "Stage school pioneer Sylvia Young has died aged 86". What's On Stage. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
- ^ "Home". Sylvia Young Theatre School. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
- ^ "Eliza Doolittle lives with mum". Belfast Telegraph. 28 July 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
- ^ "Sylvia Young: Theatre school founder who helped launch careers of Dua Lipa and Amy Winehouse dies aged 86". BBC News. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
- ^ "'True visionary' theatre school founder Sylvia Young dies aged 86". The Guardian. Press Association. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
- ^ "Jazz Shaper: Sylvia Young". Mishcon de Reya. 13 March 2021.
- ^ Welham, Jamie; Moore-Bridger, Benedict (19 September 2008). "Theatre school of the stars is on the move". Evening Standard. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
External links
- Sylvia Young at IMDb