Youth Theatre News

Billy Elliot Auditions in Leeds this Saturday

Working Title and Old Vic productions are looking for boys aged 9 to 13 years, under 5ft to audition for the roles of Billy and Michael in the West End production of Billy Elliot in Leeds this Saturday! Please see below for all details!

Leeds
Saturday 6 March 2010
THE DANCE STUDIO LEEDS
Mill 6, 1st Floor, Macaulay Street,
Mabgate Mills, Leeds, LS9 7DZ

Please arrive at 9am to register!
You will then be given a time for your group. Be prepared to stay all day if required. Please bring a photo, a drink and lots of energy.

Tap and ballet experience are a bonus. Max height 5ft. No broken voices.

Come ready to dance first and then you may be asked to sing. You do not have to prepare anything as we will teach you all we need to see. Wear comfortable clothes and trainers and bring any dance shoes you have. No lycra, leotards or jazz pants!

For more details please call Jessica Ronane, Children’s Casting Director on 0207 534 9750.

Invite to take part in Bournemouth Arts Festival

Bournemouth Arts Festival will take place on Sunday April 25th 2010. They are hoping that with the support of the local community and the artistic population of their town that the Bournemouth Arts Festival can become an annual event.

They are looking for any creative groups, individuals or organisations to take part and help them create a varied and exciting programme of events.

It is free to take part in the festival but there will be collection buckets on the doors to raise money for the Children of Haiti.

Bournemouth Arts Festival will be a great opportunity to promote what you do, advertise and preview any productions or events that you have in the near future and meet other creative people, whilst helping them raise money for a brilliant cause.

The chaos and confusion that Haiti is experiencing since the earthquake has thrown up a persistent, ugly problem that impacts on its most vulnerable section – the children. Child slavery and trafficking is endemic in Haiti. Prior to the earthquake, some 250,000 children were living as child slaves. They are sold and traded, forced to labour as domestic help, farm workers or panhandlers on the street. Other children were being trafficked to the Dominican Republic and sold for £50. There is now a heightened fear that as gangs are now reforming and with the increase in orphans this vile trade will grow. UNICEF has discovered that children are already being sent to the West in quickly arranged ‘adoptions’. However, it is unclear if these children’s parents survived the earthquake. In-country UNICEF spokeswoman Veronique Taveau warned that “in this type of emergency, children are unfortunately the most vulnerable, especially those who have been abandoned.” In such emergencies, when usual government business has been put on hold to deal with immense humanitarian considerations, or is otherwise in a state of disarray, it is very easy for criminals to circumvent the laws of the state and any administrative controls. Please help to safeguard this most vulnerable group by donating your time, talent or money in aid of UNICEF’s child mission.

All money raised by Bournemouth Arts Festival will go directly to UNICEF.

If you are a painter, a dance group, a juggler, a film maker, a story teller a theatre company, a choir, a clown or anything artistic and creative please contact them before Friday March 12th with your thoughts and ideas. All ages are welcome to join in.

Email Vicky today at Vicky@bournerep.com.

Free publicity from Lancashire Young People’s Service

Youth Theatre’s Wartime Drama Reflects Real Life

Blue Roof Youth Theatre urge you to come and see their new show at the Swan Theatre on Sunday 11th April.

“Smilin’ Through” has been created by the group and follows a young mans journey before he goes to war in 1941.

James Gunter (18) plays Billy who is about to leave his hometown and go to war says; “The show portrays some topical and modern issues through a funny yet captivating story of a young man being sent to war and the reactions and emotions of those around him”.

The play was created by the group through workshops, improvisations and discussions and we hope it captures the spirit of friendship in times of adversity. Blue Roof Youth Theatre researched 1940’s culture to make sure what is portrayed onstage is accurate. We used the BBC “peoples war” website and big old reference books to find out what life was really like. This is much more than a history project though.

Lucy Langdon (17) has been a member of Blue Roof Youth Theatre for 4 years says; “Our production highlights some of the key feelings and emotions of young people during the war as well as reflecting the same fears of today’s youth during conflict.”

Blue Roof Youth Theatre meet every week at Perdiswell Young Peoples Leisure Club in Worcestershire. They always welcome new members from the age of 8-19 and are planning another juicy project for December 2010!

They would love for you to come and support this performance! It is part of a double bill of drama by the group entitled “Two Stories High” Tickets are £2:50 available from Worcester Live Box Office 01905 611427.

Places still left! Raising the Game South East

Saturday 20 March 2010: 10.00am to 6.00pm – £20

Working in partnership with the National Association of Youth Theatres’ Raising the Game initiative, Chichester Festival Youth Theatre invite Youth Theatre leaders from across the South East to join us for a day of training, workshops, and networking. This event will feature exciting training opportunities led by professional practitioners, as well as a chance to strengthen relationships with Youth Theatres from across the region.

Participants will be able to choose from a variety of workshops including:

Stage Combat with Fight Director Paul Benzing.

Radio Play Techniques with Playwright and Broadcaster Simon Brett.

Ensemble Singing with Musical Theatre Director Jenny Gould.

Puppeteering with Sarah Wright (Little Angel Theatre)

Story-telling with Complicité

Starting points for devising with Georgina Lamb (currently Movement Director for Rupert Goold’s Romeo & Juliet at the RSC)

Forum Theatre with West Sussex County Youth Theatre – Year out Company

This event is limited to 100 participants. Attendees need to be registered with NAYT.

For further information contact Dale Rooks, Youth Theatre Director, Chichester Festival Theatre by email dale.rooks@cft.org.uk, sam.maynard@cft.org.uk or on 01243 784437.

Young Writers and Composers Course

Head of Production at The Octagon Theatre

This award winning, unique, producing Theatre is seeking a creative, knowledgeable and experienced Production Manager to lead its production team in a new phase of the Theatre’s development. Working closely with our Artistic Director, David Thacker, the post holder will be responsible for all aspects of production planning, creation and implementation of a season of at least eight plays together with a range of complementary events. An in-depth experience of producing theatre is essential along with commitment, drive and outstanding leadership and management skills. For further details and an application form telephone 01204 529407 or email.

Closing date for applications 22 March 2010
Interviews will be held on 29 or 30 March 2010

The Octagon Theatre positively welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

Director – Strategic development

Salary: £26,276 pro rata (NJC spinal point 31) Castaway does not operate a pension scheme
Hours of work: 18.5 hours per week, flexible
Period of Contract: 0.5 Part-time, fixed term for 2 yrs from March 2010
Holiday Entitlement: 11.5 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Special Conditions: Requires enhanced CRB check, a degree of flexibility, occasional evening work, ability to travel, car driver essential
Location: Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire

An opportunity for an enthusiastic, proven, self motivated and energetic individual to take this exciting, new and fast-growing music theatre company into the next stage of its development.

Castaway-Goole Music Theatre, a charitable company limited by guarantee, has grown over the last five years to the point where it now requires a dedicated and creative professional to build the capacity of the charity to provide innovative performing, recreational and learning opportunities in music, theatre, dance and stage technology for adults and young people with learning and physical disabilities.

With the company’s directors and trustees you will work to secure income generation and long term funding, develop strategic and sustainable partnerships with local statutory, business and voluntary agencies, and contribute to the future vision of the organisation and its growing regional profile.

You will need to demonstrate a track record of delivering organisational development, income generation and fund raising, and have substantial experience of working in the voluntary and/or public sectors with some experience of working at strategic level.

This challenging post offers to the right candidate the opportunity to help a unique charity realise its ambitious plans.

An enhanced CRB check is required for this post.

How to apply: Application pack available from info@castaway-goole.co.uk
Closing date: By noon Friday 26 Feb. Interviews Wed 3rd March 2010.

Graduate Certificate in Participatory Arts and Media Professional Practice Course

Applications are now being accepted for the new ‘Project Management: Professional Practice’ module of the Graduate Certificate in Participatory Arts and Media Professional Practice Course at UWE. Please follow the link above for further details.

Date: 19 April 2010 to 12 July 2010
Time: (4 Day Schools) 9.30 – 4.30
Venue: UWE Bristol, Bower Ashton Campus
Cost: £596 accredited, £485 unaccredited per module
Contact details: Please follow the link below for booking details –
uwe/sca/courses/community_cpd.shtml

Using the Arts with Young People at Risk

This course gives an overview of the benefits of using the arts with young people at risk and covers essential areas when doing so. Participants are given an understanding of youth arts and youth culture and the skill set needed to successfully design, fund, manage and market an appropriate arts project. Current CRB child protection legislation will be considered, ensuring your youth arts project complies with the recommended guidelines.

Date: 23 September 2010
Time: 10 am- 4,15 pm
Venue: BALTIC, Gateshead V
Cost: £110-£15, limited bursaries available
Contact details: For more information on how to make a booking, or to order the ‘Using the Arts with Young People at Risk’ guidelines separately, please contact the Artsplan Team via: artsplan@artswork.org.uk or call 02380 682535.