Yvonne Brewster facts for kids

Yvonne Jones Brewster is a talented actress, theatre director, and businesswoman from Jamaica. She was born on October 7, 1938. You might know her from the BBC TV show Doctors, where she played Ruth Harding. Yvonne also helped start two important theatre groups: Talawa in the UK and The Barn in Jamaica.

Yvonne Brewster's Story

Yvonne was born in Kingston, Jamaica. When she was 16, her dad took her to see a play. She saw an actress named Mona Chin and thought, "I want to be like her!" This moment inspired her to become an actress.

In 1956, Yvonne moved to the UK to study drama. She went to Rose Bruford College, where she was the first Black woman to study drama there. She also studied at the Royal Academy of Music. After her studies, she went back to Jamaica to teach drama. In 1965, she and Trevor Rhone started The Barn in Kingston. This was Jamaica's first professional theatre company!

In the early 1970s, Yvonne returned to England. She worked a lot in radio and TV. She also directed many plays for the stage. In 1985, she helped create the Talawa Theatre Company. She started it with Mona Hammond, Carmen Munroe, and Inigo Espejel. Talawa became a very important Black-led theatre company.

Yvonne was Talawa's artistic director until 2003. She directed many plays, including The Black Jacobins in 1986. This was the first play staged by Talawa. In 1991, she directed an all-Black production of William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. This was a big moment in theatre history!

Yvonne Brewster supports the Clive Barker Centre for Theatrical Innovation.

A Look at Her Life

Yvonne got married after she moved back to England in 1971. She and her husband now live in Florence.

Awards and Honors

Yvonne Brewster has received many special awards for her work.

• In 1993, she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This is a special honor from the Queen of England.
• In 2001, she received an honorary doctorate from the Open University.
• Also in 2001, she got a "living legend" award from the National Black Theatre Festival.
• In 2003, she was named one of the "100 Great Black Britons."
• In 2005, the University of London's Central School of Speech and Drama gave her an honorary fellowship. This was to recognize her big role in British theatre.
• In 2013, the BBC named her one of their "100 Women".