Biography

Rik Young decided to become an actor at a very young age after having got the title role in the school play Ulysses at the age of 7.

After gaining more interest in theatre, Rik obtained several roles as an extra on stage with the English National Ballet and the Birmingham Royal Ballet, in productions such as in Rudolf Nureyev’s Romeo and Juliet.

Rik was involved in a number of different youth theatre groups, including the Gantry Theatre Company, being one of the biggest youth theatre groups in the country. At the Gantry, Rik was involved in numerous productions including Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, in which he played Rochester.

After leaving school, at the age of 17, Rik decided to spend the summer at a camp in America, teaching ice hockey to children, after having secured a place at the Academy Drama School in London, by winning The Stage Scholarship.

After completing a year at the Academy, Rik went on to study for a further 3 years at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. During his time at GSMD, some of the performances included Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath (Casey), Chekov’s plays The Cherry Orchard and Uncle Vanya and Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing (Benedick), which he then performed as a participant at the William Poel Memorial Festival at Shakespeare’s Globe.

Rik was offered a part in an American independent film whilst still attending Drama College, which he continued to shoot during the last couple of months of college. This was a re-make of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rope”, Thick, Twisted and Harry.

Rik Graduated from GSMD in 2000 with a BA (Hons) degree in Acting. Since leaving Drama College, Rik has worked in film, theatre and television including the following;

  • Paul in Mindblowing (ITV)
  • Mario in Is Harry On The Boat? (Ruby Films)
  • TV Guest Appearance on The Big Breakfast (C4)
  • Theatre Workshops at the Jerwood Space with Di Trevis (National Theatre)
  • Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet (Oxford Stage Company)
  • Jamie in Friends, Fame and Cocaine (Angelic Films)
  • Javid in Children of Dune (Touchstone Television Productions)