YOUTH THEATRE

DO YOU WANT TO...

Be part of an independent professional theatre company?
Join other young people developing theatre skills?
Create performances in a professional studio space?
Work with professional actors and directors?

Riding Lights has been based in York for 25 years, and over that time it has built a reputation for innovative, dynamic ensemble theatre. Riding Lights has its own building, Friargate Theatre, and it is from this base that we have been able to run a Youth Theatre since September 2001. Our vision is to build a group of young actors, playmakers, playwrights who learn from and contribute to the developing work of the company.

The Youth Theatre, under the direction of Riding Lights Assistant Director: Youth Theatre and Education , Sally Maddison, runs a ten-session project each term. It includes skills workshops, workshops which explore subjects in connection with a Riding Lights production, devising original productions and performing existing plays. Youth Theatre members have special access to the work of the company through reduced ticket prices for productions at Friargate Theatre, discussions with actors, directors, designers and a newsletter each term.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

Membership of Riding Lights Youth Theatre is open to anyone under the age of eighteen. Membership costs £6 a year and entitles you to:

A Membership Card
Apply for a place on a Youth Theatre course each term
Receive priority booking for holiday courses and specialist workshops
The Youth Theatre newsletter sent out at the beginning of each term
The opportunity to join the Youth Theatre for visits to other theatres and other special events
The opportunity to buy tickets for Riding Lights performances at Friargate Theatre at specially discounted rates.
Invitations to specially arranged discussions with actors, directors, designers and other members of Riding Lights Theatre Company.

PROJECTS

Each term there will be a practical project for those in school years 7-13 (age 11-18).

Projects will consist of a series of weekly workshops aimed at developing performance and devising skills and giving participants the opportunity to create original work as well as working with existing scripts.

Occasionally the regularity of Youth Theatre sessions may intensify as we work towards performance. Details of projects will be advertised to Youth Theatre Members a few weeks before the start of each term.

Projects tend to fill quickly so it is recommended that you get applications in early.

The cost for each project is currently £60 for a 10-week term.

DISCIPLINE & PROTECTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE

Riding Lights operates a Child Protection Policy. Copies of this are available from the Riding Lights Office.

Each Youth Theatre member will be asked to agree to a code of conduct before they join. Riding Lights reserves the right to suspend or permanently exclude any individual whose behaviour is deemed detrimental to the safety or well being of the group.

VISION

The work of Riding Lights Theatre Company is informed by a Christian faith which is shared by many of those who work for it. Membership of Riding Lights Youth Theatre is open to all, irrespective of their own beliefs. The Youth Theatre will operate within the vision of Riding Lights, and we would therefore expect Youth Theatre members to be comfortable with the ethos of the company.

APPLICATIONS

Contact Sally Maddison , Assistant Director: Youth Theatre and Education on 01904 655317 or sally@rltc.org for an application form.