BAm THEATRE February 15, 1979 NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Contact: John Hewlett/Philip Rinaldi BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC 30 LAFAVE TTE AVE .. BK L YN. N.Y. 11 2 17 PRESS OFFICE PHONE: (2121 636-4123 TO MAKE U.S. DEBUT AT BAM British Youth To Perform In Peter Terson•s 11 Good Lads At Heart11

The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, under the direction of Michael Croft, will make its United States debut at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, ~n Peter Terson • s play GOOD LADS AT HEART, March 27 through April 8, on the BAM Opera House Stage. The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain is a group of British youths whose ages range from fourteen to twenty-three. Founded in 1956 by Michael Croft, the National Youth Theatre performs during school holidays on •s West End, and on tour throughout Europe. Last year, the National Youth Theatre performed GOOD LADS AT HEART in Toronto. Although its members eventually work in any number of fields, its alumni roster boasts such well-known actors as the film stars Michael York and , and the Royal Shakespeare Company•s Ian McShane and (also of rv•s I CLAUDIUS). The performance schedule for GOOD LADS AT HEART is as follows: Tuesday, March 27, at 7pm (opening) Tuesday, April 3, at 8pm Wednesday, March 28, at 8pm Wednesday, April 4, at 8pm Thursday, March 29, at 8pm Thursday, April 5, at 8pm Friday, March 30, at 8pm Friday, April 6, at 8pm Saturday, March 31, at 4pm Saturday, April 7, at 4pm Saturday, March 31, at 8pm Saturday, April 7, at 8pm Sunday, April 1, at 2pm Sunday, April 8, at 2pm Sunday, April 1, at 6pm Sunday, April 8, at 6pm

For ticket information call: (212) 636-4100 . ### Brooklyn Botanic Garden 1000 Washington Avenue. Bmoklyn, New York 1122 j Telephone (212) 62 2-44 3 3 lr J

For Release ...... IMMEDIATELY PRESS CONTACT: Estelle Gerard Julie Boak 622-4433

NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE OF GREAT BRITAIN TO HAVE SPRING PREVIEW

Young Actors To Visit Brooklyn Botanic Garden's

New Shakespeare Garden

The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain will enjoy a

spring preview on Thursday, March 29 at 3 p.m. of Brooklyn

Botanic Garden's new Shakespeare Garden, scheduled to open in

June.

The company of young actors is currently making its United

States debut in GOOD LADS AT HEART at the Brooklyn Academy of

r•lusic. r-iichael Croft, founder and director of the National

Youth Theatre, will lead the troupe in an informal presentation

of selected sketches and readings from Shakespeare's work.

The company performs Shakespeare annually in Great Britain.

f-Ir. Croft believes, "With Shakespeare we can involve large

numbers of young people, but there is more to it than that. In

this prosaic age, it seems to be good for young people to walk,

for a little, on the poetic heights."

Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Shakespeare Garden, originally a

gift from Mr. Henry c. Folger, founder of the Folger Shakespeare

Library in Washington D.C., is a mainstay of the Children's

Ga rden Program. The Shakespeare Garden, largely through the

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generosity of Exxon Corporation, has been moved from a position in the Children's Garden and enlarged. When complete, it will contain more than 80 plants mentioned in Shakespeare's work .

The National Youth Theatre of Great Britian, founded in

1956, is a group of young people, from all economic and social strata, whose ages range from fourteen to twenty-three. It per­ forms during school holidays on London's West End, and on tour throughout Europe. Although its members eventually work in any number of fields, its alumni roster boasts such well-known actors as Michael York, Simon Ward and the Royal Shakespeare

Company's Ian McShane, Derek Jacobi and Robin Ellis.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT ESTELLE GERARD OR JULIE BOAK ~

622-4433 NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE OF GREAT BRITAIN TO PREVIEW NEW BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN WITH SHAKESPEAREAN READINGS BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC 30 LAFAYETTE AVE.. BK L YN. N.Y.11217 THURSDAy I MARCH 29 I AT 3PM PRESS OFFICE PHONE: (212) 636-4123

MARCH 28 1 1979 To: PHOTO AND NEWS ASSIGNMENT EDITORS

The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, currently making their United States debut at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Peter Terson's play GOOD LADS AT HEART, will preview the newly designed Shakespeare Garden at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden with readings from several of Shakespeare's

plays on Thursday I March 29, at 3pm in the garden. A tea will follow the reading at 3:30pm.

The british youths I who portray juvenile deliquents in a 1970's reform school nightly on the BAM stage, will perform selections from Shakespeare's A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHT DREAM, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, HENRY IV, Part II, HENRY VI and AS YOU LIKE IT. Your coverage is invited.

Date: Thursday, March 29 I 1979

Place: Shakespeare Garden I Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Ave. , Brooklyn Time: 3:00pm -- The National Youth Theatre will perform Shakespeare 3:30pm -- Tea

Press Contacts: Julie Boak (Brooklyn Botanic Garden) (212) 622-4433 John Howlett, Philip Rinaldi, or Lydia Hatton (BAM) (212) 636-4123. PRESS RELEASE: ON THE NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE OF GREAT BRITAIN

"When I went to see '·Good Lads At Heart'' I didn't really know what to expect. I had only been to the theatre a few times before. But this production really got me interested Everything about it was exciting and made me want to become involved with the National Youth Theatre. That is the really great thing about this company. I think that when you see this production you will feel the same. It really is fantastic.

ELTON JOHN

"The work of the National Youth Theatre is a perpetual delight"

PUNCH

"These young men and women are astonishingly good"

THE DAILY MAIL • "A most impressive display of talentu SPECTATOR

"The National Youth Theatre acts with distinction and discipline':

DAILY EXPRESS

"The achievement, although we have come to expect it, is still almost incredible" THE TIMES

"The National Youth Theatre really is an extraordinary company .... it has performed with bubbling, infectious excellence ...•. to Michael Croft, its guide and guru, I send awe-struck congratulations"

SUNDAY TIMES

"The National Youth Theatre is a unique organization .••.. the standard is uniformly impressive and makes it difficult to label the company as 'amateur'. • SUNDAY TELEGRAPH S RELEASE:

THE CANADIAN PRESS ON :'GOOD LADS AT HEART 'J SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1978

"What makes the production so remarkable is the superbly concealed discipline, the exuberant energy of all the cast, and their ability to achieve sudden and sometimes shocking changes of pace and mood from riotously funny to tragic so that one is convinced that the characters they represent are unaware of what is happening to them. I doubt if this could be equalled by the most excellent of professional companies.

A theatrical experience of this quality comes but rarely."

EVENING TELEGRAPH

"The NYT says that only a small percentage of its members move on to the professional theatre, Of those to be seen on stage tonight, there are very few who look anything but professional, ··•

CHRONICLE HERALD

"The NYT has given Canada a theatical treat. The Company 1s astonishing ~ good ..•.. this performance must be seen,"

OTTAWA CITIZEN

''This must be what made the Empire greats doughty young men who cross an ocean, walk into a strange theatre whose every interstice hides a hostile native and conquer by energy, wit and histrionic skill. They work with professional precision throughout to provide an exciting theatre event."

TORONTO GLOBE AND MAIL

"The most spontaneous and natural acting to be seen in Toronto right now"

TORONTO STAR

"Their sheer physical energy 1s exhilarating. Why, oh why didn't this show play Ottawa?"

OTTAWA REVUE