Blackpool's Grand Theatre is helping young performers with new training and development opportunities in new acting and musical theatre training schemes as part of its Grand Young Company.
Auditions for the new "training pathways" will take place in July for young people from Blackpool and its surrounding areas. The acting course is for 14 to 19-year-olds and the musical theatre course is for 16 to 24 year-olds.
The training pathways will run from September 2024- July 2025 and will offer a programme of artist development activity: creative and practical sessions focused on building skills in professional performance and modern theatre practice, delivered by leading artists and theatre companies from across the UK.
The courses follow the successful relaunch of the newly-reimagined Grand Young Company last October, with a vision to provide excellence in training and artistic development for young people with an interest in future creative careers in theatre.
This month the GYC’s first intake of young theatre makers and performers have completed eight months of high-level training, receiving acclaim for their performance of Charlie Josephine’s new play Orchestra as part of the National Theatre Connections festival in April.
Theatre chief executive Adam Knight said: “As a former member of the National Youth Theatre and National Youth Music Theatre myself, I know just how important it is for young people to have high-quality opportunities to explore and develop their craft, to be inspired by experienced professionals, and to have pathways for future career opportunities.”
Open audition workshops for the GYC acting pathway will take place in the theatre's studio on July 15 and 16 (both days, 5pm to 8pm), while open audition workshops for the musicals pathway are in the same place on July 17 (Beginner’s dance, 10am-12.30pm; Intermediate dance, 1pm-3.30pm and Advanced dance, 4pm-5.30pm) and on July 20 (Beginner’s dance, 10am-12.30pm; Intermediate, 1pm-3.30pm; Advanced 4pm-5.30pm).
Following six months of training starting in September, both groups will perform in front of audiences on the main stage and studio at the theatre.
Director of the GYC, Mykey Young, said: “As someone who started in the arts with training in the youth theatre here, it's important for me that the next generation of young performers and theatre makers from our home town has access to exceptional opportunities that could inspire their future careers.
"We have loved every moment of working with our 2023/2024 company members, and now to be able to launch our new Musical Theatre Pathway for 2024/2025 is a dream come true."
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