BP News

Youth Theatre Corner

The Youth Theatre has been having fun recently by going to London to see some big shows. It's a great way to start off the season, and between 15 and 20 members have been coming along each time. Our first show, a favourite of mine, was Les Miserables. Now transferred the Queens Theatre, from the large stage at the Palace Theatre, it looks a little cramped in its new home. However, it retains all its old power, and although the set pieces look a little less impressive, it is still a marvellous theatrical event. The other was the top of everyone's must-see list, Avenue Q. And if you haven't heard of it – well shame on you! It's the sort of adult Sesame Street. All the Muppet-like characters we sort of recognize are there all right but now we find them living on Avenue Q., which is right at the bottom of the real estate ladder in NY. The songs are awesomely catchy and of course you can do things with puppets that would be impossible with actors. The culture injection has had the desired effect – the group were not only enthused by what they saw, but they also began to build up good working relationships with each other which is essential if they are to become a true ensemble.

Luckily all this new enthusiasm is being well channeled into our next show, 10 Things I Hate about You. We are just starting rehearsals and there is some vying for position amongst the group for the smaller roles. In this particular production, I have only cast the lead characters because there are just so many minor characters dipping in and out of the story that the total count is about 60! It'll be big and funny and a bit moving at the end – all things the first Big Spirit show of the season should be. This is their comedy module so they're learning all about lazzi (comic business) and timing and getting people to laugh, which they love. The sessions are long this term – we start at 2pm and finish at 6pm but they seem to thrive on it and there is so much to do, it's tight even within the 4 hours!

We couldn't do anything in Big Spirit without Katie Rallison known to all and sundry as 'Wench'. (don't start reaching for the phone, she asked us to call her that). We all seem to have acquired these tags in the group – I'm 'Reynolds' for obvious reasons and there's Turbo (Steffi), Angharad (Devan), Mr P (Lewis) and loads of others. Anyway – as I was saying – we couldn't function without Wench, who is the other Youth Theatre leader. She is a thoroughly smart, creative, 24-carat, can-do, caring, super-person who isn't frightened to boss me around when necessary and always knows what's going on or going down long before I do. She will say things to me like 'you've upset so and so – sort it out' or 'you need to include that small group in the play more, they're feeling left out' She's always right so I never argue and just do as told. And apart from all that she an ace performer and choreographer so thank God she's with us – needless to say, the group love her to bits.

Finally, we might need some extra help in the summer when we take a show over to Balfe Manor in fair Barton-le-Clay. It's A Midsummer Nights Dream but it could be a bit of a nightmare if a couple more adults don't help us out. Don't worry, you won't have to direct the show or anything, its all fairly practical stuff but it needs more than Reynolds, Wench and Kirwan to make it happen. The performances are part of the fund raising for the new studio so it's a worthy venture and if you have ever fancied helping get a show up and running from scratch, here's your opportunity. It takes place in mid July by the way. As ever, use the old e-mail address bigspirittheatre[AT]hotmail[DOT]com to get in touch.