What’s happening this

month in Brierley Hill...

December 2O1O Discovering Epic Talent

In the run up to Christmas NYT has some

more great opportunities:
Playing Up 1 – the course starts in January
and we have a few spaces left!
Free Open Access Weekly workshops...
Our Intake and Casting Auditions are still
available online...
… And we still offer regular workshops in
local schools and colleges!

Last Month: November 2O1O

— Sadly, last month we waved farewell to Sid Higgins,
Executive Director of the National Youth Theatre for the past
eleven years – we wish him all the best in his exciting future.

— We are very pleased to welcome our new Executive

Director, James Mackenzie-Blackman. James has worked
in youth theatre for over ten years both nationally and
internationally; from Plymouth to Nepal. He joins us after four
years at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith, London. I’m sure
you will all do you best to welcome him - it was great to see
James in his first few weeks in the role travelling up to Brierley
Hill to see some of what the Midlands has to offer.
— We are delighted to welcome a new supporter of our
work, The Edward & Dorothy Cadbury Trust, who have just
announced a grant for our Open Access workshops.
Thank you very much indeed.
— Associate Artist Sharing Workshop – A huge thank you to
those who attended the sharing workshop on Sunday 7th
November. It was a great day and we thoroughly look forward
to holding more sharing workshops next year. Thanks again to
Thorns Community College who hosted this event.
— Not Your Typical Gathering – Thanks to all those who
attended the event in London this past weekend, organised
by the Youth Council. It was a great success and gave many
members a chance to learn more about NYT and speak to
some of the staff.
— Anti-Knife Crime Project Development – This past weekend
saw NYT members and local participants take part in 4 days
of research and development workshops in Birmingham. The
actors worked with a writer and director to help devise some
ideas that will form part of the script for 2O11’s Knife Crime
Awareness programme. This project will tour schools and pupil
referral units in Birmingham and will be performed to young
people at the Dudley youth offending service.
Playing Up 1
NYT is in its last few weeks of recruitment for the 2O11 Playing
Up 1 course beginning in January and we are very excited to
announce the Black Country Living Museum, which is a great
space to be creative in, as the venue.
This is the third year of the course which saw 2O young people
pass in July 2O1O. It’s been brilliantly successful and we still
have a few places next for next year’s course. Playing Up 1
is an accredited course which awards those who complete
the course with a National Open College Network Level 2
Qualification, which is the equivalent of 2 GCSEs. The course is
a practical performing arts course, with participants taking part
in 2 performances directed by NYT’s experienced professional
directors. The course runs from January–July 2O11, every
Tuesday evening from 6pm – 9pm at the Black Country Living
Museum and it’s completely FREE. To apply for this course you
must be aged between 16–25*. This is a fantastic way to get
involved and work with NYT in your area. We are still accepting
applications so do get in touch!
NYT will be holding a recruitment workshop on Thursday 16th
December 2O1O at the Black Country Living Museum,
6.OOpm–9.OOpm for all students who will join the course
in January!
If you are interested and would like an application form
please email the Creative Learning Associate at:
kane.husbands@nyt.org.uk
*Must be 16 turning 17 this academic year
How You Can Get Involved This Month!
Open Access: Community
Free Workshops in Brierley Hill !
Open Access Free Saturday Workshops.
If you are aged between 14–25 and have an interest in
theatre and acting, then come to one of our Open Access
FREE drama workshops, every Saturday from 1Oam–1pm and
led by two of NYT’s experienced associate artists. The session
in December will be facilitated by Katie Jones, who used to
be an NYT member, and Lee Farley, of Perfect Circle Theatre
Company in Malvern.

Come along to the Brierley Hill Methodist Church, Bank Street,

Brierley Hill (Opposite the Brierley Hill Civic Hall), on these dates:

Saturday 4th December 2O1O, 1Oam–1pm

Open Access: Community will re–start in January after the

Winter break.

Open Access: Schools

Free Workshops in Brierley Hill at a school near you!
Open Access: Schools has officially started in Brierley Hill.
For one term, National Youth Theatre will be resident at the
Crestwood School, Bromley Lane, Kingswinford as part of the
extra-curricular activity, holding free workshops, delivered by
NYT’s experienced facilitators every Wednesday from
4.OOpm–6.3Opm.

If you are aged 14–19 and want to be included in these

workshops please GET IN TOUCH, or meet us at the Crestwood
School on these dates:

Wednesday 1st December 2O1O, 4.OOpm–6.3Opm

Wednesday 8th December 2O1O, 4.OOpm–6.3Opm
Wednesday 15th December 2O1O, 4.OOpm–6.3Opm

In January we will be moving to Thorns Community College,

Stockwell Avenue, Brierley Hill, DY5 2NU – I look forward to
seeing you all there!!!

NYT Intake Auditions and Interviews 2O11

in the West Midlands!
The NYT Intake auditions and technical interviews have officially
opened. You can apply online at www.nyt.org.uk/nytapply and
book an audition or interview at your closest venue. We will be
holding audition/interviews in January and February 2O11 in
Brierley Hill, Birmingham and Coventry. It would be great to see
as many of you there as possible.

NYT 2O11 Casting Auditions

The NYT Casting Auditions have finally opened for all NYT
members. Please apply for your audition and workshop which
will take place in January and February 2O11, to be cast in the
NYT 2O11 Season productions. Apply for your audition online
through the members’ area.
...Finally, NYT wishes you a Very Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year!
For More information on anything in this Newsletter please
contact Kane Husbands at:
email: kane.husbands@nyt.org.uk
telephone: O1384 7O236 / O2O7 O36 9O62
You can now add us on Facebook at:
www.facebook.com/nyt.brierleyhill.
We are very grateful for the support of Barclays Wealth without
whom this programme would not exist. We would also like to
thank the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, The Sheldon Trust, The
Woodlands Trust, the Grantham Yorke Trust, The Rowlands Trust
and The Edward & Dorothy Cadbury Trust for their support.
The National Youth Theatre is a registered charity No 3O6O75