YTYT Christmas Production

How many times have you left the theatre and immediately wished you could see the production again?  Well Christmas wishes do come true in Wakefield….Faced with pandemic related venue challenges the double cast ‘Fairy Tale of New York’ by Black Company was repeated during the same sitting  with a slightly amended cast.  This ensured that all young people who had rehearsed a role were able to perform in a public show which looked like it would be a challenge when the two nights booked at a theatre were changed to a single afternoon in a school performance setting.  The actors, aged 16 – 19 years old, were equally as good in both performances and the chance to see the same show allowed a real 360 degree opportunity to revisit moments within the show which the audience had potentially missed on the first viewing.  Included within this was some beautiful representative movement by three young actors whilst Bobby was giving her monologue on the challenges of life as a young carer, which I would had missed on the first sitting as I was concentrating on the moving speech by the young actress playing Bobby.

The play was written by Director Sarah Osborne and touched on themes of love, loss, reconciliation, hope, ambition, poverty, homelessness, responsibility, relationships and friendships.  It explored the differing life opportunities and issue of privilege whilst touching on current affairs including the challenges faced by refugees.  The young people shared their stories in a creative and moving way, utilising unaccompanied singing and moments of movement and montage in a dramatic, but not over-dramatic way.  Atmospheric music added to the production throughout.

The double casting also demonstrated the immense talent within Black Company and the years spent honing their abilities as performers was clearly evident.  Diction was excellent and the onstage awareness  and stage presence of these young people was to a very high standard, particularly considering the limited opportunities they have had over the last 20 months to be on stage.  Overcoming the logistical challenges, but not letting down a group of performers is just part of the inclusive approach of YTYT which was evident throughout the afternoon.

Gold Company, aged 14 – 19, performed a play based on the traditional J M Barrie story and was entitled ‘Peter Pan Returns?’.  Written by Sarah Osborne the play saw the action brought to a modern-day school with all the trials and tribulations faced by young people trying to fit in with their peers, but maintain their identity and individuality.  Cut to scene change and we find ourselves in Neverland at the Fairy Court where the fairies and lost boys bemoan the boredom of living on an island without the pirates who had been banished.  There was some great characterisation and clear delivery of lines.  The chaos in Neverland was superbly played out by this talented group who celebrated differences through their performances, which included dance, and allowed the audience to recognise that sometimes you need to change yourself to generate change around you.

The final show of the day was the 11-16 year olds of Sapphire Company in the third play written by Sarah ‘The Dark Fairy’.  Loosely based on the traditional fairy tale Sleeping Beauty this was a thoroughly entertaining production with strong characters and excellent delivery of some very difficult narrative, particularly by the Story Tellers and Nightshade.  There was some incredible comic timing and the whole production was a real joy to witness.  The final note must go to the enthusiastic and highly energetic Knights of the Realm whose rapping would have given Lin-Manuel Miranda something to think about and was, for me, a real highlight amongst so many fabulous moments of a wonderful afternoon spent in the company of this amazing group.

The performers in all four productions used the blank canvas of the empty stage with no set and limited props and furniture, which the actors moved themselves.  The audience were left in no doubt of the different locations, be it New York or Neverland, and this was all created by the fabulous story telling of these young people.  Simple costumes underscored the characters and well done to sound engineers, Sam Kirk, Georgina Woods and John Broadhead who together with Oz on lights provided excellent technical support to enhance the production.

Congratulations to everyone involved – a wonderful start to this festive month and clearly the product of hard work, dedication with a magical sprinkling of talent displayed by every performer.

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