Youth Theatre

Reading

Masquerade Youth Theatre (not on this page)
Progress Theatre student group and youth group (not on this page)
Starmaker
Woodley Theatre youth group (not on this page)

Basingstoke Youth Theatre (Haymarket)

For young people aged 14-19 in Hampshire, meeting on Thursday evenings. Entry is by audition only. For information on joining and attending Youth Theatre Productions please contact the Haymarket on 01256 355844.

Central Studio Youth Theatre (Basingstoke)

There are junior youth theatre groups for two age ranges - 8 to 11 and 12 to 15. The Bite Size group is for the 8 to 11 year olds and meets from 5:30 to 7:00 on Tuesdays. The older groups are for 12 to 15 years and run from 6:30 to 8:00 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The senior group is a project-based group that works through an intensive rehearsal period to produce musicals and plays. This group is aimed at 16 years +.

For more information, phone Central Studio on 01256 417511.

Newbury YoungStars

Last production

Annie Junior, 4th to 6th March 2010
Set in depression era New York, Annie Junior tells of a orphan determined to find her parents, who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage run by the evil Miss Hannigan. In a series of adventures, Annie foils Miss Hannigan's devious plans, befriends President Franklin Roosevelt and manages to find a new family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell and a lovable dog named Sandy. The bright, tuneful score filled with the familiar numbers Hard Knock Life, Easy Street, Maybe, Little Girls and of course the heart-rending Tomorrow.

Where

Arlington Arts Centre.

Box Office

01635 244246.

Review of Annie Junior

4th to 6th March 2010.

Review from the Newbury Weekly News.

Little company of stars packs a big punch with Annie

Newbury YoungStars: Annie Jnr, at Arlington Arts, from Thursday, March 4 to Saturday, March 6

Annie Jr is the version of the show Little Orphan Annie for young performers, staged here by the junior branch of Newbury Operatic Society, the YoungStars.

From the opening scene outside the Municipal Orphanage in New York City, the young performers gave a really impressive display of acting, singing and dancing that would have been quite something from actors of any age.

Emily Sinfield was a believable orphan throughout the performance, both in her acting and singing, but perhaps most impressive of all was her US accent which almost had me believing she was a native. All the accents were well-handled by the cast and, as no specific voice-coach was listed on the programme, it must have been down to the director and the hard work of the entire cast. Not an easy thing to do, even for professional actors, so full marks all round for the accents.

As to the movement, positioning on stage throughout and the groupings of characters in each scene, all was handled with great attention to detail and it would have been an eagle eye that spotted a wrong move during the entire performance. To be sure, there was the occasional slow pick-up of a cue and momentary loss of timing owing to uncertainty over who was due to deliver the next line, but these are all in the nature of stage performance generally and the overall impression of this production was that it was slick, controlled, animated and maintained a good strong pace from beginning to end.

Jacqui Trumper's choreography deserves special mention, as does the overall direction by Mike Scott-Cound. Musical director Michael Evans played the score, with John Barham on bass and Neil Streeter providing percussion, and they did very well, following the various young singers and carefully shading down the volume levels for the very smallest, youngest vocalists.

Leading characters were well handled, by Lucy Kay as Miss Hanigan, an enviable 'baddie' part that most actors love to get their teeth into, and Ben Perks as Oliver Warbucks. All the cast, in fact - too many to list individually - gave good account of themselves.

The scenery was impressive, designed by Nick Dann to move and turn around swiftly with every scene.

Charles Strouse's music score is not the most memorable, but the YoungStars did it much more than justice.

DEREK ANSELL

Previous productions

A Load of Rubbish, 23rd to 25th July 2009. See the review in the Archive.
Tin Pan Ali, 1st to 2nd August 2008. See the review in the Archive.
Return to the Forbidden Planet, 26th to 28th July 2007. See the review in the Archive.
A Medley of Modern Musicals, 26th to 27th January 2007
The Dracula Spectacula, 3rd to 5th August 2006 - see the review in the Archive.
10th Anniversary Concert, 13th to 14th January 2006
Summer Holiday, 28th to 30th July 2005
The Vackees, 22nd to 24th July 2004 - see the review in the Archive.
Bugsy Malone, 24th to 26th July 2003 - see the review in the Archive.
Smike, 25th to 27th July 2002 - see the review in the Archive.
Christmas show 2001 - see the review here.
Return to the Forbidden Planet, 26th to 28th July 2001.

Who

Newbury YoungStars is the youth section of Newbury Operatic Society. YoungStars rehearse on Monday evenings during term time between 7pm and 9pm. Contact Chairman Sarah Scott-Cound on 01635 841216 or 07771 522375 or email .

Newbury Youth Theatre

Last production

Cautionary Tales, 31st July 2010
NYT present their interpretation of Hilaire Belloc's Cautionary Tales for Children. Featuring the story of Jim, who ran away from his nurse and was eaten by a lion; Matilda, who told lies and was burned to death; and the rest of the classic collection. The group will also create some contemporary tales of their own. See the review below.

Where

Corn Exchange, Newbury.

Box Office

01635 522733.

Previous productions

The Lost Letters of Mr Corrigan, 1st August 2009, then at the Edinburgh Fringe, and back in Newbury on 18th December
A lonely clerk sits at his desk, surrounded by towering piles of the letters and parcels that never arrived. Through him each sender’s hopes and wishes find life and, just occasionally, their intended recipient. Newbury Youth Theatre return with a newly devised production, incorporating their critically acclaimed ensemble storytelling with live music, dark comedy and physical theatre. Now back in Newbury with a special one-off performance, based on the original but with all new, stories inspired by Christmas.
The Lost Letters of Mr Corrigan at the Edinburgh Fringe has won an Editors' Award from the ThreeWeeks review web site. The commendation includes: "We've noticed in recent years that the output of our second winners, Newbury Youth Theatre, has been of a particularly high quality, not least with this year's 5/5 show The Lost Letters Of Mr Corrigan. To be able to achieve such quality with each new generation of young people is particularly noteworthy, and makes Newbury Youth Theatre a definite winner of one of our ThreeWeeks Editors' Awards."

The Wind Tamer, 26th July 2008
Newbury Youth Theatre (NYT), the Corn Exchange's resident youth theatre, is fast becoming recognized as one of the UK's leading young companies. Having garnered four and five star reviews in the national press and much critical acclaim locally over the last 22 years, they return with a preview of their latest production, before returning to the Edinburgh Festival. See the review in the Archive.

Just So, 21st July 2007
Our own adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's enchanting tales, including How the Camel Got His Hump, The Elephant's Child and many more. Having performed "youth theatre at its best" (edinburghguide.com) for over 21 years, this is the preview performance of the senior group's annual production, which also appeared at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August. See the review in the Archive.

Hope Springs, 17th July 2006
Behind the gloss of TV's Brat Camp lies a startling reality; young people are incarcerated in private centres, sanctioned by their parents, for "treatment." Rebellion is inevitable... Following their sell out success at last year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival, NYT return with this brutal portrayal of teenage vengeance. See the review in the Archive.

Pieces of Us, 21st May 2006
See the review in the Archive.

Skellig, 23rd July 2005
Michael was looking forward to moving house. It was all going to be wonderful. But now his baby sister's ill, his parents are frantic and Doctor Death has come to call. Michael feels helpless. Then he steps into a crumbling garage. What is this thing beneath the spider's webs and dead flies? A human being, or a strange kind of beast never seen before? The only person Michael can confide in is Mina. Together, they carry the creature out into the light and Michael's world changes for ever. The West End smash hit based on David Almond's Whitbread Award winning children's book. See the review below. See the review in the Archive.

Rainbow's Ending, 19th July 2004
The story of two insatiable giants whom rest after devouring the worlds resources. Over the centuries fear turns into faith for the surviving humans living on the bones left by their devastation. But right now the giants are stirring... See the review in the Archive.

The Control Experiment, 25th to 26th July 2003
Imagine living in a kaleidoscope where sounds, images and thoughts are constantly shifting, where you're given drugs similar to cocaine to control your behaviour, but not to cure. Such is the world of children suffering from Attention Deficiency Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD).

Robbie Williams... Who's He? 2nd to 3rd August 2002
Jennifer Grumblemuch doesn't ask for a lot out of life, and no one would notice if she did. So when she wins the Pop Babe UK competition, she seizes the chance to escape her miserable, suburban life. However a sinister plot behind the Pop Babe phenomenon forces her to choose between fame and family. See the review in the Archive.

Dear Kitty, 26th to 27th July 2001.
An adaptation of the diary of Anne Frank. With specially written music and lyrics, it is about the courage and stamina of the Jewish people hidden in the attic in Amsterdam, and the people hiding them. After the Corn Exchange production, we took it to the Edinburgh Fringe from the 12th to the 19th August. See the reviews in the Archive.

About us

At the Corn Exchange, NYT has two groups, for 9-14 and 14-20 year olds. For more information, call Robin Strapp at the Corn Exchange on 01635 582666 or visit our web site at www.newburyyouththeatre.co.uk.

Newbury Youth Theatre was founded in December 1983 and aims to provide local young people the opportunity to develop their theatrical skills and interests and explore the arts in general and learn more about themselves. There are no auditions or restrictions on membership apart from a commitment from the members to support the group, have energy, enthusiasm and a love of theatre. Above all it's fun!

Review of Cautionary Tales

26th July 2008.

Review from the Newbury Weekly News.

Vital and infectious

Newbury Youth Theatre: Cautionary Tales for Children, at the Corn Exchange, Newbury, on Saturday, July 31

Newbury Youth Theatre once again gave their annual warm-up performance for the Edinburgh Fringe at the Corn Exchange, where they are resident.

The young actors benefit hugely from performing in a professional space under professional conditions, but they repay the privilege tenfold. They do the venue proud.

This year they have devised a mischievous quasi-modern take on Hilaire Belloc's Cautionary Tales for Children, interspersing the Victorian verse format with demotic speech: a foot in the original with a nod to today's world.

It's 1892 and a bench of didactic judges from the Ministry of Child Correction are determined to get "dangerous oiks off the street and into work". So what's new?

Wrongdoers are hauled into the dock to confess their bad behaviour and explain the consequences. Matilda -an enormous scarlet bow in her hair - tells lies, so no one believed her when she shouted "Fire!"

Mary Bunch, "who likes to munch", is a compulsive eater. "Henry Ring ate bits of string" - and died - but not before a horde of fee-seeking doctors try to cure him.

Charles Augustus Fortescue, "the nicest child I ever knew", only did what was right - and became filthy rich in the process. The story of Rose, "who hid things up her nose", prompted a comedic tug of war by an increasingly unlikely team.

Thus morality tales are told and lessons learned, but they're seldom as much fun as this. Within the Youth Theatre's customary blend of ensemble work, physical theatre, music and song, each actor played multiple parts, ingenious costume changes were woven into the performance, and clever characterisation was allied to inventive staging. The lion that ate poor Jim was magicked by actors working with just a ruffed sheet and a tail; imaginative group work conjured the early days of motoring; and the Battle of Waterloo was over in record time.

The strikingly cohesive black and white design, an important element in this integrated production, encompassed set, props, make-up and costume, with boys in black Victorian suits and hose, and girls in white pinafores over black dresses.

The professional expertise and actor-centred approach of directors Amy and Tony Trigwell-Jones and artistic director/producer Robin Strapp continue to attract talented young performers to the Youth Theatre and coax excellent performances from them.

This young company is always professional, but the fun and enjoyment its members also share is vital - and infectious.

LIN WILKINSON

SLY Theatre

Next production

A Christmas Carol, 21st to 22nd December, 20:00 at New Greenham Arts
Scrooge is visited by three spirits sent to redeem his soul by offering him a vision of what was, what is and what shall be. Will he be able to repent in time and finally understand the true meaning of Christmas?

Shining Lights Youth Theatre are holding open auditions for A Christmas Carol on Monday 6th September at New Greenham Arts (18:00 to 21:00) for ages 14-20 years. We do not ask people to prepare an audition speech, or to come along and entertain us. The auditions take place in the form of a workshop and we'll be assessing people's abilities to work and co-operate with others. To book your place please contact Melanie (email address below). Visit SLY Theatre website for more information: www.shininglightsyouththeatre.com.

Last production

Blood Wedding, 27th to 28th July 2010 at New Greenham Arts
By Lorca. Based on a true story of love, lust, and betrayal, Blood Wedding is one of the most powerful and innovative plays written in the 20th century. Federico Garcia Lorca wrote his best known play years after reading a newspaper account of a young bride in Andalusia who abandoned her husband-to-be on their wedding day to escape with her childhood sweetheart. Lorca evokes the spectacle of human passion through sophisticated and often surrealistic poetic technique, elevating the love story to a tragedy of fate.

Review of SLY Theatre - Blood Wedding

27th to 28th July 2010.

Review from the Newbury Weekly News.

Lights in the depths of Lorca

Blood Wedding, at New Greenham Arts, on Tuesday, July 27 and Wednesday, July 28

This was another outstanding performance by Shining Lights Youth Theatre, and the first directed by Charlotte Allen. Her stripped-down, intimate approach brought the cast and audience closer together, as without a backstage area we were able to observe the actors throughout.

The subtlety and drama were carried out at full force. The stark, bleak backdrop and staging amplifying the raw emotion presented in Lorca's play.

It centres on a widowed mother and her son's plans to marry. The mother, excellently portrayed by Poppy Jermaine, is initially reluctant to let him leave.

Through the servant, played with a cheerful air by Bobbie Anderson, we learn that the bride has still been meeting with her childhood sweetheart, the deeply troubled Leonardo (played with suitable menace by Tom Serruya).

As the wedding day approaches, the bride's despair grows to fever pitch, and Freya Poole shows her torment with great dignity and understanding. When Leonardo approaches her after she is married, they run away together.

As the deserted son, played with real maturity by Elliot Laker, gives chase, the tension changes dramatically and the events are relayed by three ethereal woodcutters (Holly Lucas, Anna Roberts and Abi Kalikwani) each showing new depths in their respective performances.

Caz Harrold gives a brief, haunting turn as the Moon. She is joined by Death (Karim Newton), another complete change from his earlier appearance as the well-meaning father. Their menacing presence signals the death of the son and Leonardo, despite Death's weapon of choice appearing to be kitchen knives, and the chase reaches its inevitable end. There is a horrible familiarity as the women congregate to mourn at the end of the fateful evening. The mother, who fought to keep her son from the violence she knew would inevitably take his life, gives little comfort to the bride as she deals with the consequences of her actions. All are portrayed with real depth and feeling by this young cast, as another excellent production by Shining Lights draws to a close.

JENNIFER COLLINS

About SLY Theatre (Shining Lights)

Shining Lights Youth Theatre, known as SLY Theatre, is a resident company at New Greenham Arts supported by The Corn Exchange, Newbury. Aspiring to produce drama that challenges our members and our audiences, SLY Theatre was formed in 1999 to develop the performance skills of young people through workshops that feed into a production. Our aim is to create an environment where young people feel comfortable and learn through positive experiences, pushing the boundaries of youth theatre and always aiming to cover new and interesting ground. SLY Theatre is a self-funded, voluntary organisation dependent on a small, dedicated team of individuals and ex-members who have a passion for the arts. The company is run by Pete Watt (Artistic Director) and Melanie Rosier-Watt (Company Manager).

SLY Theatre meet at New Greenham Arts Centre on New Greenham Park. We currently meet on a Monday evening from 6pm-9pm. For more information on SLY Theatre visit the SLY Theatre website www.shininglightsyouththeatre.com or contact Artistic Director Pete Watt or Company Manager Melanie Watt on 01635 826496 or email .

Previous productions

Mountain Language, 12th to 13th April 2010 at New Greenham Arts. See the review in the Archive.
The Ash Girl, 22nd to 23rd December 2009 at New Greenham Arts. See the review in the Archive.
Hotel, 8th August 2009, at New Greenham Arts. See the review in the Archive.
Medea, 21st to 22nd July 2009 at New Greenham Arts. See the review in the Archive.
Beauty and the Beast, 20th to 21st January 2009, at New Greenham Arts
The Roses of Eyam, 14th to 15th July 2008, at New Greenham Arts. See the review in the Archive.
The Coming of the Kings, 17th and 19th December 2007
Grimm Tales, 23rd to 24th April 2007, at New Greenham Arts
Les Liaisons Dangereuses, 22nd to 23rd February 2005, at New Greenham Arts
In the Shadow of the Cross, 7th April 2004 at St Nicolas' Church. See the review in the Archive.
Arabian Nights, 12th to 13th December 2003, at New Greenham Arts. See the review and pictures in the Archive.
Cabaret, 12th to 14th June 2003, at New Greenham Arts. See the review in the Archive.
Salome, 24th to 25 January 2003, at New Greenham Arts. See the review in the Archive.
4:48 Psychosis, 2nd September 2002, at New Greenham Arts. See the review in the Archive.
Alcestis, 19th March 2002 at New Greenham Arts
Woyzeck, 14th June 2001 at Kennet School. See the review in the Archive.
This is a Chair, 23rd November 2000 at Newbury Corn Exchange. See the review in the Archive.
Equus, 23rd to 24th July 2000. See the review in the Archive.
Alcestis, 19th March 2002.

Teenage Dramas

The Newbury Weekly News previewed this new group:

Lauraine Leigh began teaching drama in Newbury 12 years ago and after a period living in London, has returned to the town. She now works as a dramatherapist and part-time consultant, services which schools in East London and Slough buy in, including from Behaviour Support Services, mainly working with children who are in trouble at school often because they have difficult behaviour. This includes children with or without special needs, some who have suffered bereavement, some who've got into fights, some who've bullied or been bullied, and kids who lack self-esteem.

She's looking to start up an after-school ad hoc teenagers' group called 'Teenage Dramas' after Christmas, based in the Carnegie Room, at Newbury library, which she says "is a nice space, a safe atmosphere".

Using circles, drama games, freezeframes, role-play and role-reversal, the sessions will be aimed at raising self-esteem, to help any young people feel comfortable and confident in themselves, their ideas and their creativity.

Lauraine assures potential participants that "You don't have to be able to act. This isn't about making you feel nervous, it's about helping you feel strong. We'll use your ideas to make up stories: happy ones, sad ones, stories where people get hurt or bullied, and stories which we can laugh at."

"It's about being together and accepting each other, she explains, "and most importantly, it's about having fun together."

"We work with two important boundaries: you can say 'pass' and no put-downs". She maintains adolescence is a time of 'special needs'. The group is for any teenager of the right age.

Lauraine will also be using her skills as a dramatherapist in a separate support group for parents and carers of children and teenagers by bringing metaphor, drama and story as a tool for working with feelings.

To find out more about her sessions, ring Lauraine on (01635) 45011.

The Watermill Youth Theatre / Young Company

Next production

Bullets and Beetroot Lips, 17th to 20th November
By Ade Morris. The story spans two eras at the same location; Mason's Farm somewhere to the west of Newbury in 1940, and again in the summer of 1996. Into this world arrives a group of Land Army girls 'digging for victory' during the Second World War. Fifty years later their grand-daughters, students at the local college, become involved in the road protest of the late nineties. Both groups of young women defend the land in their own way and the past and present blend and bleed as both stories plunge into resonant crisis. Funny, poetic, moving and tragic this story also has another eloquent character, the extraordinary and patient landscape of West Berkshire itself.

Last productions

The Three Musketeers, 7th to 10th April 2010
Beth Flintoff, The Watermill Learning and Participation Director, adapts and directs her first show for The Watermill Senior Youth Theatre. There are now 150 young people participating in Watermill Youth Theatre activities every week.

This is from the Newbury Weekly News.

Youth theatre brings modern spirit to musketeers

Watermill Senior Youth Theatre: The Three Musketeers, at The watermill, Bagnor, from to Wednesday, April 7 to Saturday, April 10

Alexandre Dumas' classic tale of The Three Musketeers has been given a fresh, innovative interpretation in Beth Flintoff's adaption for the Watermill's senior youth theatre.

The 30-strong talented company worked well together as an ensemble. It was indeed, "all for one and one for all". This was a fast-paced, witty production, filled with modern humorous touches that the young actors embraced with relish.

Chris Evans as the Old d'Artagnan kept his hand firmly on the helm as he narrated his story and Rob Conway was totally convincing as the swashbuckling young d'Artagnan, who was determined to become a musketeer. He picks a fight with the three king's men, Porthos (Samantha Grice), Aramis (Harriet Carter) and Athos - strongly played by Ed Richardson: "If I am to be killed at least it will be by a musketeer". They become his mentors as he is introduced to the Royal Court.

Louis Spencer was delightful as the petulant, hysterical and effeminate king, dressed in gold and yellow, together with his queen, the charming Isabelle Rudgley. The costumes by Debbie Macgregor and Amanda Dooley captured the flavour of the period.

All is not well at the court, which is filled with intrigue, romance and treason, with enemy spies all around. Josh Rawlings was the smouldering dark and evil Rochefort who, together with the fiendish Cardinal (Ben Tarquini) and Sophie Trip's Milady, provide the villainy in the play.

D'Artagnan falls in love with Constance (Evie Harbury), whose husband (Samuel Steele-Childe) is accused of high treason, and they run away.

The queen has asked d'Artagnan to go to England for her and has given him a diamond as a present. However, he has no papers and is stopped by the guards - cue the song Stand and Deliver by Adam and the Ants; all wonderful, irreverent tongue-in-cheek fun that peppered this production.

The Cardinal has agents in England and the whole plot becomes much darker, as d'Artagnan returns to France to meet his fate.

The fight scenes were carefully choreographed by Jeremy Barlow, with one taking place using only the handles of the swords and the sound coming from off stage - hilarious.

William Fricker's multi-level set, with gauze panels and huge doors, was beautifully lit by Nick Flintoff, and Heather Snaith's choreography was effective. Director Beth Flintoff created a confident, spirited production that was thoroughly enjoyed by an appreciative audience.

Bravo!

ROBIN STRAPP

Lay Your Sleeping Head, 18th to 21st November 2009
The Watermill Young Company return with a new work from Ciaran McConville, a young playwright of note. His most recent play Snowbound, seen last year in the West End, was a considerable success. Full of insight, sadness and gentle humour, his new play, forms part of The Watermill’s ongoing drive to find, and give opportunity to, new theatrical talent. For seventy years, three generations of the same family have shared a farm on the Somerset Levels. Time slips between the generations as the world turns and something of the truth of love, betrayal, loss and hope is revealed. Director Ade Morris said ’I chose the play because the quality of the writing just leapt off the page, Ciaran is a naturally talented writer, with one play, Snowbound, in print already, I am sure a very busy future. The play speaks on several levels to a contemporary rural audience, professional people, people with a background in a much more traditional Englishness - the England of orchards and farms and working the land itself, turning the soil and renewing life like a family renews and evolves - and that's what this piece is all about, a family, troubled complicated and joyous like any family.... Rather like the Watermill family really and certainly like our audiences.’ ‘There are twenty young people involved in the piece, eighteen on stage, with ages ranging from sixteen to twenty-six. A very new group of talented individuals all hungry to follow in the illustrious footsteps of what has become a much admired theatre company in its own right. The Watermill Young Company now has a much deserved reputation as a leading young people's theatre company - specialising in new writing. As ever the group are a delight to work with, keen to experiment, to learn and to communicate this touching and resonant play’.

This is from the Newbury Weekly News.

They're all lovin' the Watermill Young Company

Watermill Young Company: Lay Your Sleeping Head, from Tuesday, November 17 to Saturday, November 21

Family relationships can be complicated challenging affairs and sometimes they are not always harmonious. In Ciaran McConville's excellent and stunning new play, Lay Your Sleeping Head for the Watermill's Young Company we share the experiences and lives of three generations of the same family who have lived and shared a farmhouse on the Somerset Levels over the past 70 years.

Ciaran is an up-and-coming writer who is certainly a playwright to follow. His play is brimful of meticulous observation and charming insight into both rural English and modern life as time moves between the generations.

Designer Julieann Worrall Hood's delightful set captured perfectly the rural setting, with an Aga, large farmhouse table and beautifully rural landscape picture suggesting the changing seasons, finely lit by Stuart Harrison. Skilfully directed by Ade Morris, this large, talented cast confidently portrayed their characters as the play moved seamlessly between the various generations, revealing a story of love, betrayal, loss and hope.

It was a complex plot that worked on several levels, from contemporary rural life to modern urban stresses and the traditional farming community. The extended family gathered together as they prepared to sell the house, sort out long-term family squabbles and help to pay for Adam's (Jack Ford-Lane) drug debts and his relationship with Simon (Daniel Gladwell). His older sister, Judith - a sterling performance by Charlotte Allen - discovers her parents' diaries, revealing their loving relationship (sensitively played by Daryl Hurst and Lucy Carmichael as Colin and June). We learned much about the family's humble beginnings and their struggle to cope with bringing up a family through the atrocities of the Second World War and their links with the land and their farm in developing a cheese business.

There were many secrets that were slowly revealed through the generations, including unplanned pregnancies. There were some fine ensemble performances from an excellent supportive cast.

Sophie Cooke provided a superb live musical accompaniment that perfectly complemented the story.

As Cairan McConville said in the programme: "When I was asked what defined my generation all I could think of was the McDonald's jingle I'm lovin' it'." I certainly loved this show, as did the enthusiastic audience. The Watermill's Young Company just grows in the quality of its productions. Bravo.

ROBIN STRAPP

Who

The youth theatre meets on weekday evenings and Saturday mornings. The group devises its own work and works with the professional production team to produce main house youth theatre shows.

There are three groups, for 6-11, 11-15 and 16 to early 20s. For more information, contact Ade Morris on 01635 45834.

Previous productions

The Three Musketeers, 7th to 10th April 2010
Lay Your Sleeping Head, 18th to 21st November 2009
Around the World in 80 Days, 6th to 10th May 2009. See the review in the archive.
The Sirens' Call, 19th to 22nd November 2008
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, 21st to 24th May 2008. See the review in the archive.
¡Donkey Hoo-Ha!, 30th May to 2nd June 2007. See the review in the archive.
Mary Kelly's Bed, 1st to 4th November 2006. See the review in the archive.
The Gilded Lilies, 26th to 29th October 2005. See the review in the archive.
The Odyssey, 4th to 7th May 2005. See the review in the archive.
Hope Springs, 14th to 17th July 2004. See the review in the archive.
Wallride, 29th October to 1st November 2003. See the review in the archive.
Accelerate, 9th to 12th July 2003. See the review in the archive.
Landmines and Chewing Gum, 20th to 23rd November 2002. See the review in the archive.
Fen, 6th to 9th February 2002. See the review in the archive.
Walk in the Shadow, 25th to 28th July 2001. See the review in the archive.
Dragon's Teeth, 22nd to 25th November 2000. See the review in the archive.

Abdabs Youth Theatre at Witney

Just outside our area (north west of Oxford); their web site is www.abdabs-yt.co.uk.

Hungerford Young Performers, Children's Theatre and Youth Theatre

The Community of Hungerford, who stage an annual musical (the Town Show) each year, have three groups for young people. The Hungerford Young Performers (ages 6 to 8 years), The Hungerford Children's Theatre (ages 9 to 13 years) and The Hungerford Youth Theatre (ages 14 to 21 years). All these groups meet in the John O' Gaunt Youth & Community Centre.

New members are always welcome. More information can be obtained from our website www.hungerfordtheatrecompany.co.uk or by e-mailing our membership secretary:

Next production

Last productions

The Dracula Rock Show, 10th July 2010 at John O' Gaunt School
Musical presented by Hungerford Children’s Theatre as part of HADCAF. A fun musical play with a hilarious plot, full of splendid eccentric characters, is sparked by a dynamic rocky score, which takes in 60s rock, 70s disco and even a line dance!

Youth Theatre: The Cleaners, 10th to 11th June 2010 at Herongate Leisure conference theatre
By local writers Hoffi Munt and Samuel Robinson, presented by Hungerford Youth Theatre. Loosely based on the writer’s own experiences as a cleaner, The Cleaners is a comedy following the story of seven wayward teens who are forced to clean an office in the hope that it will redeem them of their former ways. As they battle against addiction, ASBOs, teenage pregnancy, OCDs, anger, stupidity and just plain bad luck they are overseen by the unrelenting and bizarre supervisors and office workers. With the odds against them will they ever become upstanding members of society? A surreal, ironic and cynical look at how young people are perceived today.

Young Performers: Grimm Tales, 20th March 2010 in the new conference theatre at Herongate Leisure Centre, Charnham Park
The play, written by local playwright Hoffi Munt, is a compilation of Grimm's fairy tales including Little Red Riding Hood, The Frog Prince, Rapunzel and Cinderella told by the brothers Grimm to a princess who won't go to sleep…
The Young Performers Theatre is open to children aged 6 to 8 years who come from the community of Hungerford and surrounding Towns and Villages. The Young Performers web site is here.

Previous productions

Young Performers: The Fate of King Minos, 28th March 2009
Children’s Theatre: Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs, 5th July 2008
Young Performers: Beowulf, 29th March 2008
Children’s Theatre: Romeo and Juliet the Musical, 7th July 2007
Youth Theatre: Two Short Socks, 6th July 2007
Young Performers: Tattybogle, 17th March 2007
Young Performers: The Selfish Giant, July 2006
Children's Theatre: Scheherazade, Tales of Arabian Nights, July 2006
Children's Theatre: Alice, 2005
Youth Theatre: Ritual For Dolls, 8th July 2005
Youth Theatre: The Gut Girls, 6th to 7th June 2005
Young Performers: The Piper, Easter 2005
Children's Theatre: Cinderella, 2004
Young Performers: Hoodwinked, July 2004
Youth Theatre: Daisy Pulls It Off, 22nd to 23rd July 2004
Children's Theatre: Card Play, 19th to 20th July 2004
Youth Theatre: Once a Catholic, 8th and 9th July 2003
Young Performers: Whoops -a- Daisy Angel, 16th December 2002
Children's Theatre: The Spell of Sleeping Beauty 12-13 July 2002
Youth Theatre: You Me and Mrs Jones 12-13 July 2002.

Whippersnapper

Whippersnapper is a Wantage based youth theatre company whose aim is to give teenagers with a love of theatre the opportunity to involve themselves in the nitty-gritty of putting on plays in as professional a way as possible. The organiser of this group is Margaret Bateman, 01235 762992.

Next production

A Tale of Two Cities, 4th to 6th November, 19:30, at Lains Barn, Wantage
A Domino Players production.
By Charles Dickens, adapted by Matthew Francis. Set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution, it depicts the plight of the French peasantry under the oppression of the French aristocracy in the years leading up to the revolution, the corresponding brutality demonstrated by the revolutionaries toward the former aristocrats in the early years of the revolution, and a number of unflattering social parallels with life in London during the same time period (hence the work's title). It follows the lives of several protagonists through these events, most notably Charles Darnay, a French once-aristocrat who falls victim to the indiscriminate wrath of the revolution despite his virtuous nature, and Sydney Carton, a dissipated British barrister who endeavours to redeem his ill-spent life out of love for Darnay's wife, Lucie Manette. Tickets £8 and £7 concessions.

Previous productions

The Accrington Pals, 21st June 2009, at Blue Boar Barn, Newbury Street, Wantage
By Peter Whelan. A funny, moving account of life (and death) in the First World War.

A Midsummer Night's Dream, 21st June 2008, at Wantage Civic Hall
On Midsummer Night, 21st June, the company will bring its ingenuity and exuberance to Wantage Civic Hall for a one off performance of (what else?) A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare. The space will be transformed by youthful sleight of hand into a woodland glade peopled by trouble making fairies, confused lovers and an ambitious, if less than skilful, troupe of village thespians.

The Musical Youth Company of Oxford

We produce and perform high quality shows and concerts that entertain audiences throughout Oxfordshire and beyond, organise summer camps, social events, music and theatre workshops and run our very own "Oscars" event.

We currently rehearse from 19:00 to 21:30 Wednesdays at Cherwell School, and on most Mondays at Marston United Reformed Church.

Our web site is at www.myco.org.uk.

Oxford Playhouse

For details of youth events, see the Oxford Playhouse web site.

Oxford Youth Theatre (Pegasus)

Oxford Youth Theatre is open to anyone between the ages of 10 to 25. Membership costs £20 per year and there are no auditions. Make sure you're on the mailing list to receive details of projects by contacting Yasmin Sidhwa, Louise Barrett or calling 01865 792209. Also see the web site at www.pegasustheatre.org.uk.

Starmaker

Last production

Annie, 12th to 16th October 2004, at the Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park, Bracknell
Based on the cartoon strip Little Orphan Annie it was translated into a musical by Martin Charnin. The musical Annie tells a Depression-era rags-to-riches story of an eleven-year-old orphan who yearns to escape from the orphanage run by the mean-spirited Miss Hannigan. When Daddy Warbucks decides to adopt Annie, her dream comes true! Songs include Tomorrow, We'd Like To Thank You, Little Girls, I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here, Easy Street, You Won't Be An Orphan For Long, You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile and Annie. A musical treat for the whole family.

Previous productions

Once a Catholic, 22nd to 26th June 2004, at Studio Theatre, South Hill Park, Bracknell

Songs from the Musicals - Act Two, 8th May 2004, at Bearwood Theatre, Winnersh
Pirates of Penzance (Broadway version), 2nd to 6th March 2004, at the Wilde Theatre, Bracknell.

See our web site at www.starmakeruk.org. We are totally dedicated to the Youth Theatre Scene and not an "attachment" to an Adult Society. We have had a large number of members go onto various performing arts colleges all over the country and subsequently onto some major shows / films / TV etc. Our most famous "graduate" was Kate Winslett.

The main rehearsals are in Reading in the Avenue School not far from Madejski Stadium (Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays). The various Schools (Easter, Summer, SPACE) are held all over the Reading area. The major (and some Minor) performances are at the Wilde Theatre at
Bracknell.

Over the past 15 years, Starmaker have staged over 60 productions at venues including: The Hexagon, Reading; The Wilde Theatre, Bracknell; Kenton Theatre, Henley-On-Thames; Corn Exchange, Newbury; The Fulcrum, Slough; Magnet Leisure Centre, Maidenhead; Shinfield Theatre, Reading; and The Desborough Suite, Maidenhead.