What's happening at YTYT

Becky with the final blog of our brilliant series... I returned to Yew Tree towards the end of 2017 after being a member previously for around two years. Having left at a time of change to finish off my A levels, I came back to find most members of Gold company had left and been replaced by new people even though I’d only been away 8 months. It’s a strange feeling returning somewhere that feels half familiar and half unknown. Of course, after just a few sessions, you can feel yourself getting back into the swing of things – with all the classic Yew Tree games that you didn’t even realise you missed, and the remaining members who you haven’t seen in such a long time. So, eventually, you begin to realise that although everything and everyone seems to have changed, it really isn’t as different as you initially thought. To begin with, I have to say that Halloween was one of the highlights of 2017. Working with my fabulous fellow witches, we put together a highly condensed performance o...

And the last blog for now although there maybe a couple later in the week - is Lucy who returned to us this year after a break and we’re very pleased she did... 2017- the year Donald Trump officially became president and the year I officially became a member of Yew Tree again... I know which one I'm happier about... Anyway let's rewind back to January, when Black Company took on the daunting task of bringing to life a full length Shakespeare play. Baring in mind I hadn't picked up a script in over a year, it's safe to say my acting was rusty (so was my ability to socialise and generally be around people outside of my house, what can I say, being a mum is time consuming) but clearly Sarah had more confidence in me than I had in myself as she gave me the role of Lady Macbeth (I know, I couldn't believe it either). If you asked any female actor who their dream roles are chances are you'd hear "Lady Macbeth" more than once, so as you can imagine, excited a...

Our next blogger is the very lovely Elliyah! Hope you’re enjoying this series of insights into YTYT if you want to catch up on the blog joy just scroll back... Yewtree - where do I start? I’ve been at Yewtree for just over a year now and I have to say I have loved every second of it! I started at Sapphire company during workshops in which we did work on physical theatre and different genres of acting - quite the treat! We then started devising Hansel and Gretel which was my first ever yewtree performance! My first show and I was honoured to be given a lead role - Gretel.  After that performance I was hooked and Sarah offered a place to me in Gold company, I’m not going to lie, at first I was terrified. It’s safe to say the nerves soon wore off as everyone there was so welcoming. As soon as I joined, the company were in the process of choosing a performance for later that year, and even though I just started they included me in that decision (something that had never happened at pas...

We have a wonderful blog combo for our next blog - the very excellent 8 year old Emma followed by her equally excellent Mum Sam!  In Yew Tree I have really enjoyed myself this year. I have had loads of fun this year doing things like Remember the Oaks, Three little pigs, Little red riding hood, The Miners memorial and of course the xmas performance. One of my favourite performances was the three little pigs which we did at Ossett town hall as I was lucky enough to play the wolf and I had longer lines to learn which I find makes it easier. I also really enjoyed working with the older ones doing the miners performances. In Jade company we have had so much fun too, I really enjoy playing all the games and really enjoy it when Emerald and Jade play games together.  The best bit of 2017 has got to be winning the award for most improved junior drama student 2017. I am looking forward to what I will do with yew tree in 2018. by Emma Loynes Emma joined Jade company in May 2016 and t...

The delightful 9 year old Alice with her insight into 2017 at YTYT My favourite thing about yew tree in 2017 Looking back on my year at Yew Tree over all the things I’ve done, my most favourite thing I’ve done is the Christmas play. We do a Christmas play every year but I really liked the one we did this year. This year my company, Orange company did a show were there were lots of kids outside playing in the snow and eventually they don’t know what to do. Until somebody says we could meet a snowman. But nobody has a clue how to, then out of nowhere appears a snowman and the same happens but with evil Santa and a fairy. The snow man was on his way to the snowman conference, evil Santa was trying to take away Christmas but he didn’t because the children remembered there manners and the fairy granted a wish across all the children. Near the end of our magical mystical play after we met the snowman, Evil Santa and the Christmas fairy the children met Santa. Santa took the children to t...

Mr Declan Kelly for your delight and delectation! Where has this year gone? This year I think has been one of my favourite years with Yew Tree by far. 2017 Connections has to be one of the biggest highlights of the year. I had the opportunity to play the part of The Narrator in Harriet Braun’s “Three”. This Connections play was like no other play I’ve done, we finally did comedy and to be honest we pulled it off so well. The whole connections experience was quite comedic with there been a power cut at Sheffield Crucible Theatre on the day of our performance. For me the best thing about Connections is that you learn loads of transferable skills which you can use for any other play. Techniques towards characterisation, vocal projection but also to have the opportunity to perform in local working theatres which gives us an insight to the industry. Playing the part of The Narrator was my favourite role of the year. A character who didn’t stop talking, loved the limelight and was over d...

Emily is our next 2017 blogger - another delight of an insight into this year at YTYT This year, for me, at Yew Tree has pushed me in so many ways that I couldn't imagine. The year started with our National Theatre Connections performance of 'Three' at both our local performance and national performance. This pushed me most in terms of character as Lena was perceived as your typical teenage girl who loves boys and hanging out with her friends. However when I dug deeper into her, I discovered so much more about the way she ticks and how her mannerisms differ depending on who she's communicating with; which we see in the play is either inner self or Jamie. Definitely one of the more... interesting/annoying/funny events that happened during Connections was once we'd done our tech run at Sheffield Theatre to then have a power cut throughout the half of Sheffield so we'd have to perform on Monday. But hey, that'd show business! Then in May we had Yew Tree ass...