ST MARY'S YOUTH THEATRE: October 2008

Sunday, 19 October 2008

MUSICAL EXPRESS-Destination West End

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MUSICAL EXPRESS
DESTINATION: WEST END
The Carriageworks, Millennium Square
WED 26th –SAT 29th NOV 2008 7.30pm
ADULTS £10 CONC.£7
BOX OFFICE (0113) 224 3801
Climb aboard the musical express as we take you on a journey through the West End of
London with songs and dances from all the
leading musicals that are presently being
performed there.
A musical treat for all the family!

R MARC

St Mary’s Youth Theatre’s old boy Marc Pickering, 23, recently played contestant R Wayne in Peter Kay's Britain's Got The Pop Factor, which was aired on Channel Four. Marc, who starred in many SMYT performances from a very early age, now lives in north London, said: "I was over the moon when I got the part. Peter Kay phoned me up to tell me, which was a shock in itself. When he told me I had the role I couldn't believe it. It was a good opportunity to show my ability as a comedy actor." It is not the first time Marc has appeared on screen. When he was just 13, he starred alongside Johnny Depp in the hit Hollywood film Sleepy Hollow whilst also rehearsing the part of Pilot in SMYT’S Jesus Christ Superstar. He has also starred in the films Calendar Girls and Cashback, as well as TV show Dalziel and Pascoe.

WHO ARE WE

St. Mary's Youth Theatre was formed in August 1993 by Steve Archdale who was concerned about the increasing problems of alcohol and drug abuse in the teenage community of Garforth. With so little for the youngsters to do, especially in the field of theatre arts and drama, the idea of creating a youth theatre seemed appropriate.

A cast of 60+ with ages ranging from 8 to 22 auditioned for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, all were successful, no one was turned away. The show was rehearsed and performed in 8 weeks to thunderous acclaim in a church hall converted into a Pharaoh's tomb by a local artist. The following week they returned eager to find out what they were doing next. What began as a one-off production became the start of many shows to come.

A disastrous fire in 1995 wrecked their headquarters, destroying costumes, props and sets. This could easily have been the end of SMYT but as a result they have pulled together and grown stronger gradually replacing their losses. As members of the Leeds Civic Arts Guild they perform at the new, Leeds Carriageworks theatre which is in the Millenium Square, mainly musicals (i.e., Les Miserables, Jesus Christ Superstar, Fame, Children of Eden, etc.). The National Theatre Connections scheme gives the group the chance to perform new plays written by the very best writers. In 2002 they were fortunate to perform at the Royal National Theatre itself…what an experience! Their latest productions include Little Shop of Horrors, Honk, 17, Feather Boy,The Musicians,We Will Rock You, Rent, Our House, Les Miserables, Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, The Passion, Our Cousin Flo, Scrooge, Peter Pan, Whistle Down The Wind and Annie.

SMYT are now based, rehearse and perform at Green Lane Academy and St Mary's Church, Garforth, Leeds and charge a yearly subscription fee of £40.