Everyman and Playhouse Youth Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Everyman and Playhouse Youth Theatre is a Liverpool
-based stage and drama company for young people in Merseyside
.
, the Youth Theatre is open to teenagers from all over Merseyside. It provides weekly sessions in a wide variety of skills, covering everything from storytelling to stage combat. It gives members the opportunity to act, direct, dance, design, sing, improvise, and work on a range of scripts from Shakespeare to brand-new plays.
, in October 2007, and Monkey!, as part of the theatres' Capital of Culture
Year programme in 2008.
The group was closely involved in the development of Frank Cottrell-Boyce’s Proper Clever, his first script for the stage which was produced at the Playhouse
in October 2008. As of May 2009, senior members of the Youth Theatre will present their first studio production, Timberlake Wertenbaker
's The Love of the Nightingale
, at the Everyman Theatre.
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
-based stage and drama company for young people in Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
.
Outline
Located at Liverpool's Everyman TheatreEveryman Theatre
The Everyman Theatre stands at the north end of Hope Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, England. Established in 1964 in a former cinema, it encouraged local talent and played a part in the development of new artistes and writers. The theatre was rebuilt between 1975 and 1977, and was closed again for...
, the Youth Theatre is open to teenagers from all over Merseyside. It provides weekly sessions in a wide variety of skills, covering everything from storytelling to stage combat. It gives members the opportunity to act, direct, dance, design, sing, improvise, and work on a range of scripts from Shakespeare to brand-new plays.
Productions
Each Autumn the entire youth theatre present full-scale productions for the Everyman stage. These have included Julius CaesarJulius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
, in October 2007, and Monkey!, as part of the theatres' Capital of Culture
European Capital of Culture
The European Capital of Culture is a city designated by theEuropean Union for a period of one calendar year during which it organises a series of cultural events with a strong European dimension....
Year programme in 2008.
The group was closely involved in the development of Frank Cottrell-Boyce’s Proper Clever, his first script for the stage which was produced at the Playhouse
Liverpool Playhouse
The Liverpool Playhouse is a theatre in Williamson Square in the city of Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It originated in 1866 as a music hall, and in 1911 developed into a repertory theatre. As such it nurtured the early careers of many actors and actresses, some of which went on to achieve...
in October 2008. As of May 2009, senior members of the Youth Theatre will present their first studio production, Timberlake Wertenbaker
Timberlake Wertenbaker
- Biography :Wertenbaker grew up in the Basque Country of France near Saint-Jean-de-Luz. She attended schools in Europe and the US before settling permanently in London...
's The Love of the Nightingale
The Love of the Nightingale
The Love of the Nightingale is a play by Timberlake Wertenbaker, commissioned for the Royal Shakespeare Company and published in 1989. It is an adaptation of the Ancient Greek legend of the rape of Philomela by her brother-in-law Tereus, and the gruesome revenge undertaken by Philomela and her...
, at the Everyman Theatre.
Everyman Youth Theatre
Originally set up in the mid-1970s, Liverpool's Everyman Youth Theatre quickly became one of Britain's most successful youth theatres, with over 300 members at its peak. It ran for nearly twenty years, until the Everyman Theatre went into liquidation and closed its doors in 1993.New Everyman Youth Theatre
After having nurtured and encouraged so much young talent on Merseyside, there was great disappointment at the loss of the facility for young people. By 1998 a devoted group of supporters founded the New Everyman Youth Theatre. Launched with funds from the Everyman Supporters Club — including many high-profile members — the group continued with the help of grants, donations and revenue from ticket sales.Everyman and Playhouse Youth Theatre
On 25 November 2006 the Youth Theatre returned to its original home to become the Everyman and Playhouse Youth Theatre.Former members
Many well-known actors, musicians, writers and theatre practitioners began and developed their interest in the performing arts at the Youth Theatre. Previous members include:- Gill Beattie
- Bunti Briggs
- Les BubbLes Bubb-Career:Les Bubb who was born in Liverpool, started his miming career way back in 1982, where he performed in pubs and cabaret clubs.He got his big break in 1988, after appearing on Jim Davidson Introduces: New Entertainers, Friday Night Live twice, and on the kids' show Going Live!, all of which...
- Malandra BurrowsMalandra BurrowsMalandra Elizabeth Burrows is an English actress and singer.-Early life:Burrows' first name, Malandra, is a portmanteau of her parents' names, Malcolm and Sandra. Her mother encouraged her at an early age to begin dancing; she initially trained under Billy Pearce's mother Jean...
- Laura Kate-Gordon
- Tim Francis
- Stephen GrahamStephen Graham (actor)Stephen Graham is an English actor from Kirkby, Liverpool. He is best known for his roles as Tommy in the movie Snatch, Combo in This Is England and its four-part television sequel This Is England '86, Danny Ferguson in Occupation, Billy Bremner in The Damned United, notorious bank robber Baby...
- Ian HartIan HartIan Hart is an English stage, television and film actor.-Early life:Hart, the grandson of Irish immigrants, was born in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. He is one of three siblings and was brought up in a Roman Catholic family...
- Kevin John Harvey
- Gillian KearneyGillian KearneyGillian Louise Kearney is an English actress best known for playing Jessica Harrison in the long-running BBC television medical drama series Casualty, and her early role as Debbie McGrath in Channel 4's Liverpool-based soap opera Brookside and the spin-off mini-series Damon and Debbie.-Early...
- Carl Learmond
- Spencer Leigh
- Sean Mason
- Joe McGannJoe McGannJoseph 'Joe' McGann is an English actor. His most well known role is the lead role of Charlie Burrows, the "housekeeper" in the TV comedy series The Upper Hand . He is also known as a television reporter on the BBC's South Today programme, reporting on local events in the south of England...
- Mark McGannMark McGannMark McGann is an English actor, director and musician.- Acting career :McGann first appeared on stage in 1981 in the production Lennon at the Everyman Theatre and the London Astoria where he portrayed John Lennon, role which won him the first of his two Olivier Award nominations for best actor in...
- Paul McGannPaul McGannPaul McGann is an English actor who made his name on the BBC serial The Monocled Mutineer, in which he played the lead role...
- Stephen McGannStephen McGannStephen McGann is an English actor - one of a family of acting brothers including Joe, Paul and Mark. He began his professional career in 1982, starring in the West End musical Yakety Yak. He has since worked extensively in British theatre and on screen.In 1989 he starred as Mickey in the West End...
- David MorrisseyDavid MorrisseyDavid Mark Morrissey is an English actor and director. Morrissey grew up in the Kensington and Knotty Ash areas of Liverpool, and learned to act at the city's Everyman Youth Theatre. At the age of 18, he was cast in the television series One Summer , which won him recognition throughout the country...
- Con O'NeillCon O'Neill (actor)Robert "Con" O'Neill is a British actor. He began his acting career at Liverpool's Everyman Youth Theatre....
- Gerry Potter
- Keith Saha
- Michael StarkeMichael Starke (actor)Michael Starke , is a British actor best known for his role as Thomas 'Sinbad' Sweeney which he played for 16 years in the soap opera Brookside...
- Heidi ThomasHeidi ThomasHeidi Thomas is an English screenwriter and playwright.-Career:After reading English at Liverpool University, Thomas gained national attention when her play, Shamrocks And Crocodiles, won the John Whiting Award in 1985. Her play Indigo was performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company in their...
- Cathy TysonCathy TysonCatherine "Cathy" Tyson is an English stage, film and television actress.-Early life:The daughter of a Trinidadian barrister father and an English social worker mother, Tyson and her family moved to Liverpool when she was approximately two years old.-Career:Tyson attended the Everyman Youth...
- Niki Woods
External links
- Community Outreach: Youth Theatre EverymanPlayhouse.com