Our Creative Learning departments have announced their Summer Youth Projects for 2023.

It’s Summer Youth Project time! August 2023 will bring lots to celebrate across the venues. There will be new projects taking to the stage and old ones celebrating big milestones.

Crewe Lyceum are beginning their journey with a mini SYP of Oliver! JR,
G Live are producing their project of Bugsy Malone on the main stage for the first time, and Wycombe Swan’s production of Oliver! will see their first project back in the venue since 2019!

Wyvern Theatre and White Rock Theatre are following the yellow brick road with their productions of The Wizard of Oz, with Hastings celebrating 20 years of SYP this year!

The Beck is in it’s 37^th year with their production of The Little Mermaid, and Southend and Dartford go head-to-head sticking it to the man with their productions of School of Rock!

The aim of the Summer Projects has always been to provide local young people with the opportunity to work in our venues with professional teams, providing them with a crucial artistic outlet during the summer holidays as well the opportunity to build confidence, learn new skills and having lots of fun.

Summer Youth Projects are self-funded and non-profit making. The ethos has always been to provide the best possible experience and training at the lowest possible cost to the young people involved. Many of our participants receive bursaries funded by the venues and their local supporters.

In other Creative Learning news…

Hastings Musical Festival is a Performing Arts competition – established in 1908 – and has taken place at The White Rock since 1927! The Festival sees around 3,000 young people enter classes in Dance, Instrumental, Singing, Speech and Drama.

White Rock Youth Theatre students can choose to participate in the competition, and this year, the venue’s Dramatic Duologue superstars (below) received unbelievably high marks, with excellent feedback and even some silver medals! Participating students are coached by White Rock Theatre Company Director, Dominique Gerrard and White Rock Youth Theatre Junior Tutor, Nathan McDonald (ex WRT student and current Mountview MT student). Congratulations to all involved and bring on the Singing entries in the next couple of weeks.