Remembering Rosemarie Swinfield

Earlier this year news was shared with us that Rosemarie Swinfield had passed away. Rosemarie taught make-up to generations of LAMDA students for over 30 years. She also taught at RADA. Her professional legacy continues to impact the performing arts industry thanks to her work and her popularity over a long career.

LAMDA’s Professor of Shakespeare and Early Modern Drama, Rodney Cottier, enjoyed a long working relationship with Rosemary. Leaning on his near 50 year history with LAMDA, he said "I had the pleasure of working with Rosemarie for over thirty years and observed not only the sheer breadth of knowledge that a lifetime in theatre brought, but also the wonderful way in which she communicated the detail of her craft in practical, less academic ways, making the subject more engaging as a result.”

Back in the summer of 2024, Rosemarie was keen to join with LAMDA staff and alumni when they gathered at LAMDA to remember Colin Cook. Colin’s long tenure from 1978 to 2015, culminating as Head of the Drama School, coincided with the period Rosemarie enjoyed with us. At the time of this celebratory event, she was happy to share her thoughts with us. “Colin and I arrived at LAMDA at pretty well the same time, and I have many memories of his kindness towards me.” Also speaking about Rodney Cottier, Rosemarie was happy to remind us of their shared time together at LAMDA, too. “Rodney and I go back to his time as a student in the late 1970s. I taught him his stage make-up. Now he is, quite correctly, a LAMDA institution!”

LAMDA is the oldest Conservatoire Drama School in the UK, and our continued success is built and sustained by attracting leading professional practitioners in their field to pass on their knowledge to upcoming generations. In Rosemarie’s case, her work will enjoy decades more to come thanks to the number of students she guided at the foundation of their careers.