Big Youth Theatre Festival 1999

Introduction

I would like to welcome you to our fifth Big Youth Theatre Festival. This year promises to build on the successes of previous festivals with more workshops and performances than ever before. The Festival is an important date in the youth theatre calendar; a time for young people and workers from youth theatres all over the country to celebrate and enjoy the 'art' of youth theatre.

Every time youth theatres come together, on a local or national level, there is an opportunity to move on; to develop our art. I hope the Big Youth Theatre Festival offers you ample opportunity to share and celebrate what you already do and make connections with the work of other youth theatres and arts practitioners. NAYT will certainly take the opportunity to talk to you about the future of youth theatre and what you need, as well as advocate the work produced for and at the Festival

In the past the Festival has welcomed groups from as far afield as Sri Lanka and Yugoslavia. This year, I would like to welcome our international visitors, K-Cap, from Durban in South Africa and hope they enjoy their stay with us.

In anticipation of a Great Big Youth Theatre Festival, I would like to thank all those on the Festival planning group; the young people from National Youth Committee, NAYT Board members, Toni Lunn and Jill Adamson, and Stuart Hawkes, NAYT Director. I would also like to thank the admin team, Lizzie, Martin and Michelle for their invaluable back up support.

Finally I would like to thank you, because, after all it's your participation and enjoyment of the Festival that ultimately creates its successes and again, in anticipation, I look forward to seeing you in the year 2000 for our International Celebrations.

Performers & Workshops

Blagart: "Powder Monkey"

Haven't brought a performance with you? Fancy something you can really get your teeth into? Then this is for you. Building up over the course of the Festival, join Blagart to create an outdoor spectacular. Sculpture, body puppets, pyrotechnics and performance. Join in and make BYTF99 go with a bang!

Frank Chickens

Want to strut your stuff, shake your thang and do-wop 'til you drop? Then join Japanese pop superstars Frank Chickens for a full day's rehearsal before performing live at BYTF99!

Superculture

In the UK for a limited period, Japanese performance artist Yasunari Maeda will present a unique opportunity for you to enter the world of "Butoh". Want to try something different, then this is for you. With his interpreter Jason Atomic, Yasunari will take you on a journey of inner discovery.

K-Cap

All the way from Durban, South Africa, on a whistle stop tour of Europe, NAYT extend a warm welcome to K-Cap. This twenty strong group will not only run workshops but perform the highly acclaimed "Our Voice - Our Rights", looking at issues of child labour in S. Africa. K-Cap will be joining us for the whole of the Festival

Production Imagineers

As well as serving all of our technical needs, Production Imagineers will be encouraging you to get creative. "How to light your show with four lamps", does just what it says on the tin!

Sin Cru

With more street cred than you can eat, Sin Cru will take you through the latest moves on the Break Dance Scene.

Wing and a Prayer Productions

For one night only, "Murder at Puddletown Vicarage". Solve those riddles, unravel those clues. Get yourselves in teams for NAYT's very own murder mystery.

Carolyn Mendelsohn

All the way from Yorkshire, Carolyn will lead a range of workshops. All you need for these are energy, enthusiasm and a sprinkle of imagination. Ever had to create your own play, ever been stuck for ideas? Never again. Create a play structure in "Instant Theatre". Learn how to create theatre that looks at real issues in "Theatre for Change-Forum Theatre".

Faroque Khan

Back by popular demand, another chance to work with one of the country's leading practitioners. A workshop for the more advance, using techniques developed by Enrique Pardos and Jaques Leech, explore your own unique theatrical tools, unleash your potential. You need to learn by heart a 200 word piece of text..anything at all! Numbers are limited for these full day workshops. Hard work and commitment are a must.

Bernadette O'Brien

Need a voice? Come and find yours. A regular at London's Theatre Centre, Bernadette's sessions are fun yet challenging and aim to develop your vocal potential.

Big State Theatre

Are your big enough to handle BST? Cartoon Chracterisation and Comic Capers will stretch you to the limit. Comedy workshops tickle your fancy? Then get tickled. Oo-er Missus!

Olly Fox

You don't need perfect pitch, you don't need musical know how. If you want to unearth rhythm and sounds and explore musical soundscapes in theatre, then join the Human Orchestra. How does music inspire theatre? What happens when you muck around with it? For these and other answers, join Olly.

Susan Bisatt

A regular with Opera North, Susan will explore voice and movement in workshops designed to stretch you at both ends!

Sophia Lovel-Smith

Starting with a range of household objects and moving to the obscure join Sophia on a journey of discovery through the shark infested waters of improvisation. or In "Playing the Space" use chalk, rope and tape to explore the audience-performer relationship. Some practical design ideas.

Usifu Jalloh

Born and raised in Sierra Leone, Usifu now lives and works in England. This workshop promises a combination of drumming, dancing and storytelling. Go on, bang that drum!

Programme

Sunday 18 July