productions...

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I have nothing but praise for Nik Ashton's production - a real tour de force and one of the best ever seen at the Festival Hall. It could have graced any West End theatre, with railings shooting up through the floor of the deeply raked stage and castle walls descending from the flies. The opening scene was unforgettable and the fight scenes skilfully managed.

Anne Pinhey

Bugsy Malone
September 2001

Could grace West End .... Last week Petersfield Youth Theatre's Bugsy Malone played to packed houses every night ...... This show is tailor made for the energetic talents of this outstanding company.

Tom Muckley

Oliver!
September 2000

Once again Petersfield Youth Theatre have excelled themselves. This show, Oliver!, had it all: catchy tunes and lyrics; numerous parts for children; a set that was stunning in its inventiveness with very imaginative lighting and all kindly assisted by local sponsors. The children and students were the stars of this performance. Their ensemble singing was thrilling, as were their dance routines, all beautifully choreographed by Nik Ashton with authentic colourful costumes. This is Youth Theatre as it should be.

Elizabeth Gotto

Ten Years On - A Celebration
February 2000

In 2000 Petersfield Youth Theatre celebrated ten years of theatre for young people with a performance at The Festival Hall. Featuring some excerpts from previous shows, some new material and some old favourites, it was a magical evening.

Copies of the celebration programme are still available and provide an insight into the first ten years of PYT. Please go to contact us.

42nd Street
September 1999

There is nothing like sitting in the theatre waiting for the curtain to rise on a Broadway musical. Friday night in Petersfield Festival Hall was no exception.

The buzz of the audience: children, parents, grandparents and friends all waiting in expectation for a good show with the added bonus of knowing someone in the cast.

Petersfield Youth Theatre chose 42nd Street for their musical this year.

The well-known choruses such as Lullaby of Broadway, Shuffle off to Buffalo and We're in the Money were sung with energy and verve and the duet between Dorothy Brock and Peggy Sawyer was charming.

The scenery and staging were good, with some tricky changes, and the costumes were outstanding with all the glamour of a London show.

The Youth Theatre is an important part of the Petersfield arts scene. To see so many children of all ages on the stage singing and tap dancing with such enthusiasm is enlightening; I can well imagine the hours of rehearsal that went into this.

Elizabeth Gotto

Taking Breath
February 1999

PYT took part in the BT National Connections project. This collaboration between BT and the Royal National Theatre aimed to create new plays for young people to work on and perform. The chosen play, Taking Breath, confronted topical issues such as the media, drug abuse, the environment and family conflict. The more senior members of PYT worked together, collaborating as a team and broadening their experience of theatre. It was a thought-provoking play providing challenges for all those involved and reaching a more diverse audience than that of musical theatre.

Smile - The Musical
September 1998

Not only smiles but cheers all round as the Petersfield Youth Theatre scored its usual success at the Festival Hall last week with the UK premiere of the musical Smile, the story of a Californian beauty pageant which gave every member of the largely young female cast ample opportunity to display their talent.

As always it was the teamwork and enthusiasm engendered by the director and choreographer Nik Ashton, combined with his imaginative and innovative use of the stage, which made the greatest impression.

With the help of designer Amy Jackson, his handling of the song and dance numbers was masterly, and several stage pictures remain vividly etched in the mind.

Tom Muckley

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