Interested in seeing, making and performing pieces of theatre? York Youth Theatre could be for you! If you are aged between 5 and 25 and want the opportunity to work with professional theatre practitioners and artists and perform onstage every year; apply today!

When do we meet?
What do we do?
What do we work towards?
Youth Theatre Costs?
Previous Productions
Current Productions

York Youth Theatre runs between September and July in three ten week terms, meeting once a week during term time. We believe process and product are of equal importance and aim to create excellent pieces of Youth Theatre whilst teaching theatrical techniques and fundamental life skills such as teamwork and communication and building self confidence. We arrange a trip to see a show each term which we link to the Youth Theatres’ work. This invaluable teaching tool develops young people’s theatre making skills and provides an excellent opportunity to develop our members’ theatrical knowledge.

When do we meet?

The Youth Theatre runs between September and July in three ten/twelve week terms, each project group meets once a week during term time. During performance terms additional rehearsals may be called, details of these will be sent to you at this time and no additional charge is applicable.














What do we do?

During their time with us members experience different types of workshops depending on the work we are producing:

A typical workshop begins with fun games aimed at building a specific skills such as team work or communication. We then move on to explore a subject, play or theatre style through fun and accessible exercises.

When a play is in production rehearsals will involve exploring the context of the play and staging it while for younger members we often use artwork and making as other teaching tools. Older groups will often have specific workshops which have in the past included; stage fighting, music, props making and physical theatre.

What do we work towards?

For two out of the three terms the groups work with a theatre practitioner on ideas, themes and theatrical styles which are linked to a production they will have the opportunity to see. Often this evolves into a short presentation or sharing to family and friends in the rehearsal rooms.

For one of the three terms the group will work on a production for performance on one of our two stages. During this term workshops become rehearsals and directed by their Youth Theatre Practitioner the group will work with a designer and/or composer and have the full technical support of our in house production team. Our productions take place in the studio theatre which seats 110 and every other year our 14 plus groups have an opportunity to perform in the main house theatre which seats 847.

For 14 plus members we also visit the National Association of Youth Theatre’s annual Big Youth Theatre Festival (13th – 16th July). This is an international festival of Youth Theatre held in Epping Forest in Chingford, London. 1000 young people attend from Youth Theatres across the world and camp over 4 days to take part in workshops and performances with some of the leading theatre companies and artists. This event is charged separately and is usually in the region of £120 for travel, accommodation and entrance to the festival. Details are sent to members in the summer term. We have also previously taken part in festivals in Berlin.














How much York Youth Theatre cost?

There is a three tier fee payment scheme, payable each term in advance.
For the financial year 2006/2007 the fees are:

• £55 full fee
• £40 for families on low income (below £10,500 for a single parent family and below £14,500 for a family with two resident parents/carers)
• £25 for families in receipt of means tested benefits.

If you do not fit into one of these categories but would like to request a reduced fee for other reasons please contact us and we will do our best to help.

We also operate a limited access fund for those young people who would otherwise be unable to become involved with York Youth Theatre or for members who are experiencing short term financial restraints. If you would like to apply for this fund please contact the Youth Theatre Director directly

Please be aware that York Youth Theatre is very popular so it may be some time before a place becomes available for you. If there is not a vacancy for you for next term then as soon as a place becomes available at either of your preferred project times we will let you know.

Leaving Youth Theatre

If for any reason you decide to leave York Youth Theatre please let us know as soon as possible so that a new member can be given your place. We have an extremely long waiting list of young people wanting to join Youth Theatre so it really helps us if leavers inform us in advance.

To contact York Theatre Royal's Education Department call (01904) 658162.

Previous Youth Theatre productions.

2006

‘The Trial’ by Franz Kafka adapted by Stephen Berkoff.
‘The Sneetches’ by Dr Seuss.
‘Revolting Rhymes’ by Roald Dahl.
‘The Jabberwocky’ adapted by Lee Threadgold from the poem by Lewis Carroll.
‘Zed’s Run’ by Simon Turley.
‘Daffodil Scissors’ by Philip Ridley.
‘Forest’ by Deborah Gearing.

2005

‘Brand New World’ by Noël Greig.
‘The Magic Paintbrush’ based on the book by Julia Donaldson.
‘The Pirates and the Music’ by Jenna Drury.
‘Project Two’ based on a Japanese legend.
‘She Sat Next To You, Not Me’ by Nick Wood.
‘Cops and Robbers’ by Emma Thompson based on ‘Cops and Robbers’ by Janet and Allan Ahlberg.
‘The Unfortunate Tale of an Egg’ by Lesley Ross.
‘Rainbows Ending’ by Noël Greig.
‘The Long Wait’ by Siân Williams.
‘Icarus’ by Dominic O'Hanlon.
‘Grimm Tales’ by The Brothers Grimm, adapted by Carol Ann Duffy and Tim Supple.
‘More Light’ by Bryony Lavery.
‘Dictation’ by Mike Kenny
‘The Love of the Nightingale’ by Timberlake Wertenbaker


Current Youth Theatre productions.

8 - 10's
Alice in the News by Charles Way (Project F)
Who's Afraid of the Bogeyman by Mike Kenny (Project E)
Stay Brave Brian Gravy by Carl Grose (Project C)
Crossroads by Nick Hennessey (Project D)

11 - 13's

Private Peaceful - Written by third Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo, Private Peaceful tells the story of young Private Tommo Peaceful as he awaits the firing squad at dawn.

Set against harsh realities of the First World War, Tommo reflects upon his short life and the journey that took him away from England, away from his family and into such a terrifying conflict.


Multiplex - The Multiplex: a place of dreams where stars on the screen
embody excitement, fame and adventure whilst twenty-two young ushers jostle to be recognised, respected and adored.

Humorous and fast-paced, this production explores the gaps between fantasy and
reality whilst charting the shifting desires, successes and failures of the Multiplex’s
idealistic workforce.


Taking Troy Home - After ten years of war Odysseus and his men are ready to return home. After a tense encounter with a lone Trojan child soldier they set sail, full of hope and prepared to leave the horrors of battle behind them. There are storms on the horizon, however, and the heroes are soon to discover that violence and turmoil are not confined to the battlefield and the toughest journeys take place, not at sea, but inside their own hearts and minds.

Young Actors Company

For More information please contact York Theatre Royal's Youth Theatre Director.

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