What's happening at YTYT

Mia writes about her NT Connections experience This year was my second NT Connections and I've loved every minute of it. Connections is my favourite time of year because it's just great to have that solid peice of theatre to focus on. Chaos is such a beautiful play that makes you truly think about life. It also makes you think about how one event can change a lot of people's lives. It's a very beautiful play to be part of and explore. I love how close you get as a cast, we're all one big family from Grandad Dec to the babies of the group. I work with some truly talented people and it's such a pleasure to see them all grow as actors. For some it's their last connections and this breaks my heart because they will be missed so much, it won't be the same next year without them but they have better things to go onto like drama school and university so we must be happy for them and these simply amazing opportunities. Now we have the next generation carryin...

Connections Week 2019 by Chloe Watson I’m writing this, on the Sunday, after a long week of rehearsals, where I watched Chaos grow from a series of scenes, to a beautiful play, held together by raw emotions, beauty and incredible talent. This is my first connections experience, therefore I had no idea what to expect; in ways of preparation, director:actor expectations and also tiredness. This week has really challenged me as an actor, whether that be a result of hammering ‘Late’ home on Tuesday, or working out my objectives for ‘Platform’ on Thursday, I can safely say that I feel stronger as a performer after this week of pure acting. I also adored watching the cast grow and bond together, over the week, which I believe is helping the play grow stronger and braver. Now, I’m not really one for special thanks, as I rather like the socialist ideals of equal thanks to all, but I’ll allow this to slide. Sarah, you have helped me grow as a performer this week; constantly pushing and dem...

Our first connections week blog from first timer Lucy My first ever Connections week. And I’ve only been a part of Yew Tree Youth Theatre for about a year! But lets just start by saying, during this whole process, I think everyone in the cast can definitely say that they’ve learnt more practical and theoretical tips and workshops to do with drama and acting than they have learnt at high school or at college. It is has been such a challenging experience but, that’s what makes you learn from your mistakes and I’ve worked with a variety of people that I never would’ve worked with if I didn’t take up this opportunity.  When the day of the auditions came, I stepped into the audition room and thought, “Everyone here is older, more experienced and, probably done 3 or 4 Connections before this. I’m standing here, only 14-years-old, with only 1 years’ worth of a Yew Tree experience, ready to face the music.” I do not tell a lie, when I found out that I got in to Connections 2019, I scre...

For our final YTYT Christmas Blog we have Lucy's reminiscences on her long YT career... Hello! It’s me, Lucy, been a while Yew Tree-ers! Well, it hasn’t been that long but when you were a part of something for nearly 10 years, 3 months away seems like a long time. I’m here because I didn’t write a goodbye blog when I left so the 12 blogs of Christmas thing seemed a good way to do that. I think these blogs are supposed to be about our year at Yew Tree but I’m gonna throw it back a bit further if that’s okay. We’ll start back in 2008- my first year at Yew Tree. I walked into a group of people I’d never met (except the friend I’d tagged along with) sat in an old church on the outskirts of Eastmoor and did my first “news” (Gemma’s version of best and worst). I can’t say I remember much more about my first session other than the fact that my dad, in true Barry Tranter style, was waiting outside for me at the end in an embarrassing Australian bush style hat, and that I obviously had ...

Beth wrote our penultimate Christmas blog! 2018..what a year Yew Tree!  It’s been amazing to be back but I will admit taking over 4 years out and returning to such talented young actors was very scary! But I can honestly say it was like I had never left to start with.  I've learnt so much again this time round, you think after being in and out for 6 years you know all the tricks of the trade..I was so wrong haha! Black company in general is my highlight this year not only have I made new friends but I have also gained new skills.  Comet was a very hard hitting play to be a part of and I’m very very grateful for the part and parts I was given. Christmas shows I am devastated to have had to pull out over half way through, but the play itself was so cleverly written and put together, not only that but we even got to do a work shop with the gorgeous Leila Stewart that works on strictly come dancing! Not every day you get to say you learnt the waltz from someone a...

Helena also blogs about being a volunteer This year at Yew Tree I started volunteering at Emerald Company whilst they were working on their Christmas show ‘Christmas Wishes’. It was a lovely tale about human kindness and how Christmas is a great time to reach out to those maybe going through a tough time. I got to see a group of young people come together and create an amazing show, from the lovely dualoges between friends to the incredibly sassy ‘christmas spirits’ it was an all around amazing show. One thing I love about volunteering is seeing the stages of a show and watching it come to life. We go from the read through, where everything is unsure, to getting it up on its feet where things start to make sense, finally after loads of hardwork and graft and line learning, the show finally is ready. The great thing is getting into Castleford Phoenix Theatre and finally seeing the show. For some people in Emerald this is the first time they’ve ever performed so it really is a special...

Jacob blogs about being a YTYT volunteer on the 10th day of Christmas blogs! Yes there has been 10 days!! So it’s that time of year again, Christmas. A time to overindulge and to appreciate the great people in my life. I have certainly done my share of Christmas indulgence this year but in the true Yewtree way it has been in the form of self-indulgence, as I pranced around the stage dressed as a king or waltz my way around it as a miner from the 40’s. But alas, this blog is not about me (if it was this blog would go way over the word limit) but it is about appreciating the great people in my life or to be more specific the great and wonderfully talented orange company. I started volunteering at orange company about two years ago and to this day it stands as one of the best decisions of my life. I look forward to seeing and helping this marvellous group every week and for good reason. They are an amazingly talented group and their mature behaviour and mindset is an absolute credit ...