Youth Theatre Showcase 2024 success!
In March, our Youth Theatre graced the stage at Theatre Royal Winchester to present their annual Showcase.
A Night of Talent and Creativity
We're thrilled to share that over 200 attendees experienced their exceptional performances, receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback. The theme for this year's Showcase was "Look Back, Look Forward, and Look Up," and since September 2023, our talented members have been honing their acting and theatre-making skills to craft original pieces.
Drama and Theatre (School Years 8-11)
Our older group captivated the audience with Dorreen’s Story, a poignant tale narrated from the perspective of a 75-year-old woman named Dorreen, who grapples with the loss of her lifelong friend, Maggie.
Musical Theatre (All groups)
The musical theatre groups presented The Unexpected Journey, a gripping narrative set during World War II. The story follows Tommy, an evacuated boy determined to walk to Portsmouth to reunite with his family.
Drama and Theatre (School Years 4-7)
Our younger drama enthusiasts delighted with Behind the Curtain, a show that explored the hidden corners and secrets of a theatre.
South Wonston Drama Club
This group charmed the audience with a heartwarming piece reflecting on their role models. They also curated a Herstory Museum, celebrating remarkable women from history, and crafted vision boards showcasing their aspirations for the future.
Director's Insights
Shian Hunter, Youth Theatre Producer: 'This year we had more participants and we challenged them to do bigger shows. We combined both musical theatre groups to create a bigger show, which was really exciting and created a really supportive group. The drama and theatre groups did amazing and they created shows with purpose, up to 30 minutes long, which is incredible for young people.
'The whole night was amazing and the feedback has been great, the parents have been really impressed. We wanted to up our game and show how much young people can do and I’m really happy and couldn’t be prouder as it’s such a hard feat to create your own, original work.'
Joey Warne, Musical Theatre Director: "It was the first time an original musical had been written for the Youth Theatre and the large cast rose to the challenge and showed brilliant skills and responsibility to adapt and change as the show was developed. Writing and creating new work is no easy challenge.’
What's Next for Youth Theatre?
Summer Term Begins
Following the success of the Showcase, we're eagerly anticipating the start of our summer term, commencing the week of Mon 15 April 2024.
Hat Fair Performance
We're excited to announce that the works developed this term will be showcased at Hat Fair, the UK's longest-running festival of Outdoor Arts. Join us from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 July, to witness our young artists' talents on a broader stage.
Join Our Youth Theatre
Our Youth Theatre offers members a unique opportunity to collaborate with professionals, develop their confidence, and create original works. Don't miss out - join now and be part of our vibrant community!
Photos by Cave & Sky
