News
NODA NW Youth — Feb 2022
Hello everyone!
I hope that you have had a lovely February and haven’t been too soaked by the glorious weather that has been sweeping the North West. It’s time for another NODA NW Youth update, looking at some things that have been going on, and coming up in the world of youth community theatre.
What’s been great about this month is the amount of contact that I’ve been receiving from youth societies, or societies with young sections. It’s been lovely to chat to many of you, see some of you in person, and schedule meetings with others.
Remember, I am your representative for anything youth-related that you need support, advise or a second pair of eyes for! I am more than happy to come and see your productions and speak to the cast, but equally, I’m also extremely keen to visit rehearsals, support on committee meetings or do a dreaded Zoom meeting to chat strategy and development of your youth group. Whatever you need, drop me an email!
And with that said, let’s look at what our February overview has in store…
What’s Been Going On?
This month, I’ve continued to travel around the North West to visit some of our youth societies in person.
It was a much quieter month this month (in preparation from the HUGE amount of performances that are due to grace our stages in March and April). However, I was very lucky to visit The Pendle Hippodrome Youth Theatre for their production of Legally Blonde. Not only that, myself and our North West councillor, Andy McNicholas, were treated to a backstage door of the fantastic facilities at The Hippodrome – thank you for a great evening!
I also received an invitation to Cinderella, performed by SSSJ Amateur Dramatic Society, who were closing off the panto season with a bang! It was a mix of both youth and adult performers coming together to put on a great show and as Liz Hume-Dawson said in her review, some of the young performers “are ones to watch out for".
If you would like me to join you at a production or a rehearsal, then drop me an email at kit.phillips@noda.org.uk
What’s In Store?
There’s some great youth-related shows and events coming up in the next few months! Thank you to everyone who got in touch with their exciting news!
Curtain Call Productions – After having to reschedule their production of ‘We Will Rock You’ from January, Curtain Call are ready to bring the house down on the 4th and 5th of March at The Crewe Lyceum. I want to wish the cast and crew a huge “Break A Leg” for their performance and apologise that I won’t get to see the show due to prior commitments. Your NODA rep Joe will be there to rock out for us both though! Fingers crossed I’ll get across to see you in rehearsals at least before you go on.
Kingsley Players Youth Theatre – After the Kingsley Players rather dramatic show week for Peter Pan, where COVID isolations caused a few last-minute changes in casting, Kingsley Youth are really excited to have started rehearsals for Variations by Katie Hims which is being performed this as part of National Theatre Connections. For anyone who isn’t familiar with the Connections project, you should certainly check it out – I’m extremely proud that one of our societies is getting involved in it! It will be performed from 31st March to 2nd April at Kingsley Community Centre, and then they get to perform it at Crewe Lyceum at the end of April! Double win!
BCMCS Youth Theatre – This month, BCMCS Youth Theatre are putting on a production of Wind In The Willows: Youth @ Part, and have been kind enough to invite me along to watch one of the performances. BCMCS were the first group that I managed to go and see perform following lockdown when I first took on the role of Youth-Coordinator for NODA NW, so I’m so looking forward to seeing them in a theatre full of people, instead of on a screen! Have a blast!
CODYS Productions – Want more Queen? Of course you do! Well luckily for you, CODYS Productions are also staging ‘We Will Rock You’ at The Brindley Theatre, Runcorn between the 9th – 12th March. Just reading their social media posts full of Queen lyrics is enough to get you excited! CODYS currently have a deal for group bookings: 10or more tickets are £15 each, including booking fee for the same show - only available by contacting the Brindley box office. Have a great show week all!
I know there is lots more brilliant, youth-related stuff going on this month, so break a leg everyone. Remember, if you want to be featured, just drop me an email!
Casting Call
Curtain Call Productions are seeking young performers to be part of their upcoming production of ‘Matilda Jr’. For more information, get in touch by emailing them at curtaincallmatilda@gmail.com.
First Act Arts are seeking young performers interested in audition for their October production of ‘Arabian Nights’. For audition packs and further information, get in touch by emailing them at contact@firstactarts.co.uk.
Are you a society looking to cast a youth performer in your production?
Are you a youth society looking to recruit new members?
Are you a youth performer looking for more casting opportunities?
Email me to get your castings featured in next month’s newsletter!
NODA NW Youth Workshops
I’m currently working away, planning and organising some AMAZING workshops that will be available to NODA NW Youth members very soon.
If your society has their own premises or rehearsal rooms that you would be willing to host workshops in, let please let me know! We want to be running these up and down the region, so no one is left out!
Hopefully, more information about the content and location of these workshops will be available very soon!
And with that, let’s wrap up another NODA NW Youth overview! Feel free to drop me a line to say “Hi” or to give me any news/events/stories to feature in the March overview.
But as well as promoting and celebrating everything youth related in the North West, I’m always here for a chat or email about any issues or concerns that you’ve got to do with safeguarding, developing your youth group, member retention, skill development or licensing and chaperone regulations.
Can’t wait to hear from you soon, and see some of you out and about ☺
Kit Phillips (He/Him)
North West Youth Coordinator
07853105073
