What's happening at YTYT

I did one of my importance of voice lectures yesterday at Gold and at Sapphire I did one of those impassioned speeches I occasionally lapse into about energy, instinct, specificity and the old favourite of driving through to the end of the line. I thought I’d follow it up with a blog as I think there’s so much going on in sessions it’s hard to retain everything we talk about and I feel this is important enough to require additional reflection upon, or at least give you the chance to do so...   Your voice is one of your most powerful attributes…with it you can make feel people feel wonderful, create change, champion causes, diffuse conflict, you can pursue dreams, debate complex ideas, you can stand your ground or admit you’re wrong, it enables you to express empathy, sympathy, loyalty love…it allows you to take your place in the world and move forward with your life…your voice can literally change the world or at least your world so it makes sense to learn to use it to it’...

  Bobbie and Beth were top YTYT members and took part in Wakefields Wordwalk this week - they have blogged about it... Beth: This blog is going to be in a slightly different format to normal because it is a combined effort from myself and Bobbie and she happens to be one of the most argumentative people I know. Bobbie: Oi. Shush you. I definitely am not! Beth: ...see what I mean? Bobbie: anywayyyyyyy...ignoring Beth....this week Beth and I have been a part of The Wordwalk for the Lit Fest, and it has been great! Even if we have had to spend 20 hours with each other...and that's not counting bus journeys. The wonderful Andrew Loretto gave us the script, full of wonderful pieces from people of all ages, (SHOUT OUT FOR YEW TREE WRITERS + GEMMA AND SARAH BECAUSE YOU'RE GREAT), we got to choose what part we wanted to perform...either a monologue from Sarah, or some stuff from the yew-tree writers. Beth and I both chose one of the monologues that Sarah had writte...

Rob very generously guest blogged for us too this week... Last week I was given the absolute pleasure of riding from Heathrow airport to Wakefield with the one and only Sir Paul Osborne. For all of you who do not know Oz he pulls many of the financial, logistical and creative strings behind Yew Tree. The man is an absolute legend and hero for picking me up during my financial hardship. Shout out to the big man! As we journeyed the dulcet waves of the M1 north bound we discussed many things ranging from the capacity of humanity to enhance itself through technological advancement, to the best way to render a child capable of maximized attainment. Exciting stuff right? Maybe that is just me. However, one topic that proved most thought-provoking was the impact of Yew Tree on my life. If Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or some other form self-indulgent media has not already informed you, I did indeed study abroad for a year in Hong Kong. Furthermore, during the summer I was givin...

And then Hannah Corden has blogged about Sapphire too After some brilliant months devising for Rumplestiltskin, it's fair to say that I was definitely excited to come back in September and start putting the play together! So far, we're on scene four, and it's coming together really well. Sapphire Company is just so big, so the entire thing is double cast- one half of us will perform on the Wednesday Night, and the other half on the Thursday. The great thing about that is that we get to learn from the other actors playing our part and expand on what their doing. Both nights are entirely different as we all play our characters in such different ways, but it's really great to be able to take two spins on every character. This week, after a round of coconuts and ninja warrior (both of which I'm terrible at!), we started on our next scene, and it was definitely a week of learning some lessons. I think the issue with us as actors when we have a script i...

Our first blog is from Beth Lewis I really enjoyed being back at drama after our break, I missed it over the holidays. Our Christmas play is going really well, I think that Sarah is a brilliant director and that's why all the work we do is always good. I think I have settled in better and I am now used to the ways of Sapphire

This week has been one of those where I have reflected on how far we have come as a Youth Theatre since we started 18 years ago…of course there’s the numbers thing …8 members to over 200, 1 group to 10 but that’s not even close to being significant in the distance we’ve travelled… Working on the Christmas shows with Sapphire and Gold I have been so impressed by those actors who are scripts down…that understanding that the sooner that piece of the process is in place the sooner they can think about other much more enjoyable things like character, intention and relationships.   There is a culture in these groups now that anyone who comes into them becomes immediately aware of and it makes each session a joy to be part of. The lovely thing that this work ethos has no negative impact on the enjoyment factor…I don’t think there are many places that feature so much laughter on a week to week basis.   This happiness isn’t because everything we do is easy…yesterday in the...

Phillip Parramore kindly blogged for us this week... When I read Mel's (my daughter) blog last week, it confirmed that it would be right to offer my own thoughts and a massive amount of gratitude for how Yew Tree has helped Melissa and many more young people, develop and grow, and to give them hope that they can achieve fabulous things. Seven years ago Melissa joined the Aim Higher cohort at Horbury School, to give her experiences of higher education and vocational opportunities that otherwise she may have never experienced. A young, quiet, reserved child who needed a break, got a break! By being introduced to the Yew Tree experience.   Without that I have my doubts as to whether Mel would this weekend be starting this new phase of her life 200 miles south and with the confidence to strive for so much more and a bright, promising future. I don't know what it is, but something magical happens at Yew Tree sessions. Something really sparkly I suppose, that pu...

The YTYT term feels well underway now…most of those who are off or going back to university have had their last session and by the time this week is over the last of them will have gone.   In addition we have already welcomed a significant number of new members who will undoubtedly make their mark on the companies they have joined… I have been so touched by the lovely blogs and messages from those who are on their way to the next chapter of their lives…it makes me so very happy that people have found so much confidence and happiness with us.   However what makes me even happier is being able to see it happening for the next generation, the generation of YTYT members we have now.   What struck me this week is how much of the YTYT process is a two way deal…it’s the members that have their lines learnt, that make sure their attendance is consistent, that put in the extra effort that travel the furthest.   Imagine my delight when on Saturday – only two weeks int...