With the October half-term fast approaching, Nottingham Playhouse is recruiting a new generation of young theatre-makers to take part in this year’s Youth Theatre programme. Both the general Youth Theatre programme and the Nubian All-Stars group, specially designed for teenagers of African and African-Caribbean heritage, are now filling their final spaces on a first-come, first-served basis. Anyone between the ages of 14-18 is invited to apply by calling the theatre’s Box Office now on 0115 941 9419.

The Youth Theatre programme offers young people the chance to develop your drama skills and meet friends, with the chance to be selected to take part in our Easter main stage production. It follows the successful launch of several new satellite Youth Theatre groups in 2006, culminating in the production Stone Moon last Easter with the full professional support of the Playhouse’s production staff.

This year’s programme begins afresh during the October half term holiday. The groups meet in four locations: Eastwood Comprehensive, for students from schools across Broxtowe borough; West Bridgford’s Becket Comprehensive, for students in Rushcliffe borough; Carlton’s Wheldon Comprehensive for Gedling students; and Bulwell’s Henry Mellish Comprehensive for students from City of Nottingham schools. In each location, the course will run from 10am-4pm each day during half term week, 22-26 October.

Exploring contemporary themes, the October Youth Theatre will develop a variety of theatre skills, with a short ‘sharing’ at the end of the week for parents, friends and participants from the other groups. Following a second half term week in February, students from all the groups will be selected to take part in the Easter production, to be performed on the Playhouse main stage during the week beginning 31 March 2007.  

Meanwhile, the well-established Nubian All-Stars group also makes a welcome return this October half-term. Run by the BRIT (Black Regional Initiative in Theatre) programme at Nottingham Playhouse with the help of professional arts practitioners, Nubian All-Stars has mounted the successful Lyrically Deep events at the Playhouse in the last two years. Last February’s show included the sensational Misrepresented People, mixing personal expression, drama, dance, music and lyrics in true All-Stars style.

This year, Nubian All-Stars is looking for committed young people of African or African-Caribbean heritage between the ages of 14–18, serious about developing their drama skills. It also offers a fun way to meet new, like-minded people and again, a chance of appearing in the Playhouse’s Easter main stage production.

The October half-term programme will be specifically rooted in the disciples of physical theatre and music composition and will run, like the other groups, from 22-26 October (10am–4pm) to produce a short piece of theatre which family members, friends and fellow Youth Theatre students can watch at the end of the week. Places can be booked on a first-come, first-served basis for a small fee of £10 via the Nottingham Playhouse Box Office on 0115 941 9419.

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