What's happening at YTYT

As this is the last blog of 2013 I have been trying to decide what my ultimate highlight was – it’s a tough call as because it’s been our busiest year yet there are so many great events to choose from… Before the year was three months old we had performed our connections play, “Tomorrow I’ll Be Happy,” and three companies had performed at Wakefield Theatre Royal in “One Night Only,” what stands out for me about these plays is the vast range of styles – from the fairytale feel of “Princess of Glass,” to the honesty and insight of, “Words,” to the informative mayhem of, “The History of Theatre,” each one had such a distinctive feel.   We also got to perform Princess of Glass at the Hepworth, which was an added bonus. The second quarter of the year brought with it our annual trip to Kendal, which was as ever idyllic.   Our time there is so rich with the chance to perform our Connections play coupled with the chance to watch other youth theatre’s work…and of course

Shelbie blogged about OMN 11 It was Open Mic night on Sunday, the second one that I've ever been to so I thought "Hey why not sing with fellow Yew Tree member Sian?" It started off with the tech run I was nervous as hell when it came to mine and Sian's turn to practice, I was shaking like mad my knees were all weak and all I could think about was, "If I cant sing in front of a few people how am I going to be once everyone else is there?" As the night went on our ears were filled with the greatness of all the wonderful singers, I have to say everyone had to laugh a Yasmin's song it really was a great song. After each slot my heart started to race more and more and I could tell by Sian's face that she felt the same way. Luckily we had chance to calm down in the interval and took our minds off it with the quiz. The second half began with Sarah Lewis a very talented little girl who wrote her own Christmas song and performed it in front of us all, i kno

My week at Yew Tree has been pretty lovely to be honest.   The first highlight of the week was on Monday at the final Sapphire session of the term which was an absolute joy!   After a term of preparation and rehearsing making sure two versions of Rumplestiltskin were ready for the Christmas Shows we had a week where we could simply play.   It was lovely to have a week where there was nothing that had to be done and instead take advantage of the fact that we could do exactly what we wanted instead…all the things we had stopped having time for.   I’m looking forward to the new year with this company who are so beautifully open and accepting – the focus of the work is going to be entirely up to them and who knows where their choices might take us. Another highlight of the week was the games session on Saturday.   64 members made the effort and piled into the home of Gold Company to celebrate a wonderful term of YTYT.   I love this annual event as it’s magic to bri

James Budenburg is our guest blogger as is traditional at this point in the year... Hi, so I’m going to apologise for this bitty blog now, it made up of lots of little things rather than one big one, so go with me, ha. So this summer I ventured off to new things and for me that came in the form of University, so it was nice to come back in time for the Christmas shows and see what everyone had been up to. Let me tell you, they were great. They had an array of different qualities and whether it was the detailed relationships in black’s or the craziness of Sapphire in Rumpelstiltskin I enjoyed them all for different reasons. While I’m on the subject though I must say well done to my little sister making her Christmas sow debut with Sapphire. What was interesting was the directions in which the shows had gone and what had been added since the devising stages. I don’t think you realise as much when you’re in the rehearsal process how much the characters come on. Having been involved in

It was the Christmas Shows for YTYT this week and if you weren’t aware of that you haven’t been paying attention as there has been a great amount of shouting about it! The shouting has been with good reason as “Festive Fairytales,” was nothing short of wonderful.   Two nights of the very best of youth theatre shared with parents, family and friends.   It’s a brilliant thing to be part of… However the performances although so significant in one way are only a small part of the whole deal with this part of Yew Tree life and I thought it was worth reflecting on what goes on in order to make the performance nights so memorable… It starts with INSPIRATION – this comes from many places – sometimes a well known story sparks it, which was the case with this years A Christmas Carol.   Sometimes it can come from a piece of music as was the case with Black Company’s “All I want for Christmas.”   Sometimes an actor or two will inspire that essential original though…knowing I had S

Gareth who I met when I was teaching a course for NODA at Warwick University in August travelled from Sheffield to see YTYT on Wednesday and was so impressed he sent me this... So this was my first encounter of Yew Tree Youth Theatre and I was excited to see what the evening held. The evening opened with Rumplestiltskin. The way in which the story had been written was unique as it took on a different form to what fairy tales normally do. I was extremely impressed by the level of talent delivered by the group from Sapphire company, everyone took on their roles and you could really see different characterisation. The spacial awareness of the group worked well and you could see this was through great direction. The evening progressed with a performance of A Christmas Carol where again the writing of the story really put a truly different spin on a classic tale. The company worked well with each other and complimented each other on stage by having a great understanding of

Hello, Lavanya from Sapphire and Gold here! I've never written a blog before, but after a busy and exciting week with Yew Tree I thought, why not? So, starting with Monday and the fabulous Sapphire company. I've been going to Sapphire for a little less than 2 years and it just brightens up my Mondays so much, not to mention how great everyone is there. Oh, and I should probably mention that the Sapphire Christmas show was the delightful Rumplestiltskin, which is the most ridiculous story ever, therefore perfect for Sapphire company.   Anyway, we all did our bests and worsts, still on a high from the tech rehearsals (which by the way were on Sunday) and started to play a few games. We played cowboys and Indians and the tense "number of people in a group" game. But, let me tell you my favourite game ever...ladders. I enjoy it because I am quite good at it, if I do say so myself. Afterwards, Sarah told us that we were going to do an Italian run of Rumpelstiltski

Emma Prime has written a blog to celebrate her happiest Christmas shows to date and with good reason...for those who have worked with Emma in Sapphire and Gold...you'll appreciate why! Right now where do I start. The shows were phenomenal and everyone was amazing. From Black to Orange, Ruby to Crimson, Gold to Sapphire. From the youngest to the oldest members of Yew Tree. I can't choose what my favourite bit was. Orange with their dancing to Strictly Come Dancing music. I liked that very much Sarah. Or Black with the proposal. No one can forget that. Ruby with their musical piece. It was so cute. Crimson with their physical theatre piece. And of course Gold and Sapphire (which I was in) where both Rumplestiltskin entries were ridiculously funny and the future scene in Gold.  These were just some of the highlights. Everyone worked so hard and it paid off. I would like to say thank you to the best director Sarah for believing in us and especially believing in me.

After a full on week of YTYT activity it appears that we’re just about ready for Christmas production week…I’ve set my props by the door, delegated, plotted, planned and done all I can in order that tomorrow we can begin the joys of the Christmas Show week with everything in place as far as is possible.   I’m hoping our casts have all done the same or will have done before they lay their heads down for a good restorative night’s sleep… As I reflect on the week to come I have identified some wishes I have for our actors and in true pantomimic fashion I have narrowed them down to three…here they are: Wish 1:   Own your script and your performance…you have worked so hard and travelled so far as individuals and as companies…you have grafted and crafted something wonderful so when you get on the stage relish the opportunity to show what you have achieved. Wish 2:   Think about communicating with your audience – invest energy and vocality and don’t, please don’t,

And Bobbie has blogged about her YTYT Saturday... After a glorious, long and hilarious day of Yew Tree I thought, why not blog about it? And where does every Saturday start? Why, of course it starts at Gold and, let me tell you, Christmas Carol is a gem. Everyone has upped their game and they are all great. Scrooge is a treat, Past is great, The Cratchits make me fall in love with them and Present makes my week better. I can promise you, if you miss out on watching Christmas Carol, you are missing out. We’re performing it on both nights of ‘Festive Fairytales’ and if you can’t make that then we’re performing it at Nostell at half 3 next Saturday…so what I’m really saying is that you have no excuse for missing it. After Gold there was a quick stop for food and then off to Connections we go! The Wardrobe was kicked off to a great start last week and it was great to be able to get everyone together and look at our scenes and spend more time on it. It’s something that I’ve never really

Sioban has blogged about Crimson Company's performance As the show approaches things seem to be coming together. Lines are learnt, costumes and props prepared and we, as actors, are ready for the adventure that awaits. There have been a few moments where the odd thing has gone wrong and people have panicked but because we care for each other dearly we have picked each other back up and had a moment of "You are brilliant. Just believe you are brilliant". Beauty and the Beast truly is enchanting and in the words of Gemma, it feels like it is being told for the first time. This is my second year now at Yew Tree and there hasn't been a moment that I haven't felt like we are all family (a dysfunctional family of course but none the less a wonderful one).

Never mind This Week at Yew Tree, yesterday at Yew Tree was a feast rich enough to satisfy anyone’s appetite.   I’ll be honest it was exhausting but it was great…really great…I’m going to tell you why! It started with cake – apple and cinnamon cake to be precise - which can only be a good thing…I have a little ritual where I call into Eller Coffee on the way to Gold Company each week to pick up a cappuccino and occasionally a breakfast treat…when I saw apple and cinnamon cake was on the menu I was made up and when Mark gave me two pieces for the price of one I knew it was going to be a good day! Then it was off to Gold for three hours – three hours of putting finishing touches to our Christmas production of A Christmas Carol.   It was an excellent rehearsal – we’re so nearly there…however it was there I met my first hitch of the day and my first hero.   The hitch was I’d forgotten my IPod and therefore had no music as for my hero I’ll tell you about later.   My

Georgia blogs about Gold's rehearsal The performance date is creeping nearer, and everyone is so excited as the plays keeps getting better and better! Golds rehearsal on saturday and everything is falling into place, the opening scene looks amazing especially since the children have arrived and brought so much energy and enthusiasm with them! The presents are as chirpy and cheerful as ever, Scrooge is still pretty grumpy, and the Cratchits are finally complete with the edition of not only one but two tiny Tims (for now anyway). Costumes are looking great with an increasing amount of elf shirts, and various different reindeer items, festivity is all around!

There’s a moment just before someone speaks or takes action which holds a million possibilities.   It’s the moment where the speaker takes in what they’ve just been told, or seen, or realised.   In that moment discoveries and decisions are made…the future shifts for that person a shift that can be slight, life changing or anywhere on the spectrum in between.   Information triggers thoughts and feelings…ricochets between head and heart and in some way everything that has brought that person to that moment has an impact on how it is received and consequently what is provoked, awakened, soothed, sorted, exposed, affirmed, lost. In that moment a response is formed and delivered through what we say, do or show through our bodies and faces and then the whole thing begins again for the next person who speaks or takes action.   This is happening all the time for everyone almost continually… Ignore this moment for your character in theatre and your production becomes steril

Hello, Hannah from Sapphire here! Sarah asked me to blog this week, probably because I sent her an extremely excited message about costume and knowing lines and happiness and just the amazingness that is Rumplestiltskin. Which is our play! Those of you who read this blog often will know that by now, and well, to those of who visiting this blog for the first time... WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! You've been missing out! But, yay, you're here now! So, this week at Sapphire, it was our first rehearsal officially off script. You wouldn't believe the faces of us who were so worked up and nervous about this... Like babies without our security blankets! But working without our faces buried a thousand miles into our scripts really helped us to think more deeply about the staging of our performance, concentrate on our space awareness, and the whole gestures and expression dimension to our play. Okay, so a couple of sessions ago I was a terrible person and missed two sessions for a lit

Hey blog readers, Amy T here blogging my Yew Tree filled day. Saturdays are becoming a more productive day for me which I'm quite pleased with. The morning starts with Gold company as always which is a treat, especially now we are joined by some lovely members of Orange company too to complete our Christmas show. Let me tell you, if these guys continue as they're doing so far, the next generation of Yew Tree Youth Theatre will be marvellous. Oh, and I won't forget to mention the sneak preview of a piece written entirely about hair. That wasn't something you see everyday. However, with Great Gatsby references, how could it ever be wrong? Very funny and very well thought about. Two ticks... A Christmas Carol! Run throughs really give you a chance to look at the whole play and the pace of everything which can be ridiculously helpful for rearranging and perfecting. We did that great also, if I do say so myself. What I love about double cast is that two people can brin

What a week…it hasn’t been without its challenges but I’m going to concentrate on some of the highlights and there are many of them to choose from… Due to trips to the National and Yearbook performances this has been my first full week of Yew Tree Youth Theatre and it was great to be able to get into rehearsals for the Christmas shows …all the performances are coming on a treat.   There is still a lot of work to be done but the annual festive magic is starting to happen and I am confident we shall have the usual joyous array of performances to delight our audiences with! It’s the additional stuff I’d like to concentrate on…starting with An Evening of Enlightenment.   Wednesday found the Writers of YTYT and a selection of performers in very cold Orangery grounds putting together our element of this performance event.   I have to admit it felt like a step too far on what had already been a long, taxing day.   That was until I met Stems !   The pleasure of watching a piece of