workshops...

 

 

 

Each term, members can take part in Workshops covering many aspects of Theatre and are divided into age groups. These workshops take place at Steep Village Hall. Themes range from Improvisation to Pantomime and often involve some song and dance. Members contribute their own ideas and often work in small groups devising a piece of theatre.

 

HOLIDAY PROJECTS

During the Easter Holidays since 1998 we have run special holiday projects open to both members and non-members of the Youth Theatre. These projects take the form of a challenge to produce a musical or piece of theatre in a very short time, sometimes only three days. Visiting Theatre Professionals work and perform with the young people creating a unique atmosphere and giving many their first taste of performance.

2008

CURTAIN UP!

The PYT Easter holiday project was devised in 1998 as a way of encouraging young people, who are not necessarily members of PYT to engage with theatre professionals, whilst working towards a performance at the end of the four days. Over the past 10 years, hundreds of youngsters have experienced the joy of musical theatre alongside talented actors who regularly perform in London’s West End. This year Caroline Sheen, Stefan Butler, Alison Pargeter and Joseph Pitcher worked with the cast to perform a popular selection of song and dance numbers. Curtain Up! was directed by Nik Ashton, with Jonathan Gill as Musical Director.

 

 

2007

ENCORE!

Following on from last year's popular Easter Project, Put it Together, 160 young people took part in this year's challenge. Working with professional performers, Mark McGee, Mark Oxtoby, Alison Pargeter and Caroline Sheen they developed the theme of song and dance from musical theatre. All these performers appear regularly on the West End Stage, and their professionalism brings an extra dimension to the project. Nik Ashton directed and was assisted by senior PYT members, Charlotte Alldridge, Michael Auger, Tom Bristow and Laura Jefferies.

 

 

2005

BUGSY MALONE

Easter Holidays 2005 and Petersfield Youth Theatre was to be found once again at Bedales School, this time with professional performers acting as leaders, taking individual groups of young people for workshops, with the aim of putting on a production of Bugsy Malone in just 4 days.

Director Nik Ashton worked with Musical Director Jonathan Gill and workshop leaders Caroline Sheen, Michael Jibson, Edwin Ray and Charlotte Alldridge. The part of Bugsy was taken by Jordan Murphy who said that he had the most fun since joining the youth theatre. 130 young people took part in this project which was open to both members and non members of PYT.

Both the set and costumes were made on site by willing supporters within the four days, to provide a colourful and spectacular performance with plenty of glitz from Fat Sam's Grand Slam and splurge from Dandy Dan's Gang. Bugsy Malone was the seventh Easter Holiday project which each year provides many young people with their first theatrical experience, often sewing the seeds for long lasting enthusiasm for musical theatre.

 

 

2004

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT

Five years after PYT's first Easter Holiday Project, this enduring musical once again provided the challenge for 125 young people, supported by professional actors and musicians. PYT's Director of Education, Debbie Baty directed and choreographed the production, assisted by Kay Shepherd, who teaches dance at Laine Theatre Arts and the Royal Ballet School. The lead roles were taken by Robert Miller (Joseph), Louise Dearman (Narrator) and Steven Paling (Pharoah). The Musical Director was John Pearson, assisted by Jonathan Gill and Ruth Paton was responsible for set design.

PYT's hallmark of originality came to the fore with Ishmaelites in leather jackets on scooters, Potiphar with laptop and Joseph on gold rollerblades. Many of the older members and friends of the youth theatre worked on sound, stage management, props and costumes and two performances were staged for friends and family on the last day.

 

 

2003

ANNIE

For the fifth year in succession PYT took on the challenge to produce a Musical in just 4 days. This year more than one hundred and forty young people, both members and non-members teamed up with professional actors and musicians to produce the ever-popular Annie.

PYT's Artistic Director Nik Ashton directed the performance with Jill Farrow as Musical Director. PYT first produced this musical in 1996 when Charlotte Alldridge played the part of Annie with Fudge as the dog Sandy. Both Charlotte and Fudge were back this year to lend a hand and to support PYT Member Chloe Williams who took the role of Annie. Working through the musical numbers with the help of professional actors, Lucy Cound, Alice and Sarah Redmond, Mark Roper and Russ Spencer the young people rose to the challenge and performed to full houses on the final day.

The Easter Holiday project 2003 was supported by EHDC.

 

2002

HONK!

140 members and non-members took part in this Easter Holiday Project at Bedales School. Once again the challenge was all the more demanding due to the fact that few of the young people had experienced the music. Based on the story of The Ugly Duckling, the National Theatre production of this musical won the Olivier Award for the Best Musical in 2000. Ten professional actors and musicians supported youth theatre Artistic Director Nik Ashton, and a performance was given to an audience of 700 family and friends.

2000

BODYWORK

Easter Holiday Project. Richard Stilgoe's comical but educational musical was produced in three days with 130 young people, three guest professionals and approximately 50 parents and friends to help with props, set and costumes.