SCOTS Makar, Liz Lochhead, who is also Scottish Youth Theatre’s patron, visited the company to meet with the cast of young actors staging her play, Thebans, this summer.
The production is part of the company’s Summer Festival, a flagship national event, now in it’s 39th year, gathering young people aged eight-to-25 from across Scotland and beyond.
Young actors get to work with a team of top class professionals as part of courses ranging from one to six weeks, culminating to high quality theatre productions.
During her visit, Liz had a lively discussion with the cast, gave them valuable advice, and even read some of her early poems together with more recent pieces for all Summer Festival participants.
She said: “I am extremely proud to be a patron of Scottish Youth Theatre. The work of the company is invaluable; it’s a melting pot for young people who love theatre, enabling them to experience all aspects of it.
“Youth theatre is a great start to a career in the arts, but also a great place to learn all sorts of skills, make friends for life and discover who you are.
“Scottish Youth Theatre did a fantastic job with my play, Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off, two years ago. It was the best version I had seen in years.
“I very much look forward to seeing Thebans staged by this talented group of young actors.”
Thebans is a re-telling, in a single play, of the ancient stories of the Kingdom of Thebes: of Oedipus the King, of Jokasta his mother/wife, and of their children, the warring brothers Polyneikes and Eteokles and the sisters Ismene and Antigone, who dies rather than obey King Kreon, her uncle, and leave her brother’s corpse unburied. Showing from 28 July to 1 August at SYT.
The second summer production is Collateral Damage, a bold and brave devised piece, exploring the ideas of young people on the theme.
Showing from 29 July to 1 August at SYT.
Mary McCluskey, Scottish Youth Theatre’s artistic director and director of Thebans, said: “Scottish Youth Theatre is delighted to have Liz Lochhead, the country’s national poet, as our patron. Her support and advice has always been inspiring for both staff and participants.”
Tickets for Thebans and Collateral Damage are available by calling 0141 552 3988 or in person at Scottish Youth Theatre’s headquarters at the Old Sheriff Court. £10 (£6), Family ticket £26 (two adults and two children).
Scottish Youth Theatre is Scotland’s national theatre ‘for and by’ young people.
The company runs a varied annual programme of quality theatre arts experiences all around Scotland, all year-round.
Full info on all Scottish Youth Theatre events, performances and activities are available by visiting www.scottishyouththeatre.org or by calling 0141 552 3988.
ENDS
Note to editors:
- Scottish Youth Theatre, Scotland’s national theatre ‘for & by’ young people, established in 1976, delivers theatre arts to young people all around Scotland, all year round.
- Scottish Youth Theatre offers a varied annual programme of quality theatre arts experiences. Full info on all Scottish Youth Theatre events, performances and activities are available by visiting scottishyouththeatre.org or by calling 0141 552 3988.
- Scottish Youth Theatre alumni include Gerard Butler (300), Karen Gillan (Dr. Who) and KT Tunstall (Eye to the Telescope, Drastic Fantastic), Iain De Caestecker (Marvel’s Agents of Shield), Douglas Henshall (Shetland, Primeval) and Kirstie Steele (Waterloo Road, Glasgow Girls).
- Scottish Youth Theatre patrons include Alan Cumming, Emma Thompson, Billy Boyd, Brian Cox, Colin McCredie, Bill Paterson, Paul Riley and Elaine C Smith.
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Scottish Youth Theatre contact details…
Contact: Kyriakos Vogiatzis
Phone: 0141 552 3988
Email: kyriakos@scottishyouththeatre.org
Website: http://www.scottishyouththeatre.org/
