'History made' as founder of Maidenhead drama school honoured at Olivier Awards

The founding principal of a longstanding drama school in Maidenhead has been remembered at the Olivier Awards 2025.

A tribute to June Rose, founder of Redroofs Theatre School, was included in the awards ceremony on Sunday night (April 6) during 'In Memoriam'.

The segment of the annual awards show remembers people in the London theatre community who passed away in the previous year.

Redroofs shared the honour for their late founder on social media platforms, saying ‘history has been made’.

Born in June 1930, June Rose established the theatre school in London in 1947 before moving to Littlewick Green in 1964.

The school, now based on Bath Road, specialises in performing arts and has a string of famous alumni, including Kate Winslet, Joanna Froggatt and Kris Marshall.

A statement shared by the school on Instagram last night (Sunday) said the recognition was a ‘bittersweet moment’ for the family who are ‘deeply indebted’ to industry friends and family ‘who made this happen’.

They added: “Our mother, June Rose, founder principal of the school, was this evening honoured with her moment at the SOLT Olivier Awards.

“We know that she would think herself undeserving of this honour.

“She led her life simply doing what she loved - supporting talented young actors and leading them into the industry she loved and lived for.

“There are no words to match how we feel this evening, and we know too that there will be friends and ex-students tonight raising a toast.”