Leona picked for national ensemble
Scottish Youth Theatre names final line-up
Crieff teenager Leona Craig. Pic: Drew Farrell Perthshire student Leona Craig has been selected from more than 100 applicants to be part of Scottish Youth Theatre’s inaugural National Ensemble.
After three months of call-outs and auditioning in excess of 100 young performers nationally, organisers finally unveiled the line-up for their first-ever group of its kind – and the 17-year-old from Crieff made it to the final 24.
The talented performer was unveiled alongside the other selected members last weekend.
Back in December 2016, when Scottish Youth Theatre celebrated its 40th anniversary, the company opened registrations for the Ensemble, inviting 16- to 25-yearolds who live, work, study or have family in Scotland to register for an open audition.
More than 130 young people put themselves forward, including Leona.
The teenager’s love of theatre began when she was young and she has already played a variety of roles in local theatre groups – her favourites being Fantine in Les Miserables and Maria in the The Sound of Music. Despite her experience, she is keen to benefit from what the Ensemble experience has to offer.
Leona said: “I think the Scottish Youth Theatre National Ensemble will be a real challenge for me, as it will push me in different creative directions.
“I am very excited as to where this will take me and to see my progression as a performer while working with very influential people.”
The multi-talented performer is hoping she can offer a musical contribution to the Ensemble.
She added: “Aside from theatre, I am also very musical and I hope to bring a musical dimension to the Ensemble.
“My main instruments are voice and piano but I am also self-taught in guitar and penny whistle. My current venture is the banjo.”
Leona aims to study for an HNC in Musical Theatre at college next year and hopes to go on to gain a degree level qualification.
David Griffiths, Crieff High School’s head of music, said he was delighted for Leona.
He declared: “It is a huge achievement to be part of Scottish Youth Theatre.
“Leona, as many will know, has been part of every performance at Crieff High School over the last six years and has grown as a performer, as well as having the initiative and drive to organise concerts, dance ensembles and involve herself in every aspect of the department’s life.
“My personal favourite, of course, was last year when she played Dorothy in the school show, Gregory’s Girl the musical.
“Leona has a beautiful and distinctive voice and has attended the junior department of the RCS for several years now where she has worked on many musical theatre projects.
“It’s no surprise to find that Leona’s dream is to pursue a career in musical theatre once her studies are over.”
SYT artistic director Mary McCluskey added: “We auditioned in Inverness, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dumfries and were so inspired by the talent we saw.
“It was a very hard job whittling the numbers down to just 24. It goes without saying that the young people selected have exceptional ability and I am very much looking forward to seeing how Leona grows as theatre maker during her time as an Ensemble member.”