Scotland’s National Theatre ‘For & By’ Young People REPORT annual 2011 2012 “SYT is probably the best thing that ever happened to me. It’s awesome.” MICHAEL, 13, NEWTON MEARNS s r o t a f r f o a t b t s a l n l & e o t c d n t m r r e p & a u t o m o r s l s o l r e b d o e c s s a v e s t v p n / f v n e n e i s c e f e e i l t i t o r i s r e d i r r h r j a s n e s t f a e c t s e o n o n c a ’ i & i f r l p a h r o t & o u n i c i s p , l r h c t d a w s s s g l a e c u y a d r o r u l n a n l n m g r l d n i i e m a r k o o o r n c p i c o n d i r e e i r e t t u a n m e t n e s t t e a a a o h o u y p e r u h n n i c n w s t s f t s r y c p i 4 5 68121516 22 24 26 28 30 31 32 34 The Princess and the Pea Scottish Youth Theatre – giving young people in Scotland the opportunity to explore and to reach their creative potential through a quality theatre arts experience. D e s i g Scotland’s National Theatre ‘Fo r & By’ Young People n a n d p SCOTTISH YOUTH THEATRE IS A MEMBER OF THE SCOTTISH THEATRE COMMUNITY r o Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, d u SCOTTISH YOUTH THEATRE SUPPORTS THE WORK OF PROMOTE YT c t i 105 Brunswick Street, Glasgow G1 1TF o n : w TEL: 0141 552 3988 FAX: 0141 552 7615 w w . w EMAIL: [email protected] a g d WEBSITE: www.scottishyouththeatre.org e s i g n . c o Skills Week October Zombiism SF11 Front cover image: Zombiism SF11 Back cover images (clockwise right to left): Prom Night of the Living Dead, Aberdeen Foundation Course, Zombiism and Born Bad? annual REPORT chairman ’sREPORT Mary McCluskey Artistic Director Bobby Hain Chairman of Scottish Youth Theatre’s (Chief Executive) Board of Directors “The Scottish Youth Theatre makes a huge “Scottish Youth Theatre gives our young people contribution to Scottish cultural life, inspiring the chance to reach their potential, improve their and encouraging talents in so many confidence and develop their social skills through generations of young people.” a range of exciting programmes and activites.” ALEX SALMOND, FIRST MINISTER OF SCOTLAND, JULY 2011 KENNY M AC ASKILL, MSP, CABINET SECRETARY FOR JUSTICE COTTISH Youth Theatre to blossom with many requests being OW firmly into its fourth As the portfolio of activities and at the Old Sherriff Court in Glasgow appreciates these received to take the team out to new decade, Scottish Youth partners with whom we work but spanning right across Scotland, comments from Scotland’s venues and new audiences. An autumn Theatre remains at the continues to evolve, so too does our would not be possible without the e First Minister. They are tour of Scotland is being planned, with forefront of youth arts Board. This year we say goodbye dedication and commitment of the r particularly welcome in funding from Creative Scotland’s in Scotland and as it to Board member Ruth Webber Company’s staff led by Chief i the current economic Traditional Arts Commissions, for 2012. continues to evolve the after years of service. Ruth’s Executive Mary McCluskey and S T climate. Receiving such encouragement Interactive Performances – the NCompany has this year again contribution as Chair of the thanks go to the whole team for p motivates the Staff and Board to keep company’s ‘house-style’ of creating demonstrated remarkable resilience Communications and Fundraising their continued contribution. working towards our aim of giving young magical environments to complement in the face of challenging economic Committee has been invaluable and s people in Scotland access to a quality the lively interactive performances conditions. we wish her every success with new Whilst our annual report naturally theatre arts experience. During the continues to impress family audiences beginnings in Australia. It is tells our story of the year just gone, n year, the company welcomed many in Aberdeen & Glasgow. Families, We are grateful for the continuing testament to the Company’s the real strength of the Company is i distinguished visitors to our activities nurseries and schools are flocking to support of all our funders, including reputation and profile that a wide the role it plays for others – our including royalty, patrons, politicians see these productions. Creative Scotland and Glasgow range of people are always keen to participants, partners with whom E and friends of the youth theatre. T The Lab – a new focus and umbrella City Council, our participants and work with us and we welcome new we work and who use our building, label for more specialised activities for families and the Scottish Youth Board members Jane Wilson and our patrons and a growing range of Scottish Youth Theatre continues to 15-25 year olds. Theatre Trust which plays an Thomas Murdock. guests and visitors we welcomed N strive to maintain our programme of T Devising Ensemble – Summer Festival important role in assisting the this year. As ever their interest is I core activities whilst developing new courses grow to meet the changing Company to deliver the breadth and The breadth and depth of Scottish much appreciated and their kind and/or improved streams of work. theatre scene in Scotland. This new depth of activities detailed here. Youth Theatre’s work, from our home comments extremely welcome. G course offers participants the chance New developments in 2011/12 include: to devise, rehearse and perform a full T successfully achieving SQCF credit production over a three week period. A rating of Level 7 for the SF Performance T Young Writers’ Scheme – thanks to & Production Learning Programme. funding from Beattie Communications M This rating has been authorised by the through Arts & Business Scotland, this SQA. This new vocational qualification, project was able to operate in I unique to Scottish Youth Theatre, will Glasgow and Inverness in 2011/12. “The work that the organisation does is vital. It T R e allow more young people to gain an T Staff Developments – the artistic O P T E R t encorages young people to express themselves, to R O award in theatre arts. It has taken the team has been re-structured in P S ’ E company over 4 years to achieve this 2011/12 with Fraser MacLeod being N R learn social skills and to develop confidence. A a L milestone. Congratulations to Fraser promoted to the post of Associate M A R U I N MacLeod, who led on the project, and Artistic Director and Karen McGrady- These are all invaluable life skills that aren’t easily A N H e A the artistic team. Parker being appointed as Associate acquired elsewhere. Theatre is the best education C 4 r T Family Storytime – this popular Director – Early Y ears. 5 T T L L 2 interactive storytelling session continues 2 1 1 A A R R there is!” c / / U U O O 1 1 N N P P 1 1 BRIAN COX, PATRON, FEBRUARY 2012 E E N N 0 0 A R 2 A 2 R “I am dyslexic and some of my school subjects can be hard work. Drama is never hard work, I enjoy every minute and like it when I can do well in class.” ZAIN, 12, STUARTFIELD Canada COMPANY OBJECTIVES T Provides quality training opportunities for Belgium – to enable, stimulate and directly provide a workshop tutors and apprentices; Kirkwall Orkney quality theatre arts experience for the young T Represents the best of youth theatre in Scotland people in Scotland through the provision of a on a national and international stage; T Promotes Scotland’s cultural heritage at a WHERE WE programme of accessible activities. COME FROM – to aim for the personal and social development national and international level; of all individual participants, with special T Contracts & employs a large number of freelance Aberdeen Inverness Aberdour Inverurie emphasis on transferable skills. theatre practitioners in Scotland; T Aboyne Irvine – to give access at all levels of the youth Operates as a national resource, the Old Sheriff Airdrie Isle of Arran theatre’s work (fun, serious & career) to all Court, Scotland’s first ever specially designed Alloa Isle of Bute Argyll Isle of Lewis interested young people in Scotland, regardless centre for the development of creativity and INVERNESS imagination in children & young people; Auchenshuggle Isle of Mull of physical, social, educational, cultural or Ayrshire Isle of Skye T geographical disadvantage. Commissions, designs and develops new work Ballater Kilbirnie – to pursue excellence in youth theatre arts written specifically for performance by children and ABERDEEN Banffshire Kilmarnock Beith Kilsyth provision in Scotland. young people; T Belgium Kirkcudbright – to develop the Old Sheriff Court as an Acts as a lobbying voice for youth theatre with Black Isle Kirkwall t international centre for the development of government at a Local, a Scottish and a UK level; Blairgowrie Kirriemuir creativity and the imagination in children and T Encourages and develops audiences of the future; Bothwell Lanark n T Employs the youth theatre process to develop Bridge of Weir Largs young people.