Yew Tree Youth Theatre’s Christmas Creativity

What a wonderful abundance of Christmas Creativity by the groups of Yew Tree Youth Theatre.   Watching the Thursday evening performance it was a pleasure to see a wonderful range of stories and ideas with a Christmas theme.   There were also presentations across both evenings by LAMDA students who were very talented.

First up were the delightful Emerald Company (aged 6 to 11) who shared their piece entitled “Where’s Rudolph?” This glorious romp introduced us to some naughty reindeer, elves who were determined to do a good job and a wonderful Mr and Mrs Claus.    When the other reindeers become frustrated at Rudolph’s success they kidnap him, but the elves work hard to find him and there is a great resolution when Rudolph forgives them all.  These very young performers entertained and impressed the full house with lovely characters and some Christmas ‘sparkle’.  The audience were treated to a great dance at the end and the lessons around inclusion and friendship were very clear.  It was a joyous trip to the North Pole and wonderful to see how these children are enjoying their time on stage and in performance.

Yellow Company (aged 6 to 12) were clad in their PJs for their performance of ‘When Jack Frost Stole the Stars’ which commenced with some very clever miming of their Christmas preparations.  All the company were clearly thinking about ensuring their actions were realistic and believable.  This was repeated as they dressed to ‘go outside’.  Some of the language used was very challenging for relatively young performers (Celestial navigation!)  but they all coped very well and added in some impressive choral speaking.   There was beautiful movement on the imaginary sleigh as they were pulled away by Rudolph’s niece.   Fortunately Jack Frost and the stars were found and all was allowed to return to normal.  A very engaging piece by Yellow Company.

Black Company (aged 16+) demonstrated just what the younger performers aspire to be.   With their composed performance and articulate delivery these young people presented a piece called “When Robins Appear”.  Each performer clearly portrayed their character as the play explored leadership, the challenges of mourning, responsibility and sense of loss.   When a new King proposes the cancelling of Christmas Festivities following the death of his father there is visit from a robin and a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.  Throughout the piece there were moments when the action moved back in time and the story telling through the play was beautifully handled.  The final discovery of the gift presented an opportunity to build the volume through adding more voices as the speech developed and this choral development was excellent.   Black Company performed with poise, confidence and clarity.

Throughout all the performances the clarity of speech shines through and the work which is done by the individuals to ensure that they are heard and that words and phrases are not lost, all without the use of microphones, is credit to the YTYT.

Sarah’s ability to work with a wide range of ages and to produce new and innovative work year on year is hugely impressive.  It is clear that these children and young people are having a great time, in a supportive environment, which will enhance their confidence and development.

Jo Sykes,

District 13 representative and Youth Co-ordinator,

NODA North East

 

The following Show Report has been written by Bella Miller, a member of Black Company about the performance of Sing the Bells by Pearl Company, the YTYT adult ensemble.

After attending an earlier Pearl company performance previously this year I was fortunate enough to be able to watch their Christmas play. Sing the Bells, a piece written by Sarah Osborne, the creative director of Yew Tree, explores themes of community, individual expression and Christmas joy between a community while balancing humour and emotion in an extremely clever way.

The play began set in the function room of an English pub where a local choir (The White Hart Singers) would rehearse each week. There is a clear and obvious tension between some of the choir members who have been selected to make the decision of song for the Christmas light switch on. We see the individuals attempt to compromise and work with each other in the 45 minutes they have before their decision needs to be made, which proves a significant struggle for all.

One of the key stand out moments for me was the realistic portrayal of each character in the choir. Each member has a distinct personality which in some ways contributed to the conflict yet also provided a humorous atmosphere throughout, this made it naturally engaging even when friction appeared. Showing how difficult it can be to work together when there are so many voices highlights an important theme that I believe can be reflected in society. The crux of the play is the need for cooperation and compromise among the choir members. On a deeper level, the plot navigates how individuals from a mix of backgrounds can come together, the pressure and power of leadership, conflict because of stress but most importantly eventual community and inclusivity.

Jules, a kind-hearted yet funny and bubbly character, is the opening character we see on stage. Interrupting Jules singing practice is Jacqueline, who’s stage presence from the very beginning was captivating, the confident portrayal of her character was excellent providing a thoroughly entertaining performance. Following Sophia’s arrival, the most cheerful individual with a youthful voice, we are introduced to the group leader Elaine, who’s proper pronunciation and excellent diction did not go unnoticed and contributed towards the separation between authoritative figures and choir members. The final member of the focus group to arrive is Vic, who in being a frantic mother, is a tad “all over the place”. It is interesting to see how regardless of her home situation she still looks forward to these choir practices, perhaps insinuating a much deeper community bond between the individuals or furthermore their reliance on each other for escapism from their daily lives.

Following countless arguments and many humorous moments, my favourite being Jules’ obsession with cake, the group discussion is stopped by the abrupt arrival of Jill, the pubs owner. After providing them with an ultimatum and a serious reality check Jill acts a crucial turning point in the play by reminding the choir of their limited time and the consequences that could arise from their disagreements. Jill’s character shifts the focus from individual opinions, to which there are a lot, to collective responsibility by the whole choir. This forces all the members to confront the fact that conflict is not just unproductive but is damaging to the group as a whole. So, Jill’s arrival reinforces the central message that teamwork is a vital part of any good group decision.

I particularly enjoyed the subtle reactions of each character, contributing to the realism of the play, for example, Sophia’s facial expressions throughout as well as Jules’ dedication to letting the cake go unnoticed by Jill. The actors portrayed their characters convincingly and with confidence, given that for many it was their first time on stage. Each of their compelling performances really made the play so much more engaging and realistic creating a fantastic production to be proud of. Praise to Sarah Osborne for writing such a wonderful piece of theatre and to the actors of Pearl Company for making this performance come to life!

 

The following review of Friday Night’s Performances has kindly been prepared by Elvira Mannanova

Rumpelstiltskin by Sarah Osborne performed by Sapphire Company (11-16)

Rumpelstiltskin opened the evening with an imaginative and playful reworking of the well-known fairy tale. The production embraced humour, self-awareness and theatrical commentary, creating a lively piece that invited the audience to engage with both the story and the way it was being told.

The script made use of narrators, commentary and “fairy tale consultants” to guide the audience through the narrative. While this structure was inventive and full of energy, it did mean that the opening moments were slightly challenging to follow and with multiple characters and frequent scene changes, it took a little time for the audience to fully understand how each scene fitted into the overall story. As the play progressed, however, the structure became clearer and more cohesive. Once the audience adjusted to the style of storytelling, the interconnected scenes worked well and the narrative flowed more smoothly.

The ensemble worked confidently together, supporting the fast pace and frequent transitions required by the script. There was a clear sense of growing confidence as the performance went on, and the cast maintained energy and focus throughout.

A standout performance came from Rumpelstiltskin, whose mischievous presence brought strong energy and enjoyment to the stage. His character added momentum to the piece and provided a clear focal point for the audience. Each appearance was met with visible audience enjoyment, and his performance gave real strength to the overall production.

Once the narrative became clearer, the audience appeared fully engaged with the story and its humour. The escalation of the spinning challenge and the eventual guessing of Rumpelstiltskin’s name were handled confidently and with a strong sense of theatrical fun. The final moments were well received and brought the story to a satisfying conclusion.

Overall, Rumpelstiltskin was an ambitious and enjoyable opening to the evening.

 

Finding Christmas by Sarah Osborne performed by Gold Company (14-19 years)

Finding Christmas was a thoughtful, warm and engaging Christmas play that immediately drew its audience in. From the opening scene, the production established a clear sense of purpose and tone, blending gentle humour with moments of genuine emotional depth. The audience was taken on a journey that felt both festive and relatable, exploring what Christmas magic means as we grow older, and whether it is ever truly lost.

The piece was well structured, with clear scene transitions and a strong narrative through-line that kept the story flowing naturally. The concept of a shared “quest” worked particularly well, allowing the story to move smoothly between locations and groups of characters without feeling rushed or fragmented. The pacing was effective throughout, and the script’s clarity ensured that the audience could easily follow the story as it developed.

The strength of this production lay firmly in its ensemble. The cast worked cohesively, creating believable relationships and natural interactions across all scenes. Performances were clear and confident, with strong emotional understanding evident throughout. Characters were well defined and distinct, and the dialogue was delivered with good timing and sensitivity, allowing both the humour and more reflective moments to land effectively.

The Balladeer played by Amelia Lee, provided a particularly strong framing device for the production. The poetic narration added depth and atmosphere, guiding the audience gently through the story and reinforcing the central themes without overwhelming the action. These moments helped elevate the piece and gave it a reflective, almost storybook quality that suited the Christmas setting well.

Finding Christmas thoughtfully explores themes of growing up, nostalgia, mental wellbeing, and the pressure of adulthood, all while maintaining a festive and hopeful tone. The balance between light-hearted moments and more serious reflections was handled with care, making the piece accessible and emotionally resonant. The final moments were especially effective, leaving the audience with a clear sense of warmth, connection and optimism.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable and well-crafted production, delivered with confidence and heart. With strong ensemble work, clear storytelling and a meaningful message, Finding Christmas successfully captured the spirit of the season while offering something thoughtful and relatable. The company should be congratulated on producing a piece that was engaging from start to finish and clearly appreciated by its audience.

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