Stoke Youth Musical Theatre Company - 45 years and still growing

Stoke Youth Musical Theatre Company was originally formed as the youth section of the former City of Stoke-on-Trent Operatic Society in 1979. The youth section age range was 11 to 21 and it was governed by five members of the former society’s executive committee. Sadly, those five are no longer with us.

The first production was Rock Nativity by Jackie Trent and Tony Hatch. Jackie had been brought up in Newcastle-under-Lyme. This was performed in St John’s Church Hall in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. The next productions were a repeat of Rock Nativity and Patience at The Mitchell Memorial Theatre, also in Hanley.

During the 45 years, and to the end of 2024, sixty-three productions have been performed. Thirty-eight were at The Mitchell Memorial Theatre and twenty-two at the Stoke Repertory Theatre. The remaining three were at St John’s Church Hall in Hanley, The New Victoria Theatre, Basford and Stoke Minster.

Rehearsals were held at various school and community halls in Stoke-on-Trent. Amateur directors and musical directors were used to bring these productions to fruition and from them the young members learned various aspects of stagecraft. Some of these directors had been former members of the youth section. One professional director was employed which gave them a totally different aspect to theatre.

In the early days, six older members of the youth section formed a cabaret group and performed at a large number of private functions.

In 2006, the main society ceased production so the Youth Section was reformed as Stoke Youth Musical Theatre Company. This company is commonly known as Stoke Youth and is governed by a board of trustees.

Since then, productions have been staged either at The Mitchell Memorial Theatre or Stoke Repertory Theatre, the latter being our permanent home. We now have our own premises including rehearsal room and workshop in Hanley which is only a stone’s throw from the Repertory Theatre.

During it’s existence, the company has won many awards, both locally and nationally, for our productions including multiple NODA best production awards.

We are very proud that many of our former members have attended drama colleges and made musical theatre their careers.

We will aways be grateful for the help we have received from parents and friends, who have made scenery, worked backstage, chaperoned, sorted costumes and taken on front of house duties. No production would be successful without this support.

Wyn Mason

SYMTC President