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The wonderful Yasmin Taheri

Rather than write a goodbye blog, I thought I’d write a ‘Celebration of Yew Tree’ blog instead because A) It’s much jollier and B) As it stands I’m going to be homeless in London so I don’t actually know when I am leaving!
Ladies and Gentleman I give you ... The Five Things I Love the Most About Yew Tree:
1) Togetherness
Yew Tree isn’t about the individual, it’s about the collective. Sarah and Gemma don’t have their own star favourites that steal the limelight over and over because Yew Tree isn’t about the limelight. It’s about encouragement, fun and happiness. By working as an ensemble, young people attending Yew Tree learn to support each other and as a result they have the encouragement to grow, both as people and as performers.
2) Positivity
At Yew Tree, young people can’t get things wrong. They’re not going to get shouted at, bossed around or told exactly what they should or shouldn’t be doing. They have the opportunity to enter an encouraging space and enjoy themselves. They have the opportunity to spend time in an environment where creativity isn’t about being right or wrong, it’s about BEING CREATIVE, and this is invaluable.
3) Encouragement
Such a range of people walk through the doors to Yew Tree: some born performers, some experienced performers, some desperately shy people who struggle to speak in front of more than one person at a time. At Yew Tree, this doesn’t matter! In fact this is what enhances the experience so much for everyone. No matter who you are, where you’re from or what your reasons are for attending, you will be constantly encouraged (not forced or pushed) to be the best version or yourself that you can be. Yew Tree doesn’t have the same set of goals for everyone, it nurtures the individual.
4) Fun
Yew Tree is fun!!!!! Whether you’ve been at school or day or revising for exams or at work or you know...being a lawyer (Ahem Charlotte Clayton!) you can show up to Yew Tree and just have some fun. You leave your stressful/boring/annoying worries at the door and delve into a game of ninja warrior and for those ten minutes all that matters is that a) You look like a ninja and b) someone doesn’t tap your hand and get you out. It’s only recently that I realised the importance of being able to play and now I see that whatever it is you’re doing in life and no matter what sort of person you are and no matter how old you are, being able to just let go and have some good old fashioned fun is essential.
5) Yew Tree is not just for Christmas (or in my case four years) The main reason I have decided not to write a goodbye blog is because it’s not goodbye. It’s more of a ‘see you soon’ or a ‘ta-ra for now’. Sarah and Gemma I hope you will have realised by now that you’re absolutely not getting rid of me that easily! It is a testament to the wonder of this fantastic Youth Theatre that people who have officially ‘left’ years ago are still milling about, popping in to say hello or Sarah is letting us know about their latest adventure because they’ve always stayed in touch with her.
So no, I’m not going to write a big heartfelt and soppy goodbye (AHEM George Reid AHEMMM) I am simply going to say this: Sarah, Gemma, Yew Tree it has been my absolute pleasure, you have changed my life and you are bloody wonderful... Ta-ra for now xxxxxxxx

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