Promote YT's National Festival of Youth Theatre 2005

14-17 July 2005

In 2003, 93 young people and 28 youth drama workers were consulted about a National Festival at the Youth Theatre Seminar in Aberdeen.  Bringing to life their ideas, this year will see their first national festival of youth theatre.  This is in partnership between Promote YT and Clackmannanshire council, and in association with the macrobert, Stirling.

It aims reflect a broader vision of young people: to foster creativity, self-expression, personal development and achievement in young people.  The festival gives young people the chance to extend their skills and benefit from innovative methods and national initiatives. The fast-paced three days will offer up opportunities to participate in, as well as see productions.  As well as indoor performances, there will be outdoor performances set against the backdrop of Clackmannanshire’s hills, coast and historic buildings.

The festival is open to anyone aged 13 or over, from a youth theatre or drama group, whatever their experience of theatre.  Participants will be offered the chance to participate in workshops, as well as collaborate with international artists, London-based physical theatre company Frantic Assembly, dance artist Robert Sully and leading Scottish playwrights courtesy of Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland.  There will be a resulting grand finale performance of a brand new piece of work.

The general public are also invited to take part as all of the festival’s theatre productions at the macrobert will be open to the public.  On Saturday 16 July there will be a free street festival for all the family, filled with events and activities, with entertainment in ‘a highly visual and larger-than-life form of theatre’.

Participating youth theatre groups include, amongst others:

• Lyceum Youth Theatre in association with Port Townsend High School, USA
• Lauder College Youth Theatre
• Perth Youth Theatre
• Jos Rep Theatre Company of Nigeria, in association with Clyde Unity Theatre

For more information, contact Linda@promote-yt.co.uk, or for tickets to public performances, email ticketsandinfo@stir.ac.uk.