ProdigySweet Charity

Pendragon

“The best youth music theatre in the world”Andrew Lloyd Webber

2015SEASON

PROGRAMME

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THE NATIONAL YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE PRESENTS

PRODIGY

PENDRAGON

A new musical commissioned by the National Youth Music Theatre

BOOK AND LYRICS by JAKE BRUNGER | MUSIC AND LYRICS by PIPPA CLEARY

DIRECTOR KATE GOLLEDGE MUSICAL DIRECTOR AND ORCHESTRATOR CANDIDA CALDICOT CHOREOGRAPHER DARRAGH O’LEARY | DESIGNER DIEGO PITARCHLIGHTING DESIGNER JAMES WHITESIDE | SOUND DESIGNER ANDY GRAHAM

12 TO 15 AUGUSTST JAMES THEATRE, LONDON

THIS PRODUCTION IS SUPPORTED BY ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND AND THE EL BISHLAWI FAMILY

BOOK by NEIL SIMONMUSIC by CY COLEMAN

LYRICS by DOROTHY FIELDSBased on an original screenplay by Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli and Ennio Plaiano

DIRECTOR LOTTE WAKEHAM MUSICAL DIRECTOR TOM DEERING | CHOREOGRAPHER LUCIE PANKHURST

DESIGNER DAVID WOODHEADLIGHTING DESIGNER HOWARD HUDSON | SOUND DESIGNER TOM MARSHALL

19 TO 22 AUGUST CURVE, LEICESTER

MUSIC by PETER ALLWOODBOOK AND LYRICS by PETER ALLWOOD, JOANNA HORTON, JEREMY JAMES TAYLOR AND FRANK WAHTELY

DIRECTOR JEREMY JAMES TAYLOR, OBE MUSICAL DIRECTOR NICHOLAS CHAVE | CHOREOGRAPHER FELICITY BUTLERDESIGNER ALISON DARKELIGHTING DESIGNER RICHARD HOUSE | SOUND DESIGNER CHARLIE SIMPSON

26 TO 29 AUGUST THEATRE ROYAL, BURY ST EDMUNDS

SWEET CHARITY

THE NATIONAL YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE PRESENTSWELCOME TO OUR 2015 SEASON!

Established in 1976 by Jeremy James Taylor, OBE, NYMT’s productions have been seen throughout the UK and abroad. From its first show, The Ballad of Salomon Pavey, at the Edinburgh Fringe (subsequently part of Her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee celebrations in London) the company’s work has toured to Japan, Norway, Greece, Taiwan, Canada, Hong Kong and America, winning numerous accolades and awards.

The company featured prominently at the Edinburgh Festival in the mid-1980s, premièring Richard Stilgoe’s Bodywork, highlighting NYMT’s commitment to developing new work. This has continued to this day with premières of The Kissing Dance and The Dreaming by Charles Hart and Howard Goodall, Orvin by Alan Ayckbourn and Creation by Richard Taylor. In 2009 the NYMT were the first to produce a musical at Hull Truck’s brand new theatre with Melvyn Bragg’s and Howard Goodall’s The Hired Man. 2010 began with Jeremy James Taylor being awarded an OBE in recognition of his many years’ service to young people and the theatre. Then, to mark Sondheim’s 80th birthday, NYMT took his thriller, Sweeney Todd, out of the theatre and into a converted Victorian warehouse in London’s East End.

Highlights of the 2011 season included an invitation from Her Majesty The Queen to perform for a reception at Buckingham Palace celebrating Young People in the Performing Arts and the company marked its 35th anniversary at London’s Vaudeville Theatre with a concert featuring the entire company alongside alumni  led by Matt Lucas. 2012 saw a remarkable collaboration with the outstanding American musical theatre composer, lyricist and playwright, Jason Robert Brown, who directed a young NYMT cast in the West End première of his musical 13 at The Apollo, Shaftesbury Avenue. The cast was reunited with Jason when they performed in his sell-out concert at the Royal Festival Hall last May.

The 2013 season saw the company’s première of another new commission, The Other School, by Dougal Irvine and Dominic Marsh. Directed by Lotte Wakeham at the newly opened St James Theatre in London, The Other School proved to be an instant hit and has now been published by Rodgers & Hammerstein (Europe). The season ended with an epic, site-specific production of West Side Story in the vast Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, directed by Nikolai Foster with choreography by Drew McOnie and a huge orchestra of brilliant young NYMT musicians under the musical direction of Tom Deering.

Last summer’s season began with The Ragged Child, directed by Jeremy James Taylor, for the International Youth Arts Festival at The Rose Theatre, Kingston and subsequently at the Cambridge Summer Music Festival. Then followed two NYMT productions to mark the Great War centenary. The Hired Man, directed by Nikolai Foster, newly appointed artistic director of Curve in Leicester, drew capacity audiences at the St James Theatre in London, whilst Brass, our new commission from the outstanding British composer, Benjamin Till, played at City Varieties where, a century before, so many of the Leeds Pals had signed up. Directed by Sara Kestelman with choreography by Matt Flint and a brass-led orchestra directed by Benjamin Holder, Brass went on to win the UK Theatre Award for Best Musical Production. As a result of a tremendous fund raising effort by the cast, supported by the Mackintosh Foundation and the Richard Carne Trust, we were able to produce the original cast recording, which is garnering rave reviews in the press. Brass was generously supported by The Stuart and Hilary Williams Charitable Foundation and by Arts Council England, to whom we are so grateful for their continued support of our new commission programme.

This year we are delighted to première our latest commission, Prodigy, at the St James Theatre and to revive Pendragon at the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds. And we are honoured and excited to be making our debut at Leicester’s wonderful Curve with Sweet Charity. NYMT represents the very best in work with young people through musical theatre and has enabled thousands of youngsters across the UK to develop both their creative and personal potential, leading Andrew Lloyd Webber to dub it “the finest youth music theatre in the world”.

Jeremy WalkerProducer, NYMT

“…unbelievable gratitude to everyone involved in 13 at NYMT on the West End, the absolute highlight of my year, if not my entire career.”

JASON ROBERT BROWN___________________________Musical theatre composer, lyricist and playwrightDirector, NYMT production of “13” in West End, 2012

“…the National Youth Music

Theatre is an amazing

establishment. I came here when

I was about 18 years old and

I’m always keen to see what

talent’s coming through.”

IDRIS ELBA___________________________NYMT Patron / Alumnus 1990-91

CREATIVE & TECHNICAL MENTORINGCREATIVE MENTORING SCHEME

NYMT offers exceptional opportunities for those who have recently graduated from – or are about to complete courses at – university, drama school, college, conservatoire or other higher education institutions. The scheme offers places to Assistant Directors, Assistant Choreographers, Assistant Musical Directors, Designers and Wardrobe Supervisors. We are able to offer such opportunities to those aiming to work professionally in the performing arts, working alongside some of the UK’s leading practitioners.

TECHNICIAN MENTORING SCHEME

In the technical department, NYMT offers unrivalled opportunities for young people aged 16 - 23 to work on major productions as Deputy and Assistant Stage Managers, as Assistant Lighting & Sound Technicians and as Wardrobe Assistants.

Participants will work with experienced practitioners and alongside some of the UK’s leading Lighting and Sound Designers, Technicians and Wardrobe Supervisors. On the scheme, you join the cast, musicians and creative teams for residential rehearsals – followed by the production week. It’s the perfect opportunity to advance your skills and be involved in exciting, professionally-led productions in outstanding venues. Young people from both schemes have either gone on to study in their expert field or into professional work. But don’t take our word for it. Here’s what some previous participants said:

“Working with the NYMT continually gets me job offers!”

Claudia Vogt, Costume & Wardrobe

“[NYMT] put me in contact with leading industry professionals that I’ve since had the opportunity to work for professionally. I currently work on the West End production of Matilda the Musical and met Associate Director, Lotte Wakeham, whilst on the scheme”

Ollie Burton, Stage Management

“The NYMT has provided me with an extensive amount of training as a Musical Director. From pianist to team practitioner, without the creative mentoring scheme I would not have built the confidence and skills that I now possess as a professional in the industry”

Nick Chave, Musical Director

PRODIGYBook & Lyrics by Jake Brunger, Music and Lyrics by Pippa Cleary

12 – 15 August

St James Theatre, London

PRODUCTION TEAM

Director Kate Golledge

Musical Director Candida Caldicot

Choreographer Darragh O’Leary

Orchestrations Candida Caldicot & Pippa Cleary

Designer Diego Pitarch

Lighting Designer James Whiteside

Sound Designer Andy Graham

Assistant Musical Directors Charlie Ingles

Martha Williams

Assistant Choreographer Anna Britton

Lighting Programmer Will Ferris

Production Electrician Adam Squire

Sound Operators Charlie Simpson

Ali Stringer

Lighting Operator George Pearce, 18, Cirencester

Production Manager James Henshaw

Crew KD Productions

Stage Manager Danny Newton

Deputy Stage Manager Benjamin Sheen

Assistant Stage Managers Alexander Davison, 14, London

Sofia Di Lorenzo, 16, London

Izzy Myatt, 16, London

Costume Supervisor Claudia Vogt

Keyboard Programmer Josh Sood

Graphic Design Richard Blackburn

Photography Matt Hargraves

CAST

The Finalists:

Kate, flute Caroline Whittingham, 16, Foston

Luke, percussion Harry Al-Adwani, 18, Hibaldstow

Rupert, trumpet Jamie Dodd, 19, Wigton

Claire, clarinet Amelia Thompson, 17, Keighley

Jessie, piano Seophora Parish, 16, Chichester

The Parents:

Eileen, Kate’s Mum Emma Ernest, 18, Esher

Dave, Luke’s Dad Tom Ramsay, 19, London

George, Rupert’s Dad Tom Rowland, 23, Welwyn Garden City

Susan, Rupert’s Mum Samantha Bingley, 21, Chorleywood

Ian, Claire’s Dad (Cornet) Dominic Harbison, 19, Guildford

Jennifer, Claire’s Mum (Cello) Rachel Cawte, 20, Whitby

Anthony, Jessie’s Dad Jack Reitman, 20, Bristol

Sally, Jessie’s Mum (Violin) Eloise Kenny Ryder, 17, London

The Siblings:

Harry, Rupert’s Brother (Viola) Luke Rozanski, 14, Beaconsfield

Chloe, Claire’s Sister (Violin) Hannah Irvine, 12, Southampton

The TV Presenters:

Dan Davis Callum Howells, 16, Rhondda Cynon Taff

Jenny Jones (Keyboard) Francesca McKean, 19, Yateley

The Judges:

Stefan Sadowski (Trumpet) Tom Baarda, 16, Driffield

Veronica Van Camp (Trumpet) Amber Moore, 17, Forest Hill

Stacey Ellie Sharpe, 15, Woking

PRODIGY

PRODIGYCAST

The Production Team:

Melissa Marconi the TV Producer Laura Barnard, 19, Glemsford

(Flute)

Marcus, Melissa’s Assistant Toby Spence-Jones, 17, Cambridge

Geoffrey Middleton, The Conductor Ciaran Walshe, 22, Cheltenham

(Keyboard)

Cameraman Ross Clifton, 17, Calne

Make-Up Artist Heather Conder, 18, Oxford

(Clarinet)

Production Assistant Josef Doughty, 20, Oldham

(Trombone/Euphonium)

Wardrobe Assistant Finley Guy, 16, Dover

The Prodigy Band:

Percussion Callum White, 23, Sutton Coldfield

Bass Sophie Walker, 17, Driffield

MUSICAL NUMBERS

Act I:

Proud Company

Just Like You Kate & Company

My Clarinet Claire

Why I Hate Kate Rupert, George, Susan & Company

The Apple of My Eye Parents

Really Good Kate & Luke

Block Out The Noise Jessie & Company

Act I Finale Kate, Luke, Eileen & Company

Act II:

Good TV Melissa, Rupert & Company

Walkaway Dave, Luke & Company

We’ve Got Talent Too Chloe & Harry

Prodigy The Presenters & Company

Just a Moment Finalists

The Competition Company

Really Good (reprise) Luke

Mother’s Shoes Eileen & Kate

Say It In Song Company

PRODIGYA NOTE ON PRODIGY

Prodigy features 27 young people from all over the country across the National

Youth Music Theatre age range of 11 – 23, each of whom we auditioned in

acting, singing, dancing and – rather crucially - playing an instrument.

The seed of inspiration for this show was an article in The Guardian slamming

BBC4’s dumbed down coverage of their biennial Young Musician of the

Year contest. Once a prestigious classical music competition, coverage had

supposedly been reduced to treating its subject matter as ‘trivial, jokey

and easy’. A quick Google unearthed many more blogs and message board

users lamenting the X Factor nature that the competition was increasingly

becoming and this became our way-in; a musical about the pressure of taking

part in a serious music competition against the changing nature of television

to accommodate the selfie generation.

For, like it or not, even the most docile television these days has to be

somehow ‘sexed up’. Remember, for example, that brief period last year

when The Great British Bake Off inspired the most bizarre of column inches

over a hipster from East London throwing away another contestant’s ice

cream? Not just any contestant; a grandmother. It became a witch-hunt. You

might also recall the broadsheet backlash to ITV’s Popstar to Operastar a

few years back; music critics couldn’t bear to hear Joe McElderry warbling

out Nessun Dorma, and another whipped-up storm appeared, despite its

good-natured intention to widen interest in opera. We wanted Prodigy to be

an irreverent look at the effects of television dumbing down, with the roar of

teen hormones battling against highly advanced musicianship.

Rehearsals have been intense, starting with a workshop week during the

Easter holidays in which we tried out ideas, staged a few of the bigger

numbers and locked our writers in a room upstairs to come up with overnight

rewrites. Getting to know our cast during this period meant we were able

to incorporate their skills and personalities into the show, moulding material

around their individual talents. Four painful months apart followed – held

together by much reminiscing and anticipation on Facebook - before coming

back together on August 1st for our second week of rehearsal and then the

move into the theatre at the start of this week.

As a story about instrumentalists, we knew very early into the process that

we wanted music to play a featured role in the production, blurring the lines

between actor and musician. There are many joys and challenges of creating

an actor/musician show, but with time so precious - with up to four rehearsals

happening concurrently, plus costume fittings (and piano practice!) - our

company have been stretched to their limits. As with any new show, rewrites

and changes have had to be absorbed instantly, and there was as much

material left on the rehearsal room floor as made it into the show. However, a

show about the love of music is easy to bring to life when you have a group

as passionate and dynamic as the cast of Prodigy and we can’t thank them

enough for their energy and commitment.

We hope you enjoy the show, and remember – “there can only be one winner…”

- Kate, Jake and the Prodigy creative team

PRODIGY

Music by Cy Coleman, Lyrics by Dorothy Fields, Book by Neil SimonBased on an original screenplay by Federico Fellini, Tulio Pinelli and Ennio Plaiano19 – 22 August

Curve, Leicester

PRODUCTION TEAM

Director Lotte Wakeham

Musical Director Tom Deering

Choreographer Lucie Pankhurst

Designer David Woodhead

Lighting Designer Howard Hudson

Sound Designer Tom Marshall

Assistant Directors Jordan Murphy

Grace Taylor

Assistant Musical Director & Chorus Master Alex Aitken

Assistant Choreographer Kathleen Nance

Production Electrician Adam Mottley

Sound Operator Dan Evans

Lighting Operator Dylan Custance, 16, Darlington

Follow Spot Operators Jess Stoddard, 18, Poole

Ella Wheway, 20,

Market Harborough

Costume Supervisor Jessica Houghton

Wardrobe Supervisor Fiona Lockton

Production Manager James Henshaw

Stage Manager Anna Sheard

Deputy Stage Manager Tamsin Youngson, 17, London

Assistant Stage Managers Gabriel Humphries, 17, Warwick

Harry Pattinson, 16, Chester

Graphic Designer Richard Blackburn

Photographer Matt Hargraves

SWEET CHARITY

SWEET CHARITYCAST (in order of appearance)

Charity Hope Valentine Jade Johnson, 18, Letchworth

Charlie Cristian Zaccarini, 17, Redhill

Ice Cream Man Khalid Daley, 19 , Birmingham

Spanish Young Man Joseph Harris, 21,Wales

Policeman Adam Johnson, 18, Tunbridge Wells

Policeman Jonathan Hermosa-Lopez, 17, London

Herman Stuart Thompson, 17, Durham

Nickie Ruby Ablett, 19, Leicester

Helene Claire O’Leary, 17, Cork

Carmen Emily Lyons, 17, Hyde

Alice Amber Walton, 19, Stafford

Suzanne Anuli Changa, 16, Harrow

Frenchy Florence Russell, 17, Wendens Ambo

Betsy Rhiannon Bailey, 19, Godalming

Elaine Lauren Ellington, 17, Barnet

Doorman Joe Rooney, 18, Sale

Ursula/Rosie Jessamie Waldon-Day, 17, Waterlooville

Vittorio Tom Robinson, 18, Bedford

Manfred Michael McGeough, 19, Knaresborough

Receptionist Georgina Onuorah, 16, Luton

Man in Lift Jake Hankey, 16, Newton Le Willows

Oscar Robin Franklin, 18, Bishop’s Stortford

Daddy Brubeck Sario Watanabe-Solomon, 18, London

Barney the Waiter Henry Roadnight, 20, Ramsbottom

MUSICIANS

Claire Shaw, 20, Burgess Hill

Reed I: Piccolo, Flute, Alto Flute, Clarinet, Alto Sax

Ellie Davis, 19, Exeter

Reed II: Piccolo, Flute, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax

Christopher Underhill, 16, Hillingdon

Reed III: Clarinet, Soprano Sax, Tenor Sax

Shona Maule, 16, Bermuda

Reed IV: Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Tenor Sax

Michael Grant, 22, Scarborough

Reed V: Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Baritone Sax

Zak Eastop, 17, London Trumpet I, Flugelhorn

Matt Ward, 17, Bexleyheath Trumpet II, Flugelhorn

Matt Payne, 19, London Trumpet III

Chris Goodchild, 18, Sidcup Trumpet IV

James Bluff, 18, Buckhurst Hill Trombone I

Owain Davies-McCrorie, 16, Leamington Spa Trombone II

Simon Chorley, 16, Leyburn Trombone III

Megan Landeg, 17, Aberdare Percussion

Tristan Butler, 19, Norwich Drum Kit, Percussion

Louis Malhame, 13, Datchet Accordion

Curtis Volp, 19, Manchester Guitar

Andrew Richards, 21, Budleigh Double Bass

Katy Richardson / Alex Aitken Keyboard

SWEET CHARITY

MUSICAL NUMBERS

Act I

OvertureYou Should See Yourself CharityBig Spender Nickie, Helene & GirlsCharity’s Soliloquy CharityRich Man’s Frug CompanyIf My Friends Could See Me Now CharityToo Many Tomorrows VittorioThere’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This Nickie, Helene, Charity & GirlsI’m The Bravest Individual Charity & Oscar

Act II

The Rhythm Of Life Daddy Brubeck & CompanyBaby, Dream Your Dream Nickie, Helene & GirlsSweet Charity OscarWhere Am I Going? CharityI’m a Brass Band Charity & CompanyI Love To Cry At Weddings Herman, Rosie, Nickie, Helene & Company

SWEET CHARITYDIRECTOR’S NOTES

When Jeremy Walker (the producer of NYMT) spoke to me about directing Sweet Charity

at Curve I was delighted. This is the first time that the company has produced this

particular title, which is one of the all-time classics of American musical theatre. Sweet

Charity is a sophisticated piece with grown up themes. However, the calibre of young

people who audition for NYMT is so high that we were confident that they would be able

to handle this material.

It has been an absolute pleasure to work with this mature company of performers, many

of whom have started professional training or are currently auditioning for drama schools.

They have embraced this material and we’ve had many illuminating discussions about the

exciting yet complex world of the 1960s in which the show takes place. We’ve discussed

the politics of the time and thought a lot about the great changes that America was

undergoing in this decade, including the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement and Women’s

Rights Movement.

Our protagonist, Charity, is a character who is looking for change. She grows and adapts

over the course of the piece. It is delightful to watch this sunny, optimistic musical theatre

heroine gradually mature, as she changes from being someone who depends on others

into someone who learns to stand on her own two feet.

Over the course of this production I’ve been fortunate to have been surrounded by an

incredibly talented creative team: Tom Deering (musical director), with his assistants Alex

and Katy, Lucie Pankhurst (choreographer), with her assistant Kath, David Woodhead

(design), Howard Hudson (lighting) and Tom Marshall (sound). I’m also grateful to have

had not one but two fantastic assistant directors - Jordan Murphy and Grace Taylor. I

started my own directing career as an assistant director at NYMT a decade ago, and

these two have been a real asset to the production. I’m also hugely thankful to our

crew and stage management team, led by Anna Sheard, our fabulous orchestra of young

musicians, the brilliant NYMT staff, led by Jeremy Walker, and to Nikolai Foster and all of

the staff at Curve, who have made us feel so welcome in their wonderful theatre.

Lotte Wakeham

PENDRAGONMusic by Peter Allwood, Book & Lyrics by Peter Allwood, Joanna Horton, Jeremy

James Taylor and Frank Whately

26 – 29 August

Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds

PRODUCTION TEAM

Director Jeremy James Taylor, OBE

Musical Director Nicholas Chave

Choreographer Felicity Butler

Lighting Designer Richard House

Sound Designer Charlie Simpson

Assistant Director Rob Dalton

Assistant Musical Director Harry Haden-Brown

Musical Associate John Pearson

Assistant Lighting Designer James McKeogh

Assistant Sound Designer Ali Stringer

Production Manager James Henshaw

Stage Manager Ian Wilson

Deputy Stage Manager Rosie Staley

Assistant Stage Managers Zoe Parkinson

Tom Walton

Wardrobe Supervisor Anne-Marie Horton

Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor Claudia Vogt

Wardrobe Assistant Jenny Gayton

Graphic Design Richard Blackburn

Photography Konrad Bartelski

With special thanks to Carol Wilson for the puppet refurbishments, Grant Hicks and the

Second Year Technical Arts Students from Wimbledon School of Art for prop making

and James Leach for furniture building.

PENDRAGONCAST

The Merlin David Fearn, 21, Ripponden

Arthur Pendragon Ben Mabberly, 19, Macclesfield

Young Arthur Jacob Edwards, 13, Tring

Morgan Le Fay Aliza Vakil, 17, Epsom

Young Morgan Florentia Antoniou, 13, Old Boarshill

Princess Guinevere Heidi Parsons, 17, Taunton

Young Guinevere Sissy Ford, 12, Cambridge

Lady Elaine Helen Cheesman, 22, Beckenham

Young Elaine Lily Caines, 15, Maidenhead

King Pellinore Harry Sykes, 19, Southampton

Kay Oscar Morgan, 15, Eastbourne

Kelemon Elsa Waterfield, 15, Leicester

Sir Malaiguance Mungo Russell, 17, London

Lady of the Lake Emily Harrigan, 18, Epsom

Uther Pendragon Simon Whitaker, 18, Barton Le Clay

Ygraine/Mother Superior Jessica Carter, 19, Bristol

King Leodegraunce Ben Hiam, 21, Woodford Green

Bishop of Glastonbury Fergus Dale, 18, Bedford

High Priestess Louise Moseley, 14, Lewes

Pagan Priest/Sir Gaynor Cameron Burt, 17, Highgate

Sir Lancelot Lewis Cudmore, 17, Torquay

King Lot of Orkney Joshua Silverlock, 16, Wimbledon

Ulifius Joseph Griffiths-Brown, 16, Litchfield

Morgause Aoife O’Donovan, 17, Cork

Gawaine Eddie Manning, 17, Portsmouth

Nuns & Ladies

Sister Sophia

Sister Martha/Lady Alice

Sister Blanche/Lady Angharad/Harpist

Sister Agnes

Sister Angelica/Lady Phillippa

Hannah Brown, 17, Kingston Upon Thames

Georgia Cudby, 15, North Chaley

Aoife O’Donovan, 17, Cork

Leah Weerasinghe, 20, Harrogate

Polly Whiten, 15, Folkestone

PENDRAGONCAST

Children

Tom Frankie Bounds, 14, Leeds

Clare Lois Chapman, 13, Wickford

John Rhys Gannon, 11, Leeds

Peter Arthur Handscomb, 14, Farnham

Will Jack Maclay, 12, Felcourt

Ben/Luke Ben Moss, 13, Sudbury

Rebecca Olivia Olphin, 18, Shortstown

Daniel George Renshaw, 14, Petersfield

Rosemary Rosy Smith, 13, Blyton

Lake Attendants, Knights, Lords, Ladies, Marauders, Soldiers, Puppetry and the

Gamelan Ensemble are performed by various members of the Pendragon company.

MUSICIANS

Flute, Piccolo, Alto Flute, Panpipes

Horn

Violin

Violin

Viola

Cello

Double Bass

Percussion

Daniel Swani, 16, Woodford Green

Estella Browne, 15, Devon

Natasha Kenealy, 18, London

Tamsin Sarkany, 16, Kingston-Upon-Thames

Philippa Latham, 18, Beverley

Emma Farmer, 16, Bourne

Sophie Walker, 17, Driffield

Ben Everett Riley, 20, Farnham

Rebecca Baker-Munton, 16, Bury St Edmunds Percussion

MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT I

OPENING, A VAST CAVE

THE COURT OF UTHER PENDRAGON, CAERLEON

THE FOREST NEAR CAERLEON

THE ABBEY AT GLASTONBURY

THE ABBEY AT GLASTONBURY, SEVERAL MONTHS LATER

THE MERLIN’S CAVE

BY A WILD APPLETREE IN A WOODLAND CLEARING

IN A WOOD OUTSIDE A VILLAGE SETTLEMENT

THE FALCON

THE FOREST

THE BATTLE HEADQUARTERS OF UTHER PENDRAGON

THE FIELD OF BATTLE

ACT II

THE CONTEST FOR THE THRONE

THE COURT OF KING LEODEGRAUNCE

THE SHORES OF THE LAKE OF AVALON

THE CORONATIONS

PENDRAGON FALLS IN LOVE WITH GUINEVERE

THE COURT OF ARTHUR PENDRAGON, 4 MONTHS LATER:

PENDRAGONS QUESTS

THE MAN EATING GIANTS

THE DRAGON BEAST OF BORROWDALE

THE COURT OF ARTHUR PENDRAGON

THE LAIR OF MORGAN LE FAY

THE COUNTRY MOURNS

THE FALCON

THE QUEST FOR EXCALIBUR & GUINEVERE:

THE LAIR OF MORGAN LE FAY

A VISION OF HELL

THE SHORES OF THE LAKE OF AVALON

THE COURT OF ARTHUR PENDRAGON

THE ROUND TABLE

PENDRAGONCreating a new music drama is a process full of excitement and uncertainty, frustration and fulfilment. It is an expedition into the unknown for everyone from the youngest member of the cast to the most seasoned writer. Experience may guide but inspiration is as likely to come in the middle of any improvisation session as it is in the seclusion of a study.

A half-remembered tale from Chaucer was the starting point for Pendragon. At the time the wife of Bath was furnishing us with material for a music theatre workshop, which in turn led to a short piece called ‘The Song of the Loathely Lady’. It was a story at once fantastical and universal, the stuff of fairytales but also of human truths.

We left the Loathely Lady to explore the Arthurian Legends, abundant as they are in excitement and human interest, seeking material for a new work and there she was again. We set up new workshops with young members of the National Youth Music Theatre, knowing them to be rich in talent and anticipating a wealth of ideas. They responded as they always do with energy and inspiration: the work developed through them.

As storytellers we took the liberty of adapting the legends. Arthur Pendragon grew up, increasingly unsure of himself and his background, despite the guidance of his mentor, the Merlin. Guinevere was groomed in her upbringing but grew in dissatisfaction. The certainties for which we all crave cannot be imposed by assertion, by rule of law, by platitude, nor indeed by magic or illusion. Equilibrium is a balance of uncertainties, and this is what, on a human level, the stories revealed.

With such a diversity of ideas and material and with a youthful company boundless in its energy, enthusiasm and inventiveness, music as so often happens brought unity. Whether exploring the movement towards national identity through the use of individual voices developing into full blooded chorus singing, or exploring the personal growth towards love and harmony between Pendragon and Guinevere, the music has both created and sustained the drama: the songs reveal aspiration, yearning fulfilment and the beauty of the human spirit. As well as the powers which threaten these harmonies the instruments and their players are as much a part of the character and action of Pendragon as any other element in the play.

The Arthurian legends are essentially about action, about young men and women growing up to confront their destinies and the forces which threaten to overwhelm them. They are epic and the stuff of drama, at once exciting and engaging. We have sought to explore this through a drama full of movement, mystery and music, through bold pictures and colourful characters. This approach has enabled us to display the finest resources at our disposal – the talents of the young people with whom we have been so fortunate to work.

Frank Whatley, co-writer

“I’m delighted and

honoured to have

been a member of

the National Youth

Music Theatre. If it

wasn’t for my early

experience with the

NYMT, I wouldn’t

have got where I am

today – good luck to

all participants and

all productions”

SHERIDAN SMITH___________________________NYMT Patron / Alumna 1994-8

THECREATIVETEAMJAKE BRUNGER & PIPPA CLEARY Writers | Prodigy

Jake Brunger (book and lyrics) and Pippa Cleary (music and lyrics) met at Bristol University, where they were studying Drama and Music respectively. 

Their musicals together include: Jet Set Go! (Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Theatre 503 and Jermyn Street Theatre; licensed by Josef Weinberger Ltd), The Great British Soap Opera (Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Jermyn Street Theatre), Red Riding Hood (Singapore Repertory Theatre; licensed by Rodgers and Hammerstein Theatricals) and The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 (Leicester Curve). They also wrote the music and lyrics for The Snow Gorilla (Rose Theatre, Kingston), a musical number for A Song Cycle for Soho (Soho Theatre) and the opening number for 2014’s West End Bares (Café de Paris).  They are currently writing a new stage musical adaptation of Treasure Island for Singapore Repertory Theatre, which will open in Autumn 2015 directed by Prodigy director Kate Golledge  For more information, please visit www.brungerandcleary.co.uk or follow Jake and Pippa on Twitter @jakeandpippa

Jake’s additional credits include:  Sam’s Game (Lakeside Arts Centre, dir. Indhu Rubasingham), Pub Quiz (Manchester Royal Exchange Studio, which he also directed), People Like Us (Vineyard Theatre, New York / Pleasance Theatre), ‘AVE IT (Old Vic Tunnels), Chavs (Lyric Hammersmith Studio) and Brave New Worlds (Nabokov Theatre / Soho Theatre). Jake has also worked as an Assistant Director, with West End credits including Calendar Girls, Deathtrap and Barking in Essex. His upcoming work includes Four Play, which recently received a reading at the Old Vic Theatre starring Richard Madden and Jeremy Irvine. 

Pippa’s additional credits include: Next Fall (Southwark Playhouse), The Night Before Christmas (Humble Theatre Company), Tess of the D’Urbervilles (South Hill Park / Youth Music Theatre UK), Alice in Wonderland (Polka Theatre) and Katy’s Road Show (UK Tour). Awards include the Arts Foundation Fellowship for Musical Theatre Composition, the inaugural The Times Christmas Carol Competition and the Musical Theatre Matters Judges Discretionary Award for Compositional Development. She also runs Pippa’s Poppets; toddler and baby music classes with original songs.

“NYMT gave me a sense of

discipline, a sense of improvement,

a sense of responsibility, a

sense of playing a part in a company…”

JUDE LAW___________________________NYMT Patron / Alumnus 1987-90

THECREATIVETEAM

CANDIDA CALDICOT Musical Director & Orchestrator | Prodigy

Candida has been working with NYMT for the last three years as a workshop MD. She was also MD for Jake and Pippa’s first Musical Jet Set Go! in 2009.

Theatre as Musical Director: Peter Pan (Regents Park Open Air Theatre) A Mad World My Masters (English Touring Theatre); The Witch of Edmonton, The Heresy of Love, The Heart of Robin Hood (RSC); The Tempest (RSC US Suitcase Tour); Galileo (Birmingham Rep); A Soldier in Every Son (International Tour); Bed and Sofa (Finborough); The Vaudevillians (Lowry Theatre, Manchester and Charing Cross); Everything Must Go (Soho).

Other theatre includes: The White Devil, Arden of Faversham, Titus Andronicus, Richard III, King John, City Madam, Wendy and Peter, 50 years of the RSC Musical (RSC); The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz (Palladium), La Cage Aux Folles (Playhouse).

Composing: Buckets (Orange Tree) Promenade Summer Seasons 2009-2014 (Iris Theatre); Macbeth (Shakespeare in Styria); Once Upon a Time (Booktrust Tour); The Hostage (Southwark Playhouse)

FELICITY BUTLER Choreographer | Pendragon

Since graduating from Guildford School of Acting, Felicity has worked as a performer and choreographer across a variety of genres. Most recently, Felicity choreographed for Dream World Wide Productions, working on their tours and corporate events, as well as putting together a flash mob for the charity My Million to One. Choreography credits include Meet Me On The Southbank (feature film premiered at the BFI), The Lost Dragon (Harlow Playhouse), It Don’t Mean a Thing (Music video for the Pink Champagne Sisters), The Oliver Complex (Short Film), Seussical (GSA), the 25th Anniversary UK tour of Stepping Out and several pantomimes for Paul Holman Associates. Felicity has choreographed workshops for and taught at Urdang, Bodyworks and GSA, as well as choreographing for Etherton International School, Stomp in Jersey and numerous NYMT workshops.

NICHOLAS CHAVE Musical Director | Pendragon

Nicholas trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and has since enjoyed a continuing working relationship with Mountview as a practitioner and musical director.

The National Youth Music Theatre has been a large part of Nicholas’ training, having started with Sweeney Todd (The Rose, Kingston) in 2011.  Since then he has been répétiteur for Songs for a New World (Bridewell Theatre) and Assitant MD on West Side Story (Victoria Warehouse, Manchester).  He has also led various workshops over the years and most recently he was the Musical Director for The Ragged Child (The Rose, Kingston).

Credits as Musical Director include the first UK revival of No Way To Treat a Lady (Landor Theatre), the world premiere of Café Nation (Cockpit Theatre), the Back to the Musicals concert series (The Pheasantry) and Cinderella & The Glass Slipper (Hertford Theatre). With Mountview, credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Parade, Mame and the Postgraduate MT Showcase at the end of his studies. Other credits as Assistant MD include: Babes In Arms, Anything Goes, Reefer Madness, and new piece The Martyr.

Nicholas is also a composer and partnered with writer David Kingsmill they made their debut with the five-star acclaimed Out of the Lens at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2014, after which it transferred for a short Off-West End run at the Waterloo East Theatre.  He and David have re-written the work and Out of the Lens is to have its first international outing as part of the ‘Musical Works in Concert’ festival in Toronto, Canada at the end of August. @NickChave @KingsmillChave

TOM DEERING Musical Director | Sweet Charity

Tom is currently the Music Director of Wonder.land, which premiered at the Manchester International Festival and will continue at the National Theatre in autumn 2015. He will also be returning as the Music Supervisor for In the Heights and its recently announced transfer to the Kings Cross Theatre. Tom recently conducted Adam Cork’s soundtrack for the Michael Grandage film Genius. 

Music Director credits: Made in Dagenham (Adelphi Theatre), Hobson’s Choice (Regent’s Park), Music Supervisor of the UK premiere of In the Heights (Southwark Playhouse), From Here to Eternity (Shaftesbury Theatre),  Flowers for Mrs Harris (Workshop/Old Vic), The Color Purple (Menier Chocolate Factory), Evita (Arts Ed), Kiss of the Spiderwoman (Arts Ed), West Side Story (NYMT), The Fantasticks (West End), A Christmas Carol (Birmingham Rep), The Witches of Eastwick (UK Tour), Restoration (UK Tour)

Composing/Conducting credits: In August 2014 Tom composed and conducted the score for the National Youth Ballet’s production of Little Red Riding Hood.  Film credits: As a composer: Last Night a Killer Saved my Life (French Fancy Films) & Lost for Words (Workhouse Films). Film credits as a conductor include: Richard II (Rupert Goold/BBC Films), Macbeth (Rupert Goold/Illuminations)

TV Credits include Don’t Stop Believing (Associate Music Director), The Voice (pianist), The Oh Factor (Musical Director & arranger).

Albums as Conductor/Orchestrator: Just Let Go (Hadley Fraser) Terry Pratchett’s Only You Can Save Mankind (Leighton James House), Looking Up (Simon Bailey), This is Lindsey (Lindsey Cleary), Dark Side of the Egg (The Knights of Hyperbole)

THECREATIVETEAM

KATE GOLLEDGE Director | Prodigy

Training: Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts.   Kate is an Associate Artist of the Singapore Repertory Theatre for whom she has directed Junior Claus, The Nightingale, Red Riding Hood and Fantastic Mr Fox. She will direct a new adaptation of Treasure Island for their Christmas show this year, which has also been written by Jake and Pippa.   As director: Jerry’s Girls (St James Theatre and Jermyn Street); Stroke of Luke (Park Theatre, Finsbury Park); Celeste (Workshop, and Capitol Club, Rome); Claus (Landor Theatre); Passport to Pimlico (A new adaptation performed on location in and around the streets of Pimlico, SouthWestFest); Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus (UK Tour & Edinburgh); The Road to Qatar! (Landor Theatre and Edinburgh Festival) Parade and Spring Awakening (Pleasance Theatre, London); Daisy Pulls It Off (Lost Theatre); Betwixt! (King’s Head & Ambassadors Theatre); Six Women with Brain Death (Edinburgh Pleasance & Soho Theatre Studio); Sweethearts (Finborough); Newsrevue (Canal Café); Be The Star You Are (Young Vic, 2 Boroughs Project); the short film Born Yesterday. Opera includes: A promenade production of Carmen (Opera La Goziniere).  As Associate/ Resident Director: The Wizard of Oz (London Palladium); Sweet Charity (Menier Chocolate Factory & Theatre Royal Haymarket); Educating Rita & Shirley Valentine (Menier Chocolate Factory & Trafalgar Studios); new jazz opera Bridgetower – a Fable of 1807 (UK Tour, English Touring Opera); Bend It Like Beckham (Workshop, Sonia Friedman Productions).  As Assistant Director: Daddy Cool (Shaftesbury Theatre); Get Carter (Red Shift Theatre Company UK Tour); Salome (Royal Opera House) and The Doorway Project led by Phyllida Lloyd and Kate Flatt (Young Vic); Julius Caesar (Dir: Deborah Warner, Barbican)  For drama schools: Back to Before – a celebration of the collaborations of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (Arts Ed), Kiss Me, Kate (Mountview); The Sunshine Gang (The MTA); Honk, Once On This Island and A Hollywood Party (Trinity College of Music); Footloose, Princess Ida (Arts Ed).   Kate was a 2009 JMK Trust Award finalist with The Crucible.   www.kategolledge.co.uk

ANDY GRAHAM Sound Designer | Prodigy

Andy studied at Mountview Theatre School.  For NYMT Andy has worked as a sound operator on 13 and as a designer on The Other School and Brass.  Recent design/associate design credits also include Once (Olympia Theatre, Dublin); High Society (Old Vic, London); Upper Cut (Southwark Playhouse); Rumpelstiltskin (the egg, Bath); The Nightmares of Carlos Fuentes (Arcola Theatre); as well as many productions for Kneehigh Theatre Company.

THECREATIVETEAM

HOWARD HUDSON Lighting Designer | Sweet Charity

For NYMT: The Other School (St James). Theatre credits includes: Swan Lake (English National Ballet, UK Tour); Bedroom Farce, Separate Tables (Salisbury Playhouse); The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 the Musical (Leicester Curve); Oliver!, The Secret Adversary (Watermill & UK Tour); Private Peaceful (Tobacco Factory, Bristol); Toro Toro (Northcott Exeter & UK Tour); Philip Pullman’s Grimm Tales (Southbank and Shoreditch Town Hall); The Miser (Theatre Royal Windsor & UK Tour); 1936 (Sadlers Wells); Less Than Kind (Yvonne Arnaud & UK Tour); In The Heights, Dogfight, Titanic, Victor Victoria, Mack and Mabel, Parade (Southwark Playhouse); State Fair (Trafalgar Studios); Cowardy Custard (Yvonne Arnaud & UK Tour); Spring Awakening (Rose, Kingston). Opera includes: Fidelio, Vert-Vert (Garsington Opera); Arianna In Crete (Royal College of Music); Lakmé (Opera Holland Park). International credits include, Titanic (Princess of Wales, Toronto); a new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera (Operetta Theatre, Bucharest); Death and the Maiden, Educating Rita (English Theatre Frankfurt); La Cage Aux Folles (Aarhus Theatre, Denmark); Cornelius (59E59, New York); Long Day’s Journey Into Night (City Hall Theatre, Bermuda); Brazouka (UK, South Africa and Australia Tour). Associate Lighting Designer credits include: Du Ska Fa En Dag I Mara (Norwegian Theatre, Oslo); Hair, Deathtrap, Five Guys Named Moe (English Theatre Frankfurt). He received the Off West End Award for Best Lighting Design in 2011, 2012 and 2014.

www.howardhudson.co.uk

DARRAGH O’LEARY Choreographer|Prodigy

Choreography credits include Snoopy (Ivy Arts Centre, dir: Lotte Wakeham), Saturday Night Fever (English Theatre Frankfurt, dir: Ryan Mc Bryde), Sing to the Flags (Southbank Centre), Passport to Pimlico (Grassroots Productions, dir: Kate Golledge), Spring Awakening (Cottiers, dir: Johnny McKnight), Assistant Director and Choreographer on West Side Story (HMP Erlestoke for Pimlico Opera, dir: Nikki Woollaston), A Man of No Importance (RCS, dir: Johnny McKnight), Red Riding Hood (Everyman, dir: Catherine MahonBuckley), The Lazy Elf (Arts Theatre, dir: Jo Noel-Hartley), Assistant Choreographer on Dance the Decades (O2 Arena, chor: Liz Hill).  

Credits as Movement Director include Brainstorm (National Theatre & Park Theatre, dir: Ned Glasier & Emily Lim), Nicola Benedetti at Kelvingrove Museum, Assistant Movement Director on Ragnarok (Eastern Angles, dir: Hal Chambers)  

Other credits include Choreography Co-ordinator on the Opening Ceremony of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Mass Choreographer on the Opening Ceremonies of the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Mass Movement Assistant on the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Director and Co-Writer of The Bowlly Years (Jermyn St Theatre & Union Theatre).  

www.darragholeary.co.uk

THECREATIVETEAM

TOM MARSHALL Sound Designer | Sweet Charity

Sweet Charity marks Tom’s third show for NYMT.

Sound Designer: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (UK Tour), Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Playhouse Theatre, London), The Hired Man (St James Theatre, London), West Side Story (Victoria Warehouse, Manchester), My Favorite Year (Bridewell Theatre, London), The Tailor Made Man (Arts Theatre, London), Legally Blonde (Arts Educational School, London), Pushing up Poppies (Theatre 503, Battersea, London), Boys in The Band (Aldwych Thatre, London)

Associate Sound Designer: Love Me Tender (UK Tour), Gypsy (Savoy Theatre, London), Made in Dagenham (Adelphi Theatre, London), The Water Babies (Leicester Curve), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Savoy Theatre, London), Stephen Ward (Aldwych Theatre, London), Fiddler On the Roof (UK Tour), Highland Fling (Glasgow Theatre Royal), Passion Play (Richmond Theatre, London), The Bodyguard (Adelphi Theatre, London), I Dreamed a Dream – The Susan Boyle Story (UK Tour), Vampirette (Manchester Opera House), Street of Dreams (UK Arena Tour), Oliver! (2011 UK Tour), Horrible Histories – Barmy Britain (Garrick Theatre, London), Chess (Princess of Wales Theatre,Toronto), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Novello Theatre, London), Never Forget – The Take That Musical (UK Tour & Savoy Theatre), Daddy Cool (Shaftesbury Theatre, London & Berlin), The King & I (UK Tour), The Full Monty (UK Tour).

London Theatre Mixing credits include; Oliver! (Palladium Production), Showboat, West Side Story, Oklahoma!, Tess of the D’Urbervilles, The King & I, My Fair Lady, The Full Monty, Anything Goes!, Acorn Antiques-The Musical, Porgy & Bess, Oliver! (Theatre Royal Drury Lane Production) and, most recently, Chess (Toronto).

As a freelance sound engineer Tom has mixed countless concerts at the London Palladium and Theatre Royal Drury Lane over the past decade. Classical work includes the Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall and the Paraorchestra. He also regularly mixes large international corporate events, a highlight of which was the stadium athletics at the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As a Live Music engineer Tom has had the privilege of mixing and touring with many artists such as The Coral, The Bees, The Lightning Seeds, Elaine Paige, Lewis Taylor, Martina-Topley-Bird, Bjorn Agai and the internationally acclaimed PJ Harvey.

THECREATIVETEAM

LUCIE PANKHURST Choreographer|Sweet Charity

Lucie trained at the Arts Educational School and the London School of Contemporary Dance.

For theatre, her credits include Troilus and Cressida at the National Theatre, directed by Sir Trevor Nunn and assistant choreographer to Arlene Philips for the original choreography We Will Rock You, directed by Christopher Renshaw.

Other work includes, Shock Treatment (Kings Head); The Royale (Bush Theatre), Love Story (Union Theatre), Dogfight (Southwark Playhouse), Catfish! The Musical (YMT/ Lyric), Closer Than Ever (Urdang Academy), Songs for a New World (GSA), Betwixt (Kings Head), Dancing at Lughnasa, Twelfth Night, 3 Men in a Boat and Birdsong for the Original Theatre Company, Mort, Love and Madness, Vanishing Point and Peter Pan for YMT (Peter Pan also as a workshop production at the Lyric Theatre), The Fast Show Live tour, directed by Roxanna Silbert. Drowning Point, BlueGreen Productions, Edinburgh Festival and Regents Park Open Air Theatre. Lucie has devised, directed and choreographed shows for Ocean Village cruises for Micha Bergese Productions and the show Cacophony, a national tour for the Generating Company.

Television credits include series choreographer Horrible Histories - also the Prom concert 2011, Viva Blackpool, The Omid Djalili Show and Dead Ringers (3 series), Some Girls, Watson and Oliver and Dead Boss for the BBC. Hit Me Baby One More Time, X-Factor and Bonkers for ITV. Wedding Belles by Irvin Welsh, Paul O’Grady Show, Boys Will Be Girls and Bad Education for Channel 4 and Caroline Quentins’ Little Cracker for Sky. Films include scenes in Lady Chatterley’s Lover for Hartswood Films due for release later this year, Snow White and the Huntsman and Maleficent.

Lucie has also choreographed and directed movement for commercials for companies including , 4Creative, RSA, Hungry Man and Homecorps. She’s worked on live events such as contributions to the Cultural Olympiad, launches, hair and fashion shows in the U.K and internationally. Her own productions have been supported at the Place Choreodrome, seen at the South Bank, Lilian Baylis Theatre and at the Place Theatre as part of the Spring Loaded season.

THECREATIVETEAM

“There’s something truly uplifting about the work of The National Youth Music Theatre - witnessing so many talented youngsters working towards such a grand and high octane production.”WhatsOnStage

In its illustrious history - which includes a number of Edinburgh

Fringe Firsts, BAFTA shortlisting for its TV adaptations and

numerous international tours - it is difficult to imagine that the

National Youth Music Theatre has ever been on better form…”

British Theatre Guide

DIEGO PITARCH Designer | Prodigy

Diego was born in Valencia (Spain) where he trained as an Architect. In 1992 he moved to Paris (France)  to complete a four year course in Interior Design at the prestigious E.S.A.G. school of Design. For his final diploma he was declared first of his promotion and obtained an Excellency award for his Thesis in Theatre Design.

While in Paris he collaborated with the prestigious American designer, Hilton McConnico. Amongst other projects Diego contributed to the design of an exhibition celebrating the “Carre” Hermes at the Suntory Museum in Osaka (Japan).

1999 saw Diego relocating to London to study at the Slade School of Art where he successfully completed his MA in Theatre Design. In 2001 he was selected for the Linbury Prize and his design, for Katya Kabanova for the  Welsh National Opera, placed him amongst the finalists.

Since then Diego has developed a career as an International Theatre Designer, collaborating with renowned Directors and Companies. His work has appeared in theatres across the UK, Europe and the Caribbean. Some of his recent successes include Sunset Boulevard in London’s West End and Spend, Spend, Spend which won a TMA award for Best Musical in 2009, the 2011 European tour of The Who’s Tommy, the 2013 UK and Ireland tour of Fiddler on the Roof starring Paul Michael Glaser and the 2014 UK touring production of Fame.

CHARLIE SIMPSON Sound Designer | Pendragon

Over the last six years Charlie has been involved in over 15 NYMT productions, the most recent of which include The Ragged Child and Whistle Down the Wind as Sound Designer, and The Other School and Brass (UK Theatre Award for Best Musical) as Sound No.1  Outside of NYMT, Charlie is currently in between legs of Kneehigh’s new touring production of Rebecca as head of sound. Other sound credits include High Society (Old Vic), Les Miserables (Queen’s), Memphis (Shaftesbury) and King Charles III (Wyndham’s) 

THECREATIVETEAM

JEREMY JAMES TAYLOR Director | Pendragon

Jeremy founded The National Youth Music Theatre in 1976 and led it as Artistic Director for twenty-seven years till 2003. He has written over thirty pieces for the company, directed over forty, and has won seven Fringe First awards at the Edinburgh Festival.

The NYMT has played to universal acclaim worldwide. Among its many successes are the sell-out West End smash-hit, Bugsy Malone, at the Queens Theatre; The Dreaming (Howard Goodall’s musical version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream) at Covent Garden and across the world; Pendragon on Broadway (where it won The Critics Choice award); The Ragged Child (subsequently on BBC TV); The Kissing Dance (a musical version of She Stoops To Conquer); and many more.

Jeremy started his career at The National Theatre as actor and director. He was Associate Director at The Young Vic from 1975-8 before directing freelance for the English National Opera and Glyndebourne, amongst many others. He has directed all over the world, including shows in Sydney, Hong Kong, Toronto and on Broadway, and has worked on the casting of many films, including Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Sleepy Hollow and most recently Sweeney Todd.

Jeremy was made an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List of 2010 for services to Young People and to Musical Theatre.

THECREATIVETEAM

LOTTE WAKEHAM Director | Sweet Charity

Lotte began her directing career as an assistant director for NYMT, on The Dreaming. In 2013 she directed the world premiere of The Other School (St James).

Theatre directing includes: Twelfth Night (UK tour), Danny The Champion Of The World (UK tour); Upper Cut (Southwark Playhouse); Rumpelstiltskin (The Egg, Theatre Royal Bath); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (UK tour); Lizzie Siddal (Arcola Theatre) – winner of two Off West End Awards; The Beautiful Game (Union Theatre); Spend, Spend, Spend (Bridewell Theatre); The Kissing-Dance (Jermyn Street - nomination for ‘Best Director’ in the Off West End Awards); Austentatious (Landor Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Network Theatre); Rapunzel (Singapore Repertory Theatre); Allegro (Bridewell Theatre); The House of Bernada Alba (Electric Theatre); Jekyll’s Potion (Vienna’s English Theatre/tour); The Happiest Day of Your Life (Vineyard Theatre, New York); Fair Trade (Edinburgh/tour); Thinking The Deep Thoughts (Old Vic); The Junction (Theatre 503); The Diary of a Nobody (Drill Hall); The ‘Language of Love’ Shakespeare Festival (Rose Theatre, Kingston); Rain, Steam and Speed (Etcetera Theatre); Dido, Queen of Carthage (Little Hawks).

Radio: Before They Were Famous (BBC Radio 4/ Hat Trick); Macbeth (London Contemporary Theatre).

Lotte is the Associate Director of Matilda for the Royal Shakespeare Company (West End and Broadway) and has worked extensively as an assistant/associate director in the West End.

She read English Literature at Oxford University and attended the National Theatre Studio Directors’ Course.

@LotteWakeham

THECREATIVETEAM

DAVID WOODHEAD Designer | Sweet Charity

David was a finalist in the Linbury Prize for Stage Design and won the Off-West End Award for Best Designer for Titanic and Lizzie Siddal. Theatre includes: Titanic (Southwark Playhouse and Princess of Wales, Toronto);  The Wasp  (Hampstead);  Café Society Swing (59E59, New York); Cornelius (Finborough Theatre and 59E59 New York), Abigail’s Party  (Leicester Curve);  Billy Liar  (Royal Exchange Theatre); The House of Mirrors & Hearts, Lizzie Siddal, Knives in Hens (Arcola Theatre); Next Fall, Farragut North (Southwark Playhouse); Bed & Sofa (Finborough Theatre); The Music Man, Soho Cinders, Betty Blue Eyes and Sweet Smell of Success (Arts Ed, London); Kindertransport, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot  and  Hedda Gabler  (LAMDA);  Love and Understanding  (Battersea Arts Centre); Six Ways (Jermyn Street Theatre) and Kindertransport (Unity Theatre Liverpool). 

JAMES WHITESIDE Lighting Designer | Prodigy

James’ recent credits include: The Royale, Disgraced and Fear for the Bush Theatre, London; Miss Julie/Black Comedy, A Marvellous Year for Plums, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Wallenstein, Funny Girl, The Hundred and One Dalmations, The Witches and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe for Chichester Festival Theatre; Love Me Tender on a UK Tour; The Good Person of Sichuan for the Mercury, Colchester; Water Babies at Curve, Leicester; Dance ‘Til Dawn and Midnight Tango at the Aldwych, London.

For Tall Stories Theatre Company credits include: The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child and Room On The Broom.

Forthcoming productions include: The Night Before Christmas for West Yorkshire Playhouse; Monsieur Popular for Bath Theatre Royal and a UK Tour of The Last Tango.

THECREATIVETEAM

THE NATIONAL YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE

President: HRH The Earl of Wessex, KG, GCVO

Founder: Jeremy James Taylor, OBE

Patrons: Tom Chambers, Idris Elba, Jude Law, Amy Nuttall, Sheridan Smith, OBE

The Board: Paul Munden (Chair) Jon Bath, Katie Beard, Victoria Bracey, Jenny Cooke, OBE, Michael Jibson, Toby Jones, John Morton, Jeremy Walker, FRSA

Administrator Cicero Magalhães

Production Manager James Henshaw

Programme Editor Rebeccca Ridout

Pastoral Team Anna Britton, David Grant, Alice Hardy, Sarah Harris, Brian Murray, Kathleen Nance, Rebecca Ridout, Ruth Seager, Benjamin Sheen, Ben Simpson

Head Chaperone Simon Woolley

Chaperones Mirelle Ellington, Marie Hopkins, Anne-Marie Horton, Rebecca Ridout, Ben Simpson

Producer Jeremy Walker for NYMT

WINNER OF UK THEATRE AWARD 2014 & ORIGINAL CAST RECORDING

Brass, commissioned by NYMT, written by Benjamin Till and directed by Sara Kestelman at City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds, won the UK Theatre Award for Best Musical Production in 2014.

UK Theatre Awards are the only nationwide Awards to honour outstanding achievement in regional theatre throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The award was presented by Brian Conley at a ceremony in London’s Guildhall on Sunday 19th October.

Later that year, there was also a successful crowd-funding campaign for an Original NYMT Cast Recording. You can order your copy through our website: www.nymt.org.uk

“Now the young cast has its astounding performances immortalized forever in this beautiful cast recording, and the show has the opportunity to reach an even wider audience” Mark Shenton

NYMT commissioned Brass to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War. The story follows a group of Leeds residents from the start of the war until the battle of the Somme in 1916. It is an epic musical about love and survival.

THANKSAdam’s Trust, Clyst St Mary

Arts Council England

Andrew and Victoria Bracey

Bedford Modern School

Birmingham Conservatoire

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School

Chetham’s School of Music

Culford School

Curve, Leicester

East Wickham and Welling War

Memorial Trust

The El Bishlawi Family

Future Talent

Harpur Trust

Grant Hicks

James Leach

James Robinson

Letchworth Heritage Foundation

& Civic Trust

Living Ventures Restaurants Ltd

The Mackintosh Foundation

Mo’s Espresso Bar, Welling

Northern Ballet

The Rainford Trust

Richard Carne Trust

The Richard Williams Singers Choir

Richardson Hotels – The Grand Hotel,

Torquay

The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust

Rotary Club of Luton

Sevenoaks School

Sidcup Rotary Club

Sir Andrew Martin Trust

Southover Manor General Education Trust

Stage Sound Services

St James Theatre, London

Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds

Tonbridge School

Treorchy Male Voice Choir

Treorchy MV Choir of the Year

Competition

Trinity Laban External Courses Fund

Veronica Awdry Charitable Trust

Wales Millennium Centre

Westminster Under School

White Light Ltd

Carol Wilson

Wimbledon School of Art

Provision for the performing arts flourishes.The extra-curricular programme is extensiveand many successes, from local to nationallevel, are achieved in a variety of fields.

Independent Schools Inspectorate 2014

Open Day: Saturday 14 November 2015

“

“

Be inspired.

/BedfordModernSchool @bedfordmodern

www.bedmod.co.ukPart of The Harpur Trust, BMS is an HMC Independent Day School for boys and girls aged 7-18.

WHY SUPPORT US?

BURSARY CAMPAIGN

“NYMT has been the most valuable experience of my entire life. Not only has it provided me with connections to current working figures within the theatre industry but has also provided me with a family of young people who are constantly my rock, my inspiration and my closest friends.”

Emma Ernest, aged 18

“I cannot put into words the impact my time with NYMT has had on me. I have worked alongside the very best creative talent there is and I am extremely proud to have been part of NYMT’s wonderful history. So many of the friends I made during my time in the company are still in touch - there have been many parties and reunions across the years and last year I was especially proud to be at an NYMT wedding. It truly is the best youth music theatre company in the world, not only for the work it does on- and off-stage during productions, but because of the confidence it instills in young people and the friendships that are forged”

Matt Hawksworth, Director & Choreographer, alumnus 1999-2003

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

The National Youth Music Theatre is a small arts charity and relies upon participants’ fees, ticket sales from productions and income generated through fundraising.

For nearly 40 years, NYMT has enabled young people across the UK to develop both their creative and personal potential, leading Andrew Lloyd Webber to dub it ‘the best youth music theatre in the world’. We work tirelessly to attract a diverse range of young people. All of the young people who take part in NYMT’s activities testify to its benefits, describing it as a ‘life-changing’ experience. Not only do they extend their skills within the main disciplines of musical theatre (acting, singing and dance), they also develop key learning and life skills: the ability to work as part of a team, improved communication skills, increased confidence and growing self-esteem.

NYMT’s developing Workshop Programme in schools and colleges is helping to broaden the company’s existing demographic by engaging young people from less advantaged backgrounds. We award hardship bursaries that enable young people to participate in our work, who wouldn’t be able to afford to otherwise. We want to ensure that the NYMT never has to turn away a promising talent.

“In NYMT you get to work with such amazing directors, choreographers and musical directors who all encourage you to be the best you can be. It is amazing to be treated like a professional at such a young age and you learn so much from everyone else involved in the production. Being in the company has really helped me to develop my skills and has increased my confidence as a performer. It is an incredibly rewarding experience that I will remember for life - I loved every single minute of it!”

Billy Nevers, aged 14

“I owe so so much to NYMT. Having not been

to drama school, they were my training going

into the business, and my summers with them

were some of the best of my life! However, without the bursary

scheme, I simply would have been unable

to take part. I am so grateful for every

single opportunity the company has given me, and only hope they can continue to offer these opportunities to others

in the future!”

STEWART CLARKE___________________________Actor, NYMT alumnus 2010-12

HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT US?

COURSES AND WORKSHOPS

BECOME A FRIEND OF NYMT!

Benefits include:

Regular News - Be the first to receive NYMT mailings Priority booking - Be among the first to book with Friends priority booking Social events - Invitations to Friends only drinks receptions, workshops & other cultural events

DONATE TO THE ANNUAL FUND

The Annual Fund seeks to support the cost of NYMT productions and you may choose to help by supporting a specific production cost such as lighting, sound, props or costumes.

To DONATE or become a FRIEND, please visit www.nymt.org.uk/support-nymt

For nearly 40 years, the multi-award winning National Youth Music Theatre has been at the forefront of training and inspiring young people in musical theatre. At several points throughout the year, NYMT run workshops and residential courses as well as the summer season of shows.

The courses are  led by an outstanding team of practitioners and industry experts. They provide young people with the opportunity to make new friends and build up confidence in musical theatre. They will learn new skills and develop existing strengths as a performer. The workshop days and longer residential courses cover a wide range of activities. These include audition technique, acting through song, devising scenes, stage combat and classes in all three disciplines of acting, singing and dancing… plus a guaranteed NYMT experience!

“The summer course provided me with the opportunity to advance my skills in a fun and safe learning environment. Ultimately, it gave me the confidence and determination to audition for the shows the following season and pursue my performing career” – Lissie Minnit

“This course gave me, not only, one of the best weeks of my life but it gave me an opportunity to look at what it’s like to be involved in the theatre business in an extremely friendly environment…” – Matthew Palliser-Kehoe

For information on the 2016 courses, sign up to our newsletter via the website:www.nymt.org.uk

2015 FINALE… THE NYMT CHRISTMAS CONCERT

This year’s Christmas Concert takes place on Sunday 20th at St Johns, Smith Square. NYMT Members and alumni join together to celebrate the Christmas message in words and

music, song and dance.

For information and booking, sign up to our newsletter via www.nymt.org.uk

The Children’s Music Theatre Ltd. Trading as The National Youth Music Theatre.Company Registration No: 01508781. Registered Charity No: 281159. VAT No: 426 608254

NYMT, Adrian House, 27 Vincent Square, London, SW1P 2NN

www.nymt.org.uk