What's happening at YTYT

I went back to school this week – embarking on some serious Stanislavski* research in readiness for this week’s Black Company session – it was fascinating going over familiar ground with fresh eyes – remembering things I had forgotten over years of directing and at the same time realizing where some of the elements of the way that I work had come from – it was comforting to think that they hadn’t just popped into my head randomly but instead have more substance and universality than I gave them credit for… I was reminded of the importance of collective responsibility when making theatre…that a company of actors should strive to be supportive, to avoid judgement, to be disciplined in their approach and that the work of making should be at the heart of everything that happens in a rehearsal room to create a truly creative atmosphere to work in…I was inspired by writing on inspiration, imagination, truth and expression…and I was filled with ambition to help my actors find a inner cre...

Our other guest blogger is Ellen...who's anticipating the start of the new term... Am I the only one who has really missed Yew Tree? But really I can't express enough how excited I am to get back, with all the plays starting it's going to be really fun! I especially love the difference between Sapphire plays and Gold Company plays. I love being a part of both of them! I'm looking forward to seeing all the people I've missed in the holidays and to find out what they've been doing. I love the plays, Sarah is so good at writing plays each time it's better, each time when it's on stage it looks so good! I'm looking forward to Yew Tree after the holidays it's going to be great fun!

YTYT meet Gordon - one of my Directing Youth Theatre students from my week at Warwick who generously wrote a blog for us this week As one of Sarah Osborne’s students on the NODA Summer ‘School Directing for Youth Theatre’ course I have come away enthused about theatre for younger people. If you could look at me I wouldn’t be your ‘typical’ youth advocate, being in my 61st year and ‘long in the tooth’ but I have been involved in theatre literally since before I was born, my mother taking me to my first production whilst in the womb. It has been an experience that has turned from a hobby to an obsession to ultimately my ‘whole life’. Back in the day when I was a teenager many societies used to think of youngsters as someone to ‘fill in’ when a juvenile part was required and if you were lucky enough to be allowed on stage in an adult production it generally was in the back chorus. Thankfully those ‘dark days’ are a distant history and youth is accepted and welcomed for the force it is n...

These summer weeks of August are meant to be our down time at Yew Tree Youth Theatre but this week has been anything but… For a start there was the ice challenge…thanks for that Emma…when I got the nomination my first instinct was to bottle it and then I realized I needed to commit…this realization came with the knowledge that I could only do it if I stood side by side with Gemma…luckily at the same time I thought this a ext came through to suggest that we did do just that…sometimes the unthinkable is possible standing side by side with someone you trust… Monday saw us devising our socks off for our performance at the Hepworth at their Art Party.   It was lovely to be back in the room with 12 brilliant, creative and generally delightful minds plus a special guest and the piece we made reflected what is at the heart of Yew Tree.   You can see the final rehearsal here … It was important to be part of the event as it was a plea that the arts don’t become sidelined in...

To everyone at Yew Tree, Some of you know who I am, some of you may not, but I’ve been coming to these sessions for the past 3 years, those who know me might be shocked to realize that it’s only been 3 years for me as I have done so much and been involved in a lot. I don’t think there has been one company that I haven’t been involved with one way or another, whether that’s been as an actor or a volunteer. My time here has been great, I have met friends, grown closer to the ones that I already had and realized that all the young people who come to these sessions is a fantastic individual. And if I can give all of you some advice it is that these past few months have taught me anything it’s not to give up, if you have a dream keep on striving towards it. It has taken me 3 years to finally pluck up the courage to go for Drama School and I finally made it, so don’t let yourself stop you if you want it bad enough you will achieve it. I wanted to keep this short and I just wanted to...

Obviously calendar wise the New Year falls as December flips over into January but I’ve always thought that the transition from August to September is an almost bigger and more significant beginning and ending.   For so many of the Youth Theatre there is a new start…for some it’s a new chapter entirely – September will bring the start of University life – leaving home, a new city, a new set of friends…so many unknowns and potential adventures…for some the landscape won’t change quite as much but there’s a change of school or at least a change of year…whatever the situation there’s a whole heap of new to get used to built on the strong and sturdy foundations of what’s come before… Change is exciting, liberating and more than a little frightening…I watch all of those Yewtreers on the brink of a whole heap of change with such admiration at their courage but also with absolute confidence that they’ll make it…not all necessarily smoothly from the get go…but ultimately if they harne...

The one and only Tiff ladies and gentlemen... “You know there’s a writer’s group on a Wednesday night here, right?” Holy cow. 6 years of attending a readers group at Drury Lane Library and only now am I told that there have been writers hiding away here too? Jeez Louise. Imagine the scene. Some season of the year, roughly so-many-years ago. Somewhere in Drury Lane Library. I quite possibly entered near that little photocopying machine thing that used to house the old newspapers and stuff, the one that smelt a bit of dead mouse and dust – okay, never mind, don’t imagine the scene, it’s not worth the effort. Do imagine instead: An adorable Tiff Milner (complete with the retro full-fringe and some form of casual looking suit). At this moment in time, I was perusing my natural nesting ground, the library, in search of the elusive and recommended Writer’s Group. If you know me, you know where this story ends and which writers group it was, but if you don’t or you’re ...

I am newly returned from a wonderful week at NODA – a summer school at Warwick University for lovers of all things theatre and music.   I’ve been teaching 12 very lovely people as much as I could about Directing Youth Theatre and there isn’t a more fulfilling and exhausting thing to do other than possibly directing youth theatre.   In this blog I’m focusing on the students in my class but it’s worth saying that the entire student body, the organisers and the tutors I am privileged to call my colleagues are some of the most brilliant, generous and positive people you are ever likely to meet. My students came from very different walks of life with very different values but are united through their love of the arts and their belief in the positive impact it can have on young people.   One of the main things I was impressed with was how open they were to listening to the ideas of others even if they weren’t entirely in line with their own.   By seeing things from a ...

Bobbie is next with her retrospective blog... 'Somehow, I’m supposed to sum up the past seven years at Yew Tree, and I’m not sure how that’s even possible. I started at little old Green company, alllllll the way back in 2007. It was at my High School, and my friend Abby told me that I should come along. It was the one and only time I got lost and I started to cry, oh, shocker right? I found my way eventually and was greeted with the smiling faces of Steve and Joe, anyone remember them? I can’t really remember much of my first term at Yew Tree, but I know for a fact that I got good at The Laughing game, for a little while, and that I was determined to stay for as long as possible. By Christmas (I think) Steve and Joe had to leave and so we found ourselves with Danny and Callum. We were supposed to do a version of Cinderella that year for our parents, but us being our stubborn little selves, we decided we wanted to do something we created ourselves, and so we did. That just set th...

This week I’m teaching a group of 11 adults how to direct youth theatre at the NODA summer school.   As I never want to take things for granted I’ve been asking people to tell me what they think is the most important thing for a youth theatre director to know and I’ve been really surprised and enlightened by the answers so much so that I am using this weeks blog as a way of getting more… so what follows is the answers I’ve got so far.   Give them a read and decide what you would add and then would you be generous enough to comment on the facebook link you used to get to the blogs with your thoughts…(it’s easier than commenting on here) I’d be really, really grateful… Oh yes and imagine my happy little face at the fact that no one said “Be happy to play ratchet screwdriver all the time.” “That every child is different - there is no formula, no secret, no easy onesizefitsall....Every young person is an individual and should be treated as such” “To make sure they tak...

Brittany is our guest blogger this week... I warn you now, this blog is in two parts, and is thus going to be quite long…I apologise I simply do not do things by half.   But moving on, this week I had the pleasure of attending the Games Day, along with 10 other members.   Even though we were a small group we were big in energy (except me at some points, the removal of coffee from my diet and the thrill of Dexter are getting to me I tell you) and I for one had an awesome day.   Highlights included my first experience of Ratchet Screwdriver (a game at which I am terrible despite my well-known aggressive tendencies), a thrilling murder-mystery-style Situation Wink Murder and my brother’s removal to a ‘puddle’ for clapping too loud (it is the single most annoying clap I have ever heard and he deserved every second in the ‘puddle’).   My favourite part of the day was also meeting new people.   I am sadly a slave to Sainsbury’s so often don’t get to attend as man...