Next Stage Youth's 30th Birthday!
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Tomorrow, on Thursday 12th September, Next Stage Youth Theatre Company will celebrate its 30th Birthday, having started up in September 1994.
To celebrate this milestone the talented members of Next Stage Youth are staging their rendition of Joan Aiken’s The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, adapted for stage by Russ Tunney and directed by Next Stage’s Artistic Director Ann Ellison. This fast-paced and technically advanced production sees the Youthers in gorgeous costumes and makes use of slideshow projection and a variety of other fun effects. You won’t want to miss it!
As we look forward to celebrating tomorrow, it is also a great time to look back at all Next Stage Youth has accomplished over the last 30 years:
· 1994: In September Ann Ellison BEM set up Next Stage Youth Theatre Company (NSY).
· 1995: Next Stage invited to perform Oh! Brave New World in the Bath International Music Festival – all of Next Stage Youth took part in this prestigious open-air event.
· Mid-Somerset Drama Festival: from 1994 NSY established a strong link with Bath’s prestigious music and drama festival and NSY members have competed almost every year for the last 30 years. Many trophies have been won, particularly in the Group Acting classes.
· 1998: Next Stage Youthers performed in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead at Kingswood Theatre. This began a long and fruitful collaboration between Next Stage’s youth and adult companies which lasts to this day. Youthers love being involved in the adult shows and gain a lot from working with experienced actors. The most recent collaborative production was The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ in March 2023.
· 2000: 17-year-old Giles Cooper, a Next Stage Youther, toured to the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough with Next Stage’s production of Skylight by David Hare. Giles was accepted at drama school later that year and has since gone on to have a prestigious acting career including touring with Ruby Wax, performing at The National Theatre and is now busy in TV and film - Giles was the first of many Youthers who have gone on from NSY to work as professionals in the performing arts industry.
· Next Stage Youth has won numerous awards over the years. The September 2003 production of John Godber’s Teechers was nominated Best Youth Production in the regional Rose Bowl Awards. In February 2004 a performance of Dreamjobs in the AAD One-act Play Festival at The Rondo won an award, as did its 16-year-old director.
· Touring opportunities: Next Stage Youthers have had the chance over the years to tour to Bristol, Scarborough, The Minack Theatre in Cornwall and London. In 2009 Next Stage took Torch Song Trilogy to the Jermyn Street Theatre in the West End and two members of NSY - Tom Babbage and Tom Ash-Miles - had the exciting experience of their work being seen by London audiences. At The Minack, most recently, Kes Joffe appeared in A Streetcar Named Desire (2023).
· In 2012 Next Stage Theatre Company set-up the “Come You Giants”- CYG Bursary which awards up to £1,000 per year to current or past Next Stage Youth members to fund theatre-related training. Over the years many youngsters have benefitted from this bursary.
NSY Artistic Director Ann Ellison BEM says:
“Some of my proudest moments in the 30 years of Next Stage Theatre Company’s existence have been watching our youth members perform. The amount of talent that we have been blessed with over the 30 years is remarkable and I am so proud of each and every youngster who has been part of NSY over the years. Of course I am also deeply indebted to all the Next Stage adult actors and associates who have contributed to the tutoring of our young actors over the years - from fight and dance choreography to voice control, interpretation of scripts, rehearsal and performance techniques - Youthers have wanted for nothing in their weekly sessions. But perhaps best of all for the majority of youthers is the confidence, friendships and many happy on and off stage memories that they carry with them for the rest of their lives.”
And now let’s hear from some past and present members of Next Stage Youth:
“My favourite thing about Next Stage Youth is how much is develops your skills, and every single time you do a production you can feel yourself growing and improving as an actor.”
“I enjoy Next Stage Youth because it feels like we’re all part of a family, and it’s nice to be able to do a professional looking show.”
“I remember Next Stage Youth being a perfect balance of larking around with my friends with lots of laughter, creating teenage relationships, while also learning how to produce theatre to a high standard.”
"It cannot be underestimated how much Next Stage Youth shaped me as an actor and, ultimately, a person. In my seven years as a member, and five as a tutor, I took part in so many amazing productions, including tours to The Minack Theatre and one of the first shows performed at The Mission Theatre. Through Next Stage Youth, I learned teamwork, discipline, organisation, and many other important skills I may not have learned otherwise. Perhaps best of all, I met many people who I'm lucky enough to call best friends. Thank you NSY!”
“NSY was such a special, important part of my childhood that I’ll always cherish and remember my time in the company. From making lifelong friends, to acting at The Minack in the pouring rain, NSY is something I hold very dearly in my heart. Happy Birthday, Next Stage Youth.”
We do hope that as many of you as are able will join us tomorrow and throughout the weekend to celebrate this milestone birthday with all of our talented young actors.
