Gaiety first as UK’s largest youth theatre festival visits Ayr
Budding young talent will fill the stalls of the Gaiety Theatre on Friday ( July 7) as 150 participants in this year’s National Festival of Youth Theatre ( NFYT) mark the start of a wonderful weekend of workshops, performances and social activities.
Joining them will be Kenny McGlashan ( CEO of Youth Theatre Arts Scotland), Councillors Siobhian Brown and Lee Lyons ( South Ayrshire Council) and Jeremy Wyatt ( Gaiety Theatre Chief Executive).
After six successful years at The Rothes Halls in Fife, NFYT moves camp for the first time to Ayr and The Gaiety Theatre.
This year’s NFYT brings together youth theatre groups from across Scotland and further afield, including Malta.
As part of the festival, there will be performance called Made in Ayrshire created by groups from Ardrossan, Kilmarnock and Largs.
This year’s event has already enjoyed success as part of Kickstarter project # PlayaLeadRole.
The project raised more than the initial £ 20,000 target five days ahead of the fundraising deadline, thanks to support from around the world.
The generosity of these # PlayaLeadRole donors ensures all young theatre- makers continue to enjoy the opportunities and life experiences that NFYT offers.
Youth theatre groups taking part in NFYT 2017 are: Aberdeen Performing Arts Youth Theatre, Centrestage Music Theatre, Cumbernauld Youth Theatre, East Lothian Youth Theatre, Falkirk Youth Theatre, Firefly Arts, Gaiety Young Company, Made in Ayrshire, Rowland’s Drama Group, Ryan Youth Theatre, SOPA Youth Theatre Company ( Malta), The Regal Youth Company and Tron YT Seniors.
Made in Ayrshire groups are: Ayrshire Film Company ( Ardrossan), East Ayrshire Youth Theatre ( Kilmarnock) and Largs Youth Theatre ( Largs).
Performances will take place at the Gaiety Theatre, with workshops in venues in Ayr town centre. The festival campsite will be in Holy Fair Field at Rozelle Park.
Full festival programme and ticket details are available at: http:// ayrgaiety. co. uk/ national- festival- of- youththeatre/
Youth Theatre Arts Scotland is the national development organisation for youth theatre.
Its mission is to transform lives through youth theatre by developing inspiring participatory opportunities for young people and by connecting, supporting and training the professionals who work with them.