What's happening at YTYT

It is a startling fact that as I write this, this time next week the dress rehearsals for the Christmas shows will be starting and this time in a fortnight the shows will be over.*    This moment in the Christmas term always takes my breath away…how has it gone from those playful days in September when sessions were full of conjecture and play and possibilities to the frantic rehearsals where we have a finite amount of hours to pull everything together…and why when my rational side knows that it’s been weeks and weeks since then does it seem like those heady happy days were two minutes ago? So it’s my duty now to tell you that it’s now it’s over to you.   Gemma and I have done the majority of what we can do.   Obviously we’ll keep doing as much as we can – we’ll run the tech’s and advise you and coach you and problem solve and champion you until you take your final bows...however ultimately the success of the productions is all about you.   Here are some o...

Amy Winder is our guest blogger this week I find that, in the early stages of rehearsal, there is nothing more satisfying than working through the script, setting out different scenes and getting a better idea of the thoughts and feelings about each character. After only two rehearsals and one read through, Hacktivists is in pretty good shape. We've got a great set, the first scene and a bit is on it's feet and we know watch out for when we're acting (not knowing what's going to happen before it happens). I've thought a lot more about my character at this stage. Originally, I walked into the first rehearsal knowing that I was playing Denise (hacker name Spanner), a computer techie, who is particularly into the engineering side of technology. Now, I've made discoveries about her: I know what year group she's in, some of the relationships with the others and her opinions on them. Most of these things, I'd normally think about far later into rehearsals b...

Yesterday was a glorious youth theatre day…I have to admit it didn’t have the most auspicious start as I’m sure the members of Gold Company would agree.   Still I like to think we brought a bit of life to the Eastmoor estate as we played Killer 12 in front of the community centre.   I remarked at the time to the company and then later that afternoon to my family that a lesser group of young people would have let the circumstances get to them…not Gold Company – there was no unruliness or rebellion and despite the inclement temperature there wasn’t even any complaining… Before too long we were in the rehearsal room and straight away we were fully absorbed in Christmas show rehearsals.   Over the two and a half hours that followed the whole cast worked so hard.   The result?   The massive achievement of finishing the dance that represents the ball where our 12 Dancing Princesses ruin their shoes and exhaust themselves every night.   The spontaneous cheer ...

A farewell from Calum as he goes back up the road to Falkirk Many people ask me, "So how are you getting on working away?" My response is difficult because I haven't stopped the whole month. Where exactly do I start? I was welcomed into the Osborne household for the month. Looked after doesn't come close to describing their hospitality. I was told my first week would be busy and it was. Halloween at Nostell, such an amazing welcome from a truly awesome cast. As if walking ELEVEN kilometres round the grounds would be enough to tire you out, I was eager to start the Yearbook tour which was set ready to go.    It's at this point I sat back and realised how lucky I was to be there. The Yearbook tour started really well visiting lots of schools in the Wakefield district some close some far ( it's the first time I've seen 6:00 am on a clock I a long time) I must take the time to thank the lovely Hannah Speke for looking after me on busses even alt...

Bobbie has blogged about last week's Open Mic Night... Another year, another Open Mic Night . How can you even sum up the talent and.....entertainment factor (Michael Brown, I'm looking at you), from just one night? It's a pretty impossible task, so I'll try and keep it short, but sweet, with a few particular highlights like........ Sara and her awesome poem! Mirv singing a Smash song because HE SANG A SMASH SONG. Just simply getting to listen to Jordan's voice. Hearing how much Clarke has grown and progressed in just a year. Hearing how well Tom and Graces voices sounded together. Shelbie sang a Jonas Brother and my sisters face lit up!! Alllll of The Wardrobe love coming back with Ellen singing Safe and Sound, followed by Hollie and a sea of tears (cheers for that Hollie...) That's me done! So, what did you do for your holidays?'

Yesterday at Gold Company marked the start of that by now well known part of rehearsals for the Christmas show...the bit where everyone realises that it's time to step up... It happens at about this time every year when the process of rehearsals and making theatre moves out of the exploring and playful bit and shifts gear into the meeting of demands and pulling everything together phase. That stepping up comes in many forms - it's about preparation - ensuring your lines are learnt in such away that whatever happens they come naturally to you, making sure you have your props and costumes, making sure you have enough energy when you show up to rehearse.  It's about discipline once you're there - focusing on the task in hand, readiness, discipline, making the rehearsal room as conducive as possible to achieving the best performance.  It's about performance...employing and applying the techniques and skills in voice, movement, creativity, character and story telling...

Amy W...blogs about the launch of our Connections production "Hacktivists" Saturday, on the 15th November 2014, began like any other. I got up to my alarm clock (and didn’t fall back to sleep like I would on a school day) and set about getting ready for the day. I collected my script, props and costume (Gold company’s Twelve Dancing princesses is going swimmingly by the way, despite people standing on the full length ball gowns and Toni falling over), before heading to Yew Tree and happily humming along to Gold by Spandau Ballet. This Saturday, however, was not to be like any other. For this Saturday marked the beginning of the rehearsals of Hacktivists for National Theatre Connections 2015. It’s such an exciting thing because, having done The Wardrobe last year, a lot of us know what an amazing experience Connections is. Those who don’t only have to only had to look around at the palpable excitement in the room to know how much fun we’re going to have. If I ever was i...