West Midlands theatre group fly the flag for Britain with the help of Hollywood star

Members of a West Midlands theatre group were returning home today after flying the flag for Britain at an international festival – to learn that a Hollywood star will help them keep up the good work.

Twelve members of Wolverhampton’s Central Youth Theatre (CYT) were at the ninth annual Ostrov Soukani international theatre festival in the Czech Republic for young people aged between 13 and 20 from Wednesday 1st May to Monday 6th May.

They were returning after staging their devised production “You Decide” to learn that Hollywood and Old Vic star Kevin Spacey will be helping them to the tune of £2,500 when they go to Monaco in August as the UK’s representatives at the World Amateur Theatre Festival.

The help will come from the Kevin Spacey Foundation after CYT member Katherine Lea applied for a grant to add to CYT’s £6,000 target needed to send CYT members abroad this year to represent the area and the UK.

At the Czech festival, CYT members were challenged to think about making moral and ethical decisions as they joined other young people from Armenia, Russia, Austria, Israel and the Czech Republic.

Performance Director Holly Phillips said:  “This was the fifth time the CYT has travelled to Soukani, which is a bi-annual festival.  CYT started going to the festival in 2001 and has seen different generations of youth theatre members take part over the years”.

The young people selected contributed to the big ongoing fundraising campaign, which has also included a quiz night and dog show, to also ensure fourteen CYT members can stage a one hour version of Burnt by The Sun adapted from the film by Nikita Mikhalkov which is an examination of the full horror of Stalin’s rule in the Soviet Union.

The group will be performing in the historic Salle Garnier Monaco Opera House on 22^nd and 24^th August.  CYT members will be joined by 23 theatre companies from the Far East, Africa, India, Scandinavia, Europe and the USA.

CYT Director Jane Ward said: “This year is our 30^th anniversary and we have been flying the flag for the UK, our region and Wolverhampton before international audiences abroad and at home for all those years.

“Despite difficult economic times the young people are continuing to work hard, not only at producing first class drama, but also raising the funds to keep showing the rest of the world that we have a lot of talent and skill in the UK, our region and Wolverhampton.”

Midlands theatre group flies the flag for Britain at international festivals

Central Youth Theatre’s group going to the Czech Republic

A West Midlands theatre group will fly the flag for Britain at an international festival this week.

Wolverhampton’s Central Youth Theatre (CYT) will be at the ninth annual Ostrov Soukani international theatre festival in the Czech Republic for young people aged between 13 and 20 from Wednesday 1st May to Monday 6th May.

Twelve members of CYT will be in the Czech Republic will be travelling to the festival to stage their devised production “You Decide”, which challenges young people to think about making moral and ethical decisions. At the festival CYT members will be joining other young people Armenia, Russia, Austria, Israel and Czech Republic.

Performance Director Holly Phillips says:  “Our young people are very excited about the trip and can’t wait to take part in the festival workshops, social events and see the performance work by the other countries!

“This will be the fifth time the Youth Theatre has travelled Soukani which is a bi-annual festival.  CYT started going to the festival in 2001 and has seen different generations of youth theatre members take part over the years”.

The young people selected to represent the youth theatre in Czech have all contributed to a big ongoing fundraising campaign with a £6,000 target needed to send members abroad to represent the area and the UK at global and European festivals.

As well as helping to send young people to the Soukani Youth Theatre Festival in Ostrov in the Czech Republic from the 2^nd to the 6^th of May, funds will also help us when we are the UK’s representatives at the World Amateur Theatre Festival in Monaco in August.

In Monaco fourteen members of CYT will stage a one hour version of Burnt by The Sun adapted from the film by Nikita Mikhalkov which is an examination of the full horror of Stalin’s rule in the Soviet Union.

Flyer for Burnt By The Sun pre-festival performance at The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton

The group will be performing in the historic Salle Garnier Monaco Opera House on 22^nd and 24^th August.  CYT members will be joined by 23 theatre companies from the Far East, Africa, India, Scandinavia, Europe and the USA.

CYT Director Jane Ward added: “This year is our 30^th anniversary and we have been flying the flag for the UK, our region and Wolverhampton before international audiences abroad and at home for all those years.

“Despite difficult economic times the young people are continuing to work hard, not only at producing first class drama, but also raising the funds to keep showing the rest of the world that we have a lot of talent and skill in the UK, our region and Wolverhampton.”

Theatre group gets One Direction boost

A West Midlands theatre group got a boost from top boy band One Direction and a quiz night helping raise £918 towards a £6,000 target needed to send members abroad to represent the area and the UK at global and European festivals.

A programme and a T-shirt signed by Boy Band One Direction along with two tickets for the band’s show at the LG Arena, Birmingham, on Saturday March 23, which were donated by a former theatre group member were sold by silent auction at a quiz night for Wolverhampton’s Central Youth Theatre (CYT) on Friday 8^th March.

One Direction items were from one of the top bands in pop with two number one singles, a platinum selling debut album and more than a million hits on YouTube, and who include Wolverhampton’s Liam Payne.

They went along with a programme signed by girl band Little Mix at the quiz night held at West End Working Men’s Club, Merridale Street, Wolverhampton.

Jane Ward, director of CYT, based at the Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley Street, Whitmore Reans said: “The fundraising gave us an excellent start towards our target to help fund us keep flying the flag for the area in Europe – and this time before a world audience.

“As well as helping to send young people to the Soukani (correct) Youth Theatre Festival in Ostrov in the Czech Republic from the 2^nd to the 6^th of May, funds will also help us when we are the UK’s representatives at the World Amateur Theatre Festival in Monaco in August.”

In Monaco fourteen members of CYT will stage a one hour version of Burnt by The Sun, by Peter Flannery, which is an examination of the full horror of Stalin’s rule in the Soviet Union.

The group will be performing in the historic Salle Garnier Monaco Opera House on 22^nd and 24^th August.  CYT members will be joined by 23 theatre companies from the Far East, Africa, India, Scandinavia, Europe and the USA.

Jane added: “This year is our 30^th anniversary and we have been flying the flag for the UK, our region and Wolverhampton before international audiences abroad and at home for all those years.

“Despite difficult economic times the young people are continuing to work hard, not only at producing first class drama, but also raising the funds to keep showing the rest of the world that we have a lot of talent and skill in the UK, our region and Wolverhampton.”

Theatre group going very much in One Direction

A West Midlands theatre group will be going very much in One Direction tomorrow night (Friday 8 March) as it holds a quiz night to help raise funds towards £6,000 target needed to send members abroad to represent the area and the UK at global and European festivals.

As well as having signed programmes and a T-shirt donated by Boy Band One Direction Wolverhampton’s Central Youth Theatre (CYT) now have two tickets for the band’s show at the LG Arena, Birmingham, on Saturday March 23.

Since appearing on the X-Factor the band, including Wolverhampton’s Liam Payne, have become one of the top bands in pop with two number one singles, a platinum selling debut album and more than a million hits on YouTube.

For those worried about the future of the band Liam recently Tweeted to say he was definitely not leaving them – after rumours that he was.

These and a programme signed by girl band Little Mix will be sold by silent auction at the quiz night at 7.30pm at West End Working Men’s Club, Merridale Street, Wolverhampton.

Bids for the silent auction can be accepted anytime this week either by email to jane@centralyouththeatre.org or to CYT’s office at the Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 4AN

CYT Director Jane Ward said: “The Quiz will be a fun night for all the family.

“If people don’t have a complete team we can help make up teams on the night. Besides the quiz we will be running the silent auction and tombola, with refreshments also available during the evening.”

The proceeds of the auction will go towards the group, which is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary this year, sending young people to festivals in Czech Republic at the start of May and also to represent the UK by performing in Monaco at the World Amateur Theatre Festival in August.

Fourteen members of CYT will be staging a one hour version of Burnt by The Sun, by Peter Flannery, which is an examination of the full horror of Stalin’s rule in the Soviet Union.

The group will be performing in the historic Salle Garnier Monaco Opera House on 22^nd and 24^th August.  CYT members will be joined by 23 theatre companies from the Far East, Africa, India, Scandinavia, Europe and the USA.

Theatre group quizzing and going in One Direction

A West Midlands theatre group celebrating its 30^th anniversary, and chosen to represent Great Britain at a world theatre festival, is to hold a fundraising quiz night this week to help raise funds towards their £6,000 target of travelling abroad.

Wolverhampton’ Central Youth Theatre (CYT) is holding the quiz on Friday 8 March at 7.30pm at West End Working Men’s Club, Merridale Street, Wolverhampton. Teams of 4-5 people will be competing at a cost of £2 per person to take part.

There will be prizes for the winners. The group have been supported in our fundraising efforts by Boy Band One Direction and girl band Little Mix.

Both have donated signed programmes. One Direction have also donated a signed T-Shirt which will be sold by silent auction on the night.

Bids for the silent auction can be accepted anytime this week either by email to jane@centralyouththeatre.org or by post to the Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 4AN

CYT Director Jane Ward said: “The Quiz will be a fun night for all the family. If people don’t have a complete team we can help make up teams on the night. \

“Besides the quiz we will be running the silent auction and tombola, with refreshments also available during the evening.

“The proceeds of the auction will go towards the group sending young people to festivals in Czech Republic at the start of May and also to represent the UK performing in Monaco at the World Amateur Theatre Festival in August.”

Fourteen members of CYT will be staging a one hour version of Burnt by The Sun, by Peter Flannery which is an examination of the full horror of Stalin’s rule in the Soviet Union.

The group will be performing in the historic Salle Garnier Monaco Opera House on 22^nd and 24^th August.

CYT members will be joined by 23 theatre companies from the Far East, Africa, India, Scandinavia, Europe and the USA.

West Midlands Theatre group to represent Great Britain

Flyer for Burnt by the Sun

A West Midlands theatre group are celebrating after being selected to represent Great Britain at a world theatre festival.

Wolverhampton’s Central Youth Theatre (CYT) has been chosen to go to the International World Festival of Amateur Theatre in the principality of Monaco next year. The premiere festival celebrating amateur and community theatre is organised every two years.

Every four years it is held in Monaco, and strongly supported by the Grimaldi Royal family. It was founded in 1957 with twelve troupes from across Europe taking part. By 1997 twenty-four troupes from all five continents took part – with that number being maintained since then.

As England, Scotland and Wales each take it in turn to have a representative selected English groups can only be nominated once every six years. CYT submitted a DVD of their production of Burnt by the Sun – staged at Wolverhampton’s Arena Theatre in July this year.

It was selected and nominated by the Great Britain International Amateur Theatre Association committee but CYT had to wait to hear if it had been selected by the World Committee for performance in the 2013 festival. They will perform during a festival which runs from the 19^th to 28^th of August next year.

Burnt by The Sun is Peter Flannery’s examination of the full horror of Stalin’s rule in the Soviet Union. Set in 1936, the revolutionary hero Colonel Kotov is spending what seems to be an idyllic summer in his dacha with his young wife and family.

Things change dramatically as a face from the past re-enters their lives. Amidst a tangle of sexual jealousy and retribution, the full horrifying reach of Stalin’s rule is about to invade their lives.

CYT Burnt by the Sun Director Jane Ward says:  “Our members are so thrilled and excited to have been selected.  We have been attending international festivals for the last thirty years, but to get to the World Festival in our 30^th Anniversary year will be the pinnacle of our international achievements.

“The choice of venues are absolutely stunning, and we have to chose where we think would be the right performance space for the show. Burnt by the Sun is a play about social change, political corruption and the re-structuring of society with the consequent impact this has on people’s lives.

“Whilst we have been working on this production, we have seen contemporary history being made with the breakdown of economic living standards in many countries in Europe and the political corruption that has brought countries low, destroying the lives of so many people.

“It has been very interesting for our cast to realise that a production such as this has contemporary parallels”.

The sumptuous costume drama was costumed from CYT’s amazing theatrical wardrobe of more than 10,000 costumes assembled over the last 29 years and now housed in the city’s former Antiques Market, next to the indoor retail market in Market Street.

 

Tokyo – get my drift

Tokyo – get my drift.

Theatre group looked at hard times East and West

Burnt by the Sun at the Arena Theatre

Great Expectations at the Arena Theatre

Wolverhampton’s Central Youth Theatre excelled with the first of two highly challenging productions.
On Tuesday, July 17th July and Monday 16th July they gave a revealing take on the way in which repression in Stalin’s Russia overwhelmed families and friends.
share. At the Arena Theatre in the University of Wolverhampton, Wulfruna Street, Burnt by The Sun, Peter Flannery’s examination of the full horror of Stalin’s rule in the Soviet Union.

Set in 1936, the revolutionary hero Colonel Kotov spends what seems to be an idyllic summer in his dacha with his young wife and family. Things change dramatically as a face from the past re-enters their lives. Amidst a tangle of sexual jealousy and retribution, the full horrifying reach of Stalin’s rule is about to invade their lives.

Burnt by the Sun Director Jane Ward says: “Burnt by the Sun is a play about social change, political corruption and the re-structuring of society with the consequent impact this has on people’s lives.

“Whilst we have been working on this production, we have seen contemporary history being made with the breakdown of economic living standards in many countries in Europe and the political corruption that has brought countries low, destroying the lives of so many people.

“It has been very interesting for our cast to realise that a production such as this has contemporary parallels”.

In contrast, to celebrate the 200^th anniversary of Charles Dickens Central Youth Theatre (CYT) staged an exciting adaptation of Great Expectations by Nick Ormerod and Declan Donnellan. The classic story followed the twists and turns facing orphan Pip who becomes a gentleman when his life is transformed by a mystery benefactor.

Performances for Great Expectations were at the same venue on Thursday 19^th and Friday 20^th July. Both productions were sumptuous costume dramas costumed from CYT’s amazing theatrical wardrobe – assembled over the last 29 years.

Holly Phillips, directing Great Expectations, says: “We had over 50 young actors in both productions and over a hundred period costumes being used to set the two plays in the different decades”.