The Chairman of Monmouthshire County Council, Councillor Maureen Powell congratulated members of Gwent Young People’s Theatre on the presentation of certificates to senior members at the Melville Theatre, Abergavenny on Saturday (17th November).
Working with the WEA (Workers Educational Association) Gwent Theatre organised rehearsals and workshop sessions for more than 4,500 young people between the ages of 10 and 20 years. Classes, rehearsals and workshops are held regularly at the Melville Theatre in Abergavenny.
Plays are selected in close consultation with young people who are encouraged to read a number of texts, discuss their merits and, along with professional staff, make final selection for production. The young people work as a team which creates as near as possible the disciplines of a professional theatre company.
Collaboration with the WEA and Gwent Young People’s Theatre leads to senior pupils receiving accreditation for their work through the National Open College Network. Level 2 and 3 certificates compare with GCSE O and A levels.
The work is verified annually by an external moderator who highlighted ‘an outstanding and varied programme through which staff and students demonstrate true passion for their work’.
In the last year students have received certificates for acting and theatre skills achieved through preparation, rehearsals and performances of ‘Butterfly Kiss’ by Charles Way at the Borough Theatre, Abergavenny the Metropole Theatre, Abertillery and Blackwood Miner’s Institute, ‘Sense’ by Anja Hilling at the Melville Theatre and ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at Abergavenny Castle.
Gary Meredith of Gwent Theatre said the awards are extremely useful to students when applying for Further and Higher Education places in colleges and universities.
Other activities included productions of ‘You Will Be Fed Tomorrow’ and ‘ Kidz Stwff’ by the Junior group and the Christmas Revue which is produced and presented by the members themselves.
Members also experienced new skills by producing their own short film under the direction of industry professionals as part of the ‘It’s My Shout’ IMS and Film trainee scheme. The scheme encourages young people to find a voice within their local communities and beyond developing new skills in key technical and creative areas of media production.
Through GYPT’s association with Mess Up The Mess, a youth theatre group from Ammanford, three senior GYPT members took up places on a peer mentoring training course in West Wales.
Membership of the youth theatre leads to development of skills, confidence, teamwork and social interaction. Each year some members choose to make a career in the theatre and go on to drama colleges. Others choose careers such as medicine, law, psychology, chemistry, journalism and many others. The experience they gain as members of the youth theatre develops their personal and creative skills and empowers them to follow their chosen careers.
Gwent Theatre receives funding from Monmouthshire County Council and WEA Wales to provide a youth theatre service for young people.
Next Production – Charles Dickens’ ‘Great Expectations’ at the Borough Theatre – January 31st/ February 1st and 2nd 2013.
