Next Stage Youth enjoyed a spectacular spring term with their outstanding production of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. Audiences were wowed by the group's maturity in tackling this ambitious story which had been worked on in their 90 minute sessions each Sunday since April 2016.
Praise for the production included:
"Never less than gripping, it’s a thoroughly well told tale, with no weak links in the young cast" Philip Horton reviewing for the Bath chronicle.
"A tour de force. We loved the continual and practiced movement; and clever, polished scene and mood changes. Congratulations!"
“Wow!! What a brilliantly staged play, wonderfully engineered atmosphere and superb performances by all this talented cast with excellent confidence, delivery, tone, acting, reaction and singing and dancing to boot! Pitch perfect! This really was premier league youth drama!"
Next Stage Youth recruitment
Next Stage Youth is now recruiting for the summer term. Sessions start on Sunday 23rd April 4.30-6pm and anyone aged 11-18 is welcome. There are no auditions and newcomers are invited to attend a couple of 'taster sessions' before committing to the company. NSY meets throughout the year on term-time Sundays. The 90 minute sessions cost £12 each, meaning the 10 week terms are £120.
If you're interested in joining Next Stage Youth for the summer term please contact Ann Ellison on 01225 428600 or email nextstagebath@aol.com
Forthcoming productions:
Goodnight Mister Tom
As the summer term begins, Next Stage Youth will be starting work on the company's exciting October production of Goodnight Mister Tom by David Wood, based on the novel by Michelle Magorian. This production will be a joint Next Stage adult and Youth show. Goodnight Mister Tom is a play about the touching relationship between a young evacuee, William, and elderly recluse Tom Oakley, set during World War ll. Casting will be finalised during the first half of the term so anyone thinking of joining us in April will have the chance of being considered for a part in the play, to be performed in the 2017 October half term.
His Dark Materials
At the same time as Goodnight Mister Tom goes into rehearsal, our busy and talented Youth company will also start work on a reprise of His Dark Materials Parts 1 & 2 adapted by Nicholas Wright from the books by Philip Pullman. The production will be in the February 2018 half term and will be the third time Next Stage has performed this play since 2007. It will be another epic production from Next Stage Youth with so many different characters and worlds to explore.
Next Stage Youth last performed His Dark Materials in 2012
Come You Giants Bursary
In May, applications for Next Stage Youth's annual bursary of £1000 will open for all members of Next Stage Youth who have been part of the company for at least 2 years. This bursary was set up by Next Stage Theatre Company in 2012 to enable talented young actors to further their training in the performing arts. We are proud to say that the CYG bursary has been awarded to 13 NSY members to date, helping to fund tuition fees, degree courses, summer schools and many other exciting experiences, all contributing to the recipients appreciation of, and development in, the performing arts. To read an article on the ways the 2015-2016 recipients have used the bursary click here.
NSY Alumni
At Next Stage Youth we take great pride in what our members do inside and outside of the company. Here are some examples of what five of our past members have been getting up to recently:
Ben Armstrong has just completed a foundation course at Birmingham School of Acting and is now auditioning at the country's major drama schools in the hopes of obtaining a place on a three year course.
Anna-Fleur Rawlinson moved to London in 2015 to do an MA at King's College. Whilst there, she worked for the National Theatre and a company which takes theatre into primary schools. Anna-Fleur has just been offered an exciting new job as Executive Assistant to the Creative Director for a brand-new opera touring London and the world soon!
Poppy Harrison has just moved to London to start her new job as Development Officer at the Bush Theatre. Poppy is also The Mission Theatre's 2017 Bath Fringe Festival coordinator.
Abi Harvey has just been offered a place on the competitive Bristol-based Big Act programme where she will be studying the performing arts for the next two years.
Ellie Williams is currently studying Drama and Theatre Studies at the University of Birmingham which has been ranked as one of the top drama degree courses at a University in the country.