A lively group of Lyme Youth Theatre members enjoyed an inspiring and exciting week of theatre at their Summer School at the Marine Theatre last week.  

Drama tutors Polly Agg-Manning (Exeter Northcott Theatre), her sister Harriet, and David Lockwood (ex Cygnet Training Theatre; now working for Shakespeare4Kids) covered everything from Shakespeare and Doctor Who to improvisation and drama games.   Margie Barbour presented a ‘Filming for TV’ workshop which gave everyone a chance to see themselves on television.   Pete Linnett from Lyme Regis achieved some wonderful singing and rhythm work getting even the most reluctant singers to join in.   Street Dance expert Laura Cuschieri who has her own dance company in Bournemouth presented the most exhausting workshop of the week which included learning a scene from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar.   Richard Hay, who travelled all the way from Wales, had everyone learning how to fight without hurting themselves in his Stage Combat workshop.  Richard is one of the very first students to be doing a degree in Stage Combat, and will be in great demand when he graduates next summer.

On Wednesday evening the whole group saw ‘Treasure Island’, the sell-out performance by Quantum Theatre at the Marine Theatre, and on Friday the older members enjoyed a barbecue on the beach.

The week finished on Saturday with groups presenting their own scenes using skills and techniques learnt during the week and showing them to parents and friends.

Lyme Youth Theatre classes start again on Saturday 8th of September.  There will be a new class for younger members (8+) with Mary-Ann Crafter, a very popular local primary school teacher.  Director Alistair Ganley will also be involved with the new class as well as continuing with the usual 10-2 class.   Various new projects and new tutors are planned for the coming year.   Anyone aged between 8 and 16 is welcome to join LYT.  Enquiries to LYT@marinetheatre.com or telephone the theatre office on 01297 442394.   See LYT on the web at www.marinetheatre.com/lymeyouththeatre

Monika Henshaw