Lyn Darnley

Lyn Darnley (1949-2020). Actress and teacher.

Biograhy

Born Lynette Brown. She married fellow actor Brian Darnley and together they toured schools as part of his Theatre-In-Education Company, Theatre Roundabout in the 1970s.

The Darnleys left South Africa in 1980. Lyn worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company RSC from 1992 to 2014. She was Head of Voice, Text and Artist Development from 2003 until her retirement and former Head of Voice at Rose Bruford College. Her qualifications include an M Phil from the University of Birmingham and a PhD from the University of London. She led workshops in the United Kingdom, United States, Europe, Africa and Australia and worked on productions in the West End and on television.

Lynn Darnley’s book, with co-author Stephanie Martin, is The Voice in Education (2018). Their previous publications include The Voice Box, The Voice Sourcebook and The Teaching Voice.

Lyn Darnley passed away in the UK on September 8, 2020, peacefully at her home in Stratford in the UK. She is survived by her husband Brian, her son Christopher and her daughter Olivia.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Lyn Darnley appeared in numerous radio dramas in the early 1970s, going on to become a television presenter and full-time actress. She also worked for NAPAC.

With her husband, Brian, they worked extensively in theatre for NAPAC, acted in radio plays and serials at the SABC and independent production houses, and taught at the Catherine King school of Speech and Drama. In time, this dynamic duo took over from Catherine King, bringing an exciting new approach to teaching at the school, and awarding scholarships to promising pupils whose families weren’t able to pay fees.

Sources

https://news.artsmart.co.za/2020/09/tribute-to-former-south-african-actress.html

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