Project Archive

Summer 2016 was all about fun!  PYT put on a week’s worth of fabulous theatre-based workshops in August at Bedales School and it was wonderful!

Our workshops were run by our professional and inspiring workshop leaders and allowed young people to take part in and explore the different aspects of theatre in a nurturing and exciting way and all within a safe and friendly environment.

With our Summer Workshops, PYT are happy to welcome both members and non-members to participate in an exciting week of creative fun!

Activities vary, but workshops over the years have covered everything from making masks to mime, show tunes to circus skills, giving those who aspire to tread the boards or those looking for something a bit different to excite their imagination, a chance to learn what it really feels like to be part of an ensemble!  These opportunities lead to greater confidence and allow children to really blossom with friends, whilst inevitably making new ones, too.

PYT’s projects bring many young people together from all walks of life and all capabilities to create wonderful memories that can last a lifetime.  More workshops to come in 2017!

Are you interested in stepping into the spotlight?  Do you enjoy musical theatre?  Do you like a challenge? Would you like to join others to create a musical production in just one week with professional theatre performers and directors?

Well, you can!  This Easter, PYT will be bringing another wonderful week of activities to Bedales School, Steep, working with 150 young people to create an fully staged production, which will be performed for your friends and family!

Take on the challenge, come along with your friends and make new ones.  Have fun singing and dancing and experiencing the love of musical theatre.

Application forms available shortly.

The phrase ‘Beginners on Stage’ is one that is called backstage five minutes before the curtain goes up… and many a professional actor still finds the words cause a frisson of nerves!

Last year’s Easter project was run by Nik Ashton (PYT Artistic Director), Joe Pitcher and Debbie Baty (Directors) with Musical Direction from Jill Farrow and Brendan McCormack.

The Workshop Leaders were Jonny Fines, Laura Pitt Pulford and Caroline Sheen, with 18 of PYT’s older members helping out.

130 young people took part and had a wonderful week leading up to a presentation to family and Friends on the last evening,

More than 120 young people joined Nik Ashton the Director and Jonathan Gill the Musical Director to put on a programme of song and dance.

The young people taking part worked with Workshop Leaders including Caroline Sheen (Mary in Mary Poppins, and Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang).

Also helping for the four day theatre experience was Richard Dempsey, Jonny Fines and Carly Anderson, all of whom have extensive West End experience.

Last year many of PYT’s older members came along to help out, happy to ‘give something back’ and work with the younger ones.

During the week of the Easter Holiday project, more than 170 young people aged from 5 years to 16 years, got together over a period of 4 days to rehearse music and dance with a performance at the end of the week.

These young people were joined by theatre professionals with West End experience who worked with them offering mentoring and guidance.

This was a true community project, with volunteer help from parents, friends and supporters providing chaperoning, staging, lighting, sound, catering and costuming.

Visiting professions this year were: Ashley Day, Joseph Pitcher, Laura Pitt-Pulford and Pippa Raine.

In the Spotlight was directed by Nik Ashton with Charlotte Alldridge directing First Steps (the youngest performers) and Jill Farrow as Musical Director.

This was the thirteenth year of our popular Easter Holiday Project. 130 young people from school year 4+ and 52 young people from school years 1 – 3, both members and non-members, took part in workshops.

Lights Up! culminated in two performances directed by Nik Ashton and Debbie Baty with Jill Farrow as Musical Director.

Workshop leaders were James Bisp, Sophie-Louise Dann, Joseph Pitcher, Alison Pargeter and Joseph Pitcher.

Bedales School Quad has become an integral part of this project offering a wonderful rehearsal and performance space for this annual community project.

This year’s Easter Project featured more than 200 young people taking part in a week of workshops culminating in performances to family and friends.

Once again previous PYT members worked behind the scenes and as facilitators alongside theatre professionals.

Dominic Tighe returned to work with PYT and was joined by David McGranaghan, Laura Pitt-Pulford and Pippa Raine.

Treading the Boards was directed by Nik Ashton, with Dean Austin as Musical Director assisted by Benjamin Gudgeon. Debbie Baty directed the younger members ‘First Steps’ and Darren Reeves was musical director for their performance.

Another year – another exciting Easter Workshop with 145 young people enjoying four days of working with professionals. ‘On With the Show’ featured some popular numbers from best loved musical shows.

Nik Ashton, PYT Artistic Director, directed the Workshop Challenge, with Jonathan Gill as Music Director, and Darren Fawthrop, Anna Lowe, Alison Pargeter and Dominic Tighe working with the young people as workshop leaders.

Parents, friends, supporters and older PYT members also supported the project.

Two performances to an audience of family and friends at the end of the week, showed just how much can be achieved in such a short time.

The PYT Easter holiday project was devised in 1998 as a way of encouraging young people, who are not necessarily members of PYT to engage with theatre professionals, whilst working towards a performance at the end of the four days.

Over the past 10 years, hundreds of youngsters have experienced the joy of musical theatre alongside talented actors who regularly perform in London’s West End.

This year Caroline Sheen, Stefan Butler, Alison Pargeter and Joseph Pitcher worked with the cast to perform a popular selection of song and dance numbers. Curtain Up! was directed by Nik Ashton, with Jonathan Gill as Musical Director.

Following on from last year’s popular Easter Project, Put it Together, 160 young people took part in this year’s challenge.

Working with professional performers, Mark McGee, Mark Oxtoby, Alison Pargeter and Caroline Sheen they developed the theme of song and dance from musical theatre. All these performers appear regularly on the West End Stage, and their professionalism brings an extra dimension to the project.

Nik Ashton directed and was assisted by senior PYT members, Charlotte Alldridge, Michael Auger, Tom Bristow and Laura Jefferies.