What's happening at YTYT

I got the idea for this blog when reading Rachel’s application form she has to submit before she can audition at LIPA. It asked her for 4 things she would like to improve if she got the chance to train there…it’s a tough question but a truly vital one for anyone who really wants to make a success in acting wither for it’s own sake or because they want to make a living in it. It occurred to me that looking at what’s next in your development can be a good idea, simply so you get the most out of the Youth Theatre experience. Even if you are actually intending to be a doctor, or a mechanic or a zoo keeper in your real life (ie the one you lead outside Yew Tree) it’s still a good thing to have your eyes on what your creative possibilities might be. The reason it’s good is that nothing beats that sense of satisfaction and achievement when you know you’ve done better than you ever have before – even if that’s just in a workshop exercise or in a game. Also it makes me reeeaalllllyyy hap...

Emma with some thoughts inspired by a morning in Wakefield I was sat in the window of Costa today waiting for someone who was late and I planned to hit the sales... but I got a bit distracted and ended up just people-watching out of the window. And I was watching everyone go along in their own little bubbles, paying very little attention to anyone else. But there was one man who was sat on an outside table. He had a loveheart in the foam on his coffee and he took it straight off with the spoon. :| Then he looked at the person beside him and wrinkled his nose. Niiiice. But I digress. I realised when we do street cafe at Yew Tree, we rarely decide to be 70% of the people I watched today - perhaps because we don't pay them enough attention in real life. We sometimes act the stereotypes because this sits comfortably in our heads, or we play young people. And the stereotypes and the young people are present in the street, but there are lots of others there too!!

Danny Southern it appears has the last word Merry Christmas Yew-Tree-ers!!! Well this is a tad late but I thought that perhaps my blog can be a xmas prezzie from me to yew (see what I did there??). Sapphire company = legends. Omg they were fantastic on tuesday and wednesday!! No fluffed up - or if they did, it was really well covered up and best of all... THE AUDIENCE LAUGHED!!!!! The princesses were amazing with one person from the audience calling Alanya "a right little star in the making" and Ross as "sheer genius". Everyone was EXCEPTIONAL! The princesses flowed quickly and efficiently but most of all, they projected - get-in!! I've got to say, I was utterly impressed with Heather, Darcie and Faye who all were just plain class. All the princesses made me feel proud to be part of yew tree an see how all their characters have developed from way back ages ago to the well thought out masterpieces delivered on stage. I LOVED Milly, Tilly and Lily! They actually m...

T’was the night before Christmas and all through Yew Tree Not a person was working, not even me. But the blogs were still uploaded on the website with care, In the hope that the dedicated would venture there. The readers that hoped for some last minute word From the writers of Yew tree, however absurd. Those that knew with a certainty, rightly given, That despite the festive season they’d be generously written Hey there!…if you are reading this you are hardcore Yew Tree through and through…it’s Christmas eve and you’re reading the blog…that’s impressive….no really, it’s realllly impressive…you should have some sort of award….in fact here’s what I’m going to do…when you’ve read this (and the guest blog too of course) go to the facebook fanpage and let us know you have (either by liking the status saying that the blogs are up or posting up a comment on the wall) and I’ll invent an award…I’m starting to think of the title such dedication deserves as I type this…by the time you post up I’l...

This Festive Masterpiece is by none other than Joanna Nick...hurry for her! Twas the night before Christmas and all through Wakefield Young people were thinking of what next year might yield And of all the things that this one has brought Lessons we’ve learnt and things we’ve been taught. First in the calendar was Open Mic Night 5 Where people performed and the room came alive. With a sprinkling of magic and a dusting of cheer, Lots of flowers on the table and friends we hold dear. A raffle was drawn, competitions were won, And so with the first event the year was begun. The next thing up was Sparkleshark A journey on which 18 of us embarked With trials and challenges and accomplishments too (And not to forget Karamazoo.) Next was the Shakespeare festival held at Clarke Hall The sun was shining, a lovely day had by all. With thou’s and art’s and thy’s and thee’s Everyone o’ercome with frivolity. The summer school at Nostell happened in August The rain poured down but the cast were robu...

Lucy reports in on our joint bonus games session... When I said I’d do a blog about this Saturday’s session I thought it would be easy, because I knew how much I was looking forward to it and I knew it wouldn’t disappoint. And don’t get me wrong, it definitely hasn’t, it’s been amazing, but I’m finding it hard to actually put into words just how brilliant it was. This Saturday was a games session at Yew Tree. Sounds simple enough. But oh no, 50 people, that’s right, 50 people turned up. Which is a lovely thing in itself because it wasn’t a mandatory thing that they had to attend. But still 50 people, all from different companies, came together just to have a bit of fun. We played lots of games and generally had loads of fun. My favourite game was definitely King Of The Jungle. We added in a dinosaur and watching people try to make the noise for it was hilarious. And it’s just a brilliant game anyway. Love a bit of King Of The Jungle, it’s a game we should definitely play more. But I th...

I have all sorts of things scrambling through my brain vying to be the thing I write about today…how could I fail to having had a week of shows and a bonus session today and a truly inspiring Shooting Truth rehearsal and a continual influx of brilliant and abundant guest blogs…all of which are simply stunning… However the main thought I am left with at the end of the week/term/year is how unstoppable Yew Tree Youth Theatre is…a visitor to the youth theatre described it as a movement and more and more I think he got that so right…we just can’t seem to get enough…In years gone by we would finish well before Christmas and not do anything until well into the new year but what with the blogs, shared workshops like this morning, Yule tide writer’s sessions, Black Company workshops and Shooting Truth rehearsals that is absolutely no longer the case…there is no halt to the creativity and the demand from you wonderful people for the opportunity to immerse yourselves in all that is Yew Tree. Lu...

Thomas McNulty with his thoughts on performance week... A first performance of any show, in any theatre has a lasting and wonderful effect on all of those that participate. Its director, its performers, its crew, and everyone involved have the great chance of excelling themselves beyond their potential and do something they never thought they could have ever have done before. No more so I think than with someone who is new to Yew Tree and performing for the first time in a Yew Tree setting, or in fact performing for first time in front of any well made audience and in the theatre that presented this years Christmas shows in…. However by all accounts on both Tuesday and Wednesday night, it was an exceptional evening of performances. I was very pleased and honoured to see such talent come from all the different groups that Yew Tree is made up from and from my observations, many of the groups and their occupants really did do something they thought they could do and they all loved every m...

Clark Bradley...Purple Company... Christmas With Yew Tree At The Phoenix Theatre On the 14th-15th of December Yew Tree Youth Theatre held a two day concert. I’m covering the 15th, The Purple Company started the show off with a comedy remake of a classic Christmas song: ‘The Twelve Days Of Yew Tree’. A member of the audience quotes: ‘‘Very good, all worked very well as a team, exceptionally funny. No mistake that I saw.’’ The next play on second was not a remake but a modern version Of ‘The Princess And The Pea’, I particularly enjoyed this one, as it was very funny at times and the acting was excellent! Black companies ‘Lost Happy Endings’ finished the first act off with a stunning performance. A quote from an actor in Black Company says: ‘‘ As part of YTYT it’s good to see all different ages performing’’. In my eyes, ‘Worn Out Shoes’ by Gold Company stole the whole evening. Normally being me, I can speak for England (and the rest of the UK), everyone knows that but I could only find t...

Micheal Brown AKA Prince Sebastian with his performance week experience... Waoh, can't believe it's been like two years since I've written a blog... That's two Yew Tree Christmas shows ago. Speaking of the Christmas shows, our latest ones happened to be on Tuesday and Wednesday! (In case you wern't already aware...) Usually, before going on a stage I get this feeling of: Nervousness, fear, adrenaline, panic, terror, scared of being shot by some maniac on the back row with a sniper! (That never happens). But at Yew Tree, for some reason it's easier. You can just walk on stage, perfectly calm and just do it. But seriously, the whole thing was amazing, all of it. I'm not sure what I enjoyed the most; being on stage performing, or watching others just smash it with their brill plays. I don't think I could put my finger on which one I liked the most, it was clear as, urmm... a clear piece of glass, they had all put tons of time and effort into them. But one t...

Jess Moore and her experience of OMN 6... Soo... never been as nervous in my life. Actually pacing and everything. However once I actually got up there I right enjoyed it! Plus you couldn’t perform in front of more supportive people. Even had Sarah holding my hand ha. I was ridiculous…but Jack Davies you were brilliant...made me feel better even though I made you nervous. Sorry ha. Oh and your voice is sensational :) Anyway…the whole night was brilliant! Great atmosphere, great entertainment and great people. I really enjoyed everyone’s performances and it’s nice that each open mic night someone performs that hasn’t before. The whole night made me feel Christmassy and I hadn’t really felt that until then :) I think the decorations helped. Looked really pretty and festive. Couldn’t however handle the name of our team for the yew tree quiz. Something to do with Rudolf and pink fluffy Santa’s helpers – Yeh Dee definitely came up with that. Dee just peered over my shoulder by the way and s...

James B. Gives an account of the last Yew Tree session of term... The best Yew Tree I've honestly ever been to. So many people turned out in the snow one last time before Christmas. With everyone on such a high after Tuesday and Wednesday brought amazing performances from all groups Yew Tree, it was pretty much already set up for an amazing morning. As is tradition we start with best and worst, well, today it was just best, which is great for the participating of gold members who like to rack up a word count, me being one of those people. The laughing game was even better than it normally is at gold, somehow a large group of people managed to resist laughter at Danny and Ash’s various antics that normally decimate gold company. I have to say thought I have never seen a song in there before, so yeah, respect to everyone that managed to keep a straight face. I’m not going to go through every game, because there is so much to say and so many moments to include. But hot rice, have not...

I am delighted to welcome Ian Morris to the blog...he worked for Yew Tree in the early days and he's writing this as an attendee of our magical Open Mic NIght 6... The night Christmas arrived in Wakefield. Twas a few nights before Christmas and all through Wakey town, not a creature was stirring, except the usual evening's offerings of drunken revellers, taxi drivers, and those weird people you find in every town and city on the planet who don't appear to have any purpose or a rational sense of hygiene. The ones who congregate around bus stations and always seem to approach you to ask for a light, some money or a chance to unload some of their precious spittle on your shoes! I digress. The previous weeks snow had all but melted, but in a small pocket of Wakefield, the festive spirit was about to get a royal kick in the baubles...Yew Tree style! I walked into the back bar of Henry Boons, as a bit of an old hand at Open Mic Evenings. I have spent many an evening sat in a diml...

Hey, its Laura "staggsy" Staggs with my first ever blog. First of all I would like to say to Sapphire that you were all epic on Tuesday and Wednesday. Every single one of you are sooo unique and talented and im sooo pleased I joined Yew Tree! You're all my little slightly insane family and I dont know where I would be without you all. I have to say that without Danny, Ben, Jack, Michael, Jake, Gee, Olena, Holly, Emma, Amy O and Kate I wouldnt be the person I am today. They are all so lovely, talented and loyal friends that you would be lucky to meet them!!! People at Sapphire come and go but they always make an impression on us all. I hope that life at Yew Tree will always be as amazing as this. I will miss you all over christmas break, but until January this Yew Treeer is over and out :) x

The first blog of this week is from Rhiann... The thrill of being on stage is exciting but almost heartbreaking when you know the older people in your company are leaving - people who you have grown to know, become friends with and learnt everything off. We were performing Cinderella, on the Tuesday night - however my first thought wasn’t about been scared it was about ‘let’s make this the best performance with the leavers of Crimson Company’. I suppose that was what everyone was thinking. So with nervous tummies, we went out on the stage and did the most brilliant performance we could. Everything went smoothly and to plan, even if a few lines were missed. But to think a few months ago, we’d only just got our parts and had begun to read the scripts, then it changed to this. It made me realise how much effort was put in by everyone, especially Gemma and Joanna who couldn’t have done better as they made the most heart string pulling, beautiful crafted play! After we’d finished the play a...

So what to write after a day like yesterday, after a week like last week…perhaps start with an apology…the blogs are a day late…I know, I know…dreadful behaviour for a youth theatre director that expects so much from her actors…so yes I’m sorry…it’s a lot to do with the fact that I was so busy living this week at Yew Tree that I had very little time to reflect upon it. What with performances at Nostell Priory, all the usual sessions, Shooting Truth, a full day of Tech rehearsals and an Open Mic Night…there was very little time to eat and sleep never mind sit at a computer and try and think about what was going on to be able to write about it in any kind of cohesive manner. But here I am Monday morning trying to make amends…and I’m a little stumped as to what to make of it…I’m so proud and impressed by all of you. I saw so many people achieve things they haven’t achieved before yesterday, overcome personal barriers of nerves, uncertainty and confidence. I saw people reap rewards for ...

Jasmine from Ivory and Crimson Company writes about the performances at Nostell on Wednesday On December 8th, the rooms of Nostell Priory were holding members from Yew Tree Youth Theaters Black Company, and Writers Group. Visitors to the priory were invited to join the keeper of the Happy Endings on her journey, and to listen to poems and stories inspired by the beauty of Nostell. Throughout the evening, numerous performances were held throughout the house; and the night ended with a final performance from the Black Company. From the reactions I saw and heard, everyone was extremely impressed with the professionalism and quality of the performances. Finally, the rooms of Nostell Priory were used for what they were originally created to do: entertain.

I’m going to devote this blog to a phenomena I’ve noticed getting more and more prevalent in rehearsals. For reasons beyond anybody’s control – illness, snow, ice, other performances, badminton matches…yep you read right…badminton matches…there’s been quite a lot of absence over the last week or so…but has this got in the way of being able to run our soon to be performed Christmas plays…? Has it fairycakes…and why I hear you ask. How on earth have you managed to stop significant absence blighting your penultimate run throughs? Well…funny you should ask…I’ll tell you how…because the sense of ensemble in my casts is second to none…that’s how… In both Sapphire and Gold company it doesn’t matter what part I throw at my actors…who I ask people to stand in for, what I ask them to cover, they just get on and do it. There is no fuss, there is no ego, there is no hierarchy…there is just brilliant acting and pure ensemble working and it makes me so very proud…almost emotionally proud…I’m alw...

Jess Moore everyone...hurray for Jess...just generally... So Dee very kindly offered me up for this week’s blog... but seen as though I’ve never done one the whole time I’ve been at Yew Tree it is about time I manned up ha. So I woke up thinking I would like to stay in bed all day but I got up anyway and I’m glad! For one the snow has affected all sessions so far with its presence so I was having yew tree withdrawal symptoms and two, Yew Tree always makes you feel better. We were working on The Worn out Shoe’s and even though we were like half a cast down it’s probably the smoothest run we’ve done in time. And it made me excited to perform it! I don’t think you would get a chorus anywhere like the chorus we have… stepping in for parts brilliantly and not at all affecting the run. Ed & Alice’s scene was brilliant today, the relationship between them is so good and neither part would be as strong without the other. I’d probably be here all day if I listed all the positives about the ...

Danny Southern is back in da house... Yo Yewtree-ers! Soz it’s been a while since my last blog. It’s just sheer forgetfulness. Honestly… Anyway, here’s the down-low on what happened at this Monday’s Sapphire group… Well… WE GOT THROUGH THE WHOLE SCRIPT! Yes, guys, you got that right, we’re in a lot better of a position than last year; panicking, last-minute line learning and just unprecedented chaos in general. But that was old Sapphire! The new Sapphire has rose from the ashes and is ‘soaring high’ – omg, can’t believe how cheesey that line is! Anyway, what happened? Well guys, I’ve got to say, I’m impressed. Lines are phenononononononononenmal (Michael and Olena in particular – go guys!) and a big shout out to Alanya – I was absolutely blown away by Oratoria; my jaw literally dropped. She came out from the line and just owned the stage! Sad news about Jordan not being able to do the panto, but Darcie has stepped up to the mark and is doing the role expertly. Grendle – what a leg. Emm...