Double figures!

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Tonight we hold our tenth Open Mic Night, the very first one was held almost 6 years ago in October 2007.  The brainchild of Gemma and Sam, it was held to celebrate all things YTYT in a different way to our traditional performances.  It was also created as an opportunity for youth theatre members and their friends and families to spend time together as a community and share in conversation, music, spoken word and the general creativity that surrounds what we do. 

What’s lovely is that although things have altered and shifted a little it still is all about that.  I was delighted at how many of Gold Company said that the imminent OMN was their best of the week.  It’s been great to hear snippets of people practicing and preparing their performances.  It’s also been lovely that so many of you have offered to help get the building ready and make the event run smoothly.  As a result of all of that enthusiasm and effort tonight we’ll get the chance to have an evening of celebration and sharing just like we did at Open Mic Night 1. 

I’d love to know how many people have made every one of them since the first, I’m so glad I have as I wouldn’t have missed any of them.  Each one had something special about it…I scrolled back through youtube to check the date of the first and there are so many lovely memories in each set of OMN videos…if you’re ever feeling nostalgic they’re worth a viewing. 

Up until 11.30 last night I was working on making sure everything was where it needed to be and I’m up early this morning to get this written before we head up to start work.  All day a team of committed lovely people will be sprucing up the hall, rigging lights and sound systems and generally preparing everything needed for a lovely evening.  Then it’s sound checks for performers at 3pm and last minute tweaks to make sure it’s all as perfect as we can make it.  Of course the final ingredient is you, with your family and friends and your £5 that will get you access to an evening of loveliness including the traditional quiz and for the first time ever a set from Electra...See you there!

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