Jacob and Tristan's YTYT 2025 blogs

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Jacobe Sakels tells us of his YTYT year:

What a brilliant year of yew tree! I want to start this by saying how delighted I am to spend yet another year of my life doing what I enjoy most, and 2025 has certainly made me fall even deeper in love with acting (which I never thought was possible!) 

At the start of this year, I was buzzing after Hansel and Gretel and was ready for a new thing to keep me entertained! Luckily, I didn't have to wait, as we started work on a new play: In The Hands of The God's (Greek mythology), where I was Daedalus in the story of Icarus. I enjoyed this, and with many new people that had joined at the beginning of the year, it was a wonderful opportunity to get to know my new friends. 

Alongside this play, I was also focused on my Grade 2 LAMDA devising. And after months and months of hard work, it all paid off with a wonderful distinction! Not only do I enjoy LAMDA, it's been proven to expand my skills and I wouldn't have become half the actor I am today. September was when I really began to pop off. I don't know if it was because I was still reeling from turning 14 the week before my first session back, but something switched in my brain. 

Good thing we started Rumpelstiltskin! I could say so much about my time playing Rumpelstiltskin. Without a doubt, it has definitely been my favourite play that I have ever done with Yew Tree. And that's saying something! It was so funny, I loved getting to dance and be so jolly on stage and in rehearsals, that I'm going to miss Rumpelstiltskin like a parent when their child moves away. 

I didn't stop there, though. Why would I? I decided to take part in the Miner's Memorial Service! I hold these so dear to my heart, as my Grandad was a miner back in the day, so for him to attend those performances and be recognised is something that will always make me so joyous. 

However, what is an actor without his co-stars? I love everyone at Yew Tree - I'm friends with everyone in here! That's what I love; you meet so many people with similar interests, hobbies and senses of humour as you, you're never an outsider! Whether it's acting with them, or playing games with them, words don't even BEGIN to describe how thankful I am everyone I know here. 2025 has certainly been a year to remember for me. I loved every part about it. And who knows? 

Maybe 2026 will be just as good. 

 

And now Tristan:


Hello! My name is Tristan and I’ve spent my first full year at Yew Tree Youth Theatre just this year and, in all honestly, I’ve absolutely LOVED IT!!!! My first comments are our amazing leaders,

Sarah and John, who lead our sessions every week with sure pride and optimism that you can’t help but feel amazing the minute you walk in; without them, sapphire company wouldn’t be sapphire company and that’s what makes it so amazing so a huge thank you to the both of them. 

The sense of community is vast and warm, and even despite it being my first week all the way back last January, I was immediately supported and seen within the space, and that was an amazing feeling one could never describe. The gathered sense of belonging that Yew Tree delivers never fails to amaze me and is inspiring to pass onto other newcomers that might enter the sessions. 

Every week a set of games are picked out almost as a warm-up before the session and, despite the ludicrously ridiculous ideas for some of them, all of them never fail to bring enjoyment and smiles to all, while still developing drama techniques such as projection of the voice, or improvisation. 

Now having been at Yew Tree for a year, I’ve had the honour to take part in two productions, both of which have been a spectacular display of the talent and creativity of the youth and I’ve personally had a blast playing both my roles, being the love stricken Orpheus in my first production, to most recently, a very pretentious king in Rumplestiltskin. Every session developing these shows the teamwork and connections made amongst the group, and progression is witnessed every week, sometimes in small steps and sometimes in leaps and bounds. 

After my first year at Yew Tree, my personal dramatic and social skills have enhanced to a level I never thought imaginable of myself, and for that, I am greatly thankful towards the company for allowing this progression in myself. I have loved every second of my sessions, and hope to continue my adventures with Yew Tree Youth Theatre into the foreseeable future!

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