What Amani Said: From Sapling to Yew Tree
For almost a decade, I have had the privilege of being a part of a community of people that not only shaped my journey in theatre but also helped me become the person I am today. At the ripe age of 6, Yew Tree Youth Theatre quickly became my second home and – as it is in its 30th year – I have a reasonable excuse to write about it.
30 years is a remarkable milestone for any organisation, however for many people who start an originally small drama company it seems near impossible. Yet Yew Tree made it happen! The legacy of what is now the youth theatre we know and love today has been built upon years, and years, and years of hard work – both from the actors and the behind-the-scenes crew. Reaching three decades of Yew Tree Youth Theatre’s existence is insane, and to say I’ve been a part of nearly a third of it?!
However, Yew Tree isn’t just a drama company: it’s a community, a family, a place where people come together to create. In each class we grow, as actors and as people, and everyone supports one another, both on and off stage. Finding a community like this is a rarity, but I did. So, let’s go down the endless road of how I ended up here in the first place…
Before I’d found my people in a drama company, I’d hop around between one company and the next for countless shows, hoping that it would be the one. But I never really felt connected to anywhere until I found Yew Tree. I joined in 2016 through an open audition for ‘Aladdin: the Musical’ which I attended when I was 6. On the 2nd of March that year, I found out I’d got the part of Wish #4 and the rehearsal process immediately began!
After partaking in that musical, I decided to get involved in the drama company officially, so I joined Jade company at age 7. Over the next 9 years I moved up through each smaller company based on age groups, including: Jade, Emerald, Orange, Yellow, Sapphire, Gold, and Black company. Some of these don’t even exist anymore (so now I feel a bit old), however it’s been wonderful to look back on all the years I’ve spent at Yew Tree and think about all the lifelong friends (and more) that I’ve made along the way.
However, it isn’t just the actors who make Yew Tree Youth Theatre special. Every script I have received from this company was written (or adapted) by the same person. Every play I have been a part of was directed by the same person. Every show I have performed in was run by the same person. Sarah Osborne is a lot of things: a director, a writer, a drama practitioner, a mentor, and a creator are just a few of them. She takes on students and guides them through their individual journeys as actors, pushing them to be the best version of themselves on and off stage. Every show I’ve been a part of gained its spark from directions Sarah gave to us. She’s also been there from the start – not just my start, but the beginning of Yew Tree altogether.
Behind every performance is a person (or a few) controlling what makes each show special. In my opinion, the sound, lights, and props are elements that can make or break a show. So, here’s to all of the countless people who’ve helped out backstage over the years, including John, Ash, Ashe, Nat, Oz, and Sam. Throughout Connections 2024-2025, I got much more involved in creating props and editing sound which just made me appreciate even more what the backstage crew do for us.
Yew Tree Youth Theatre has opened up so many opportunities over the years, for me and for many others. Having been a part of this community for so long, I’ve had my ups and downs; but at the end of the week, Yew Tree has always been there. Despite a long run of 30 years, I’m always excited for the next script and for all of the stories just waiting to be told.
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