The Apollo Theatre has a thriving Youth Group which has done some memorable work over more than twenty years. The group meets most Saturday mornings from 10.00-12.00 to give young people between the ages of 8-18 an opportunity to learn stage craft techniques through devising mime, improvisation, script work and other theatre skills, and to take part in public performances,  along with an insight to how a theatre works.

The Youth Theatre is fast becoming an important part of the Apollo Theatre Players, with regular productions on our main stage.

The group provides those first all-important steps for young people with an interest in theatre. Some may dream of a career in theatre, but for others it’s a hobby which gives them the chance to meet friends, put on productions and find a unique way of expressing themselves. It is a relaxed environment suitable for anyone who wishes to come along, whether they have had any experience of performance or not.  All that is required is a willingness to try, to want to achieve and to learn new skills. The sessions are ideal for confidence-building and learning to work as an effective team member.  When not working on productions, the two-hour sessions consist of games and exercises that are useful in developing skills required for performance and public speaking.  There are sessions on movement and character development, and we look at the different approaches of various practitioners.

It is considered essential that part of the learning process is through public performance. The youth theatre productions are challenging for the cast, as they create theatre that is of a high standard and exciting for the audience members.  Some of the productions are experimental, and will include circus skills, puppetry, dance and mime. Extra rehearsals are necessary when working on productions and it is essential that anyone taking part is dedicated to the production and makes the effort to be at all rehearsals. The members of the youth theatre are able to be involved in all aspects of the productions, including learning sound, lighting, set design, costume design and stage management to showcase the skills they have learnt. The older ones are encouraged to progress by helping backstage with the adult productions throughout the year, and there are opportunities to audition for parts in the main theatre shows when youngsters are required.

The classes are run by adult members of the theatre. If you’re aged between 8 and 18 and are interested in learning more about what we do, drop in on one of our weekly Saturday coffee mornings for a chat or contact us. We’d love to see you!

Contact details

Anyone who would like to join the youth theatre should contact the Youth Theatre Co-ordinator, Mish Whitmore, on  07941 101339 or email Apolloyouththeatre@gmail.com.  You can also message them on their FaceBook page, https://www.facebook.com/apolloyouththeatre.