Central Youth Theatre is looking for a diverse range of performers to join a magician, musician and a poet who have applied to take part in the the Wolverhampton Portas Pilot Inititiave which aims to bring the city to life and help to revitalise the city centre.
The scheme invites volunteers of all ages to use their talents and become part of a team of new Contemporary City Criers who will help promote the city and special events from May to December. Central Youth Theatre will be providing costumes and training.
Three sets of three day training programmes spread over the year will cater for people joining at different points during the lifetime of the project and will include themed character development, voice projection, health and safety, site visits, costume idea development and fittings, planning and customer relations.
Jane Ward, director of CYT, said: “Traditional town criers used a bell, had good standing in the community, the ability to read (when most could not) and shout out, without modern microphones, news and proclamations. Contemporary City Criers could do the same – or sing, dance, use music, rap, poetry, juggling or any other skills and we want to hear from anyone who has an idea they would like to share with us.
“We can provide a tremendous range of costumes from our 10,000-plus resource at the new Arts Market Space in Salop Street, which volunteers will use as a reporting station, changing space and relaxation area during breaks.
“Auditions will take place at The Grand Theatre, Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, on Saturday, 20th April, between 9am and noon. For information or to book an audition people should contact us via citycrierse@gmail.com, 01902 572091 or the website at www.centralyouththeatre.org”
Wolverhampton was selected as one of the first round Portas Pilot towns ahead of stiff competition from 371 other locations and was awarded£100,000 of funding to undertake a range of innovative projects aimed at increasing entrepreneurial activity and filling vacant shops, supporting independent traders and improving the vibrancy of the streets.
Wolverhampton Portas Pilot is split into five projects. One of the projects is Sights and Sounds which aims to improve the vibrancy of the city centre, promote activities and events and increase visitor numbers.
Contemporary City Criers is part of the Sight and Sounds project. Funding for the City Criers training has been provided by the Arts Council along with funding from the Wolverhampton Portas Pilot project. For further information visit http://www.wolverhamptonportaspilot.co.uk
The award winning Central Youth Theatre (CYT) is based at the Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley Street, Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton. It is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
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