BP News

Youth Theatre Corner

It’s that time of year again when the old nerves come into play. No, I’m not having a well-deserved anxiety attack, it’s just that it’s audition time in Big Spirit and that always makes everyone a bit wobbly – including me. This year we are restricting the group to 25 (rather than 30 as in previous years which has felt a bit too large). As there are loads more people than that applying and I hate turning enthusiastic people away, its not nice for anyone. …

Some years ago there was some criticism levelled at Big Spirit that, far from being the seed-corn for the next generation of BP’s as envisaged, very few went on from the Youth Theatre into the adult Society. The truth was, of course, that most went from BS onto University and beyond as they say, settling elsewhere as they took jobs and so forth. An interesting aspect of charging for University places (whatever you political stance on this may be) is that fewer and fewer of the bright young things from the group actually go away at all. Those degrees that you and I got in the 70s and 80s for next to nothing are now costing youngsters and their families many thousands of pounds and they are not unnaturally considering their options, including staying exactly where they are. So expect a better transition rate from BS to BP’s I suppose – funny old do though.

It was lovely to see Carlyss Peer at the group last week. She is at RADA and wanted to come back to say Hi. She talked to the group about life at a top-notch drama school and they were wide-eyed as you may expect. Many of the current crop of BS’ers want to go to drama school too (and they probably shall – our success rate is very high) so they asked lots of questions. One thing she said is something I know but always surprises me – while there are many fine young actors at drama school, there is always a contingent who can’t act at all or rarely turn up to classes. Even at RADA this holds true. It makes you sad to think that so many who do want to get in and would really use the place well, are turned away. It’s the audition process I suppose. And back to the thing that’s making me anxious. It’s really hard to sort out those who will really work hard and use the opportunities on offer and those who will sit back and do nothing, whether its RADA or here at the QMT.

Don’t forget guys to come along to The Reg-Factor at the QMT later this month – it should be a great show, based on The X-Factor of course. It’s all to raise money to help Charlie W on his way at the Drama Studio.