The weekend that was...

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Earlier on in the summer I realised Yew Tree was 20 years old this September and I decided that, that was a thing worth celebrating…after some thinking, conversing with Oz and Gemma and weighing up the options I alighted on a four part extravaganza that I hoped would fit the bill…this weekend saw the realisation of this plan to glorious effect…the results of which I lay before you…

Friday was our performance night included in the celebrations to showcase the exceptional standard of performance members of the youth theatre achieve.  To a packed house two casts performed two plays brilliantly and I was immensely proud to be associated with such excellent theatre.  Becky’s blog describes the performances from the an audiences point of view and all I need to add is how hard the actors worked to make them the top class theatre they were – graft, talent, heart and wisdom were all in plentiful supply and the result was something really special.

Saturday we held a Scratch Event to celebrate past members and connect present members with YTYT’s history.  My vision for the evening was a little odd but I knew I wanted to create an opportunity for people who had grown up through the youth theatre to come back and share something.  I’m glad to say it worked with brilliant people coming back to perform or present and an appreciative audience to enjoy their offerings.  We had photo’s galore and the scrapbooks on display both of which added up to an archive of 20 years of Yew Tree in visual form.  On top of that people who couldn’t make it sent letters and postcards to explain where they were now.  The feedback was so enthusiastic which was down to the inspirational quality of all of those who contributed.

As play is at the centre of all we do I decided a day of games was going to be an essential aspect of the day – all in all almost 50 people joined us to play and eat cake before moving on to our Open Mic Night in the evening.  This swansong to the celebrations proved a perfect way to end their celebrations – a place to chat, listen to the talent of the youth theatre and for those brave enough a chance to perform something of their own chance.  The standard of performance was breathtaking…

Some people came to all the events some to just one but every person who attended was part of something memorable…I was particularly grateful to previous members of the youth theatre, now grown up who returned to celebrate with us…


So now it’s all done and we are back to business as usual. We’re only left with the memories and a certain amount of weariness but it was so worth it as the memories are wonderful…

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