Ayr’s starring role in big youth festival
Ayr took on a starring role as the UK’s biggest youth theatre festival came to town for a fantastic weekend of live shows.
For the first time in its history, more than 150 participants representing more than a dozen youth theatre groups from across Scotland and beyond based themselves in Ayrshire for the weekend of performance.
The festival spent six successful years at The Rothes Halls in Fife before moving to The Gaiety theatre for another hugely successful edition this year.
A highlight of the programme was a special performance called Made in Ayrshire by groups from around Ardrossan, Kilmarnock and Largs.
Performers marked the start of the event with a special launch on Friday afternoon as representatives from Youth Theatre Arts Scotland, South Ayrshire Council and The Gaiety theatre welcomed talented young groups.
As well as some of Ayrshire’s finest young performers, the festival saw talents from around Scotland head to Ayrshire and sleep in a special festival village at Rozelle Park.
And the weekend became an international affair as Young Theatre Arts Scotland welcomed the SOPA Youth Theatre Company from Malta for this year’s edition.
Performances kicked off with Kilmarnock- based group Centrestage performing their adaptation of the classic Lord of the Flies on Friday afternoon, followed by Made In Ayrshire.
The first night of the festival came to an end with an original piece of theatre created by The Gaiety’s resident young company.
On Saturday, East Lothian Youth Theatre started proceedings with Unconscious, before Firefly Arts from West Lothian performed Buckle Up.
The international guests were the main event on Saturday as the SOPA Youth Theatre performed What A Piece Of Work Is Man.
And on Sunday, the final day of the festival, the Regal Youth Company based in West Lothian presented Project 404 followed by Small Talk by Cumbernauld Youth Theatre.
Falkirk Youth Theatre performed The Incredible Adam Spark before the curtain came down on the weekend with two new works created by young people at festival workshops.
This year’s event has already enjoyed success after an online crowdfunding project raised more than £ 20,000 five days ahead of its deadline.
The # PlayaLeadRole project will help to ensure that all young theatre- makers can continue to enjoy the experiences offered by the National Festival of Youth Theatre.