Grants sets up Turrets Youth Theatre group for a successful 2018

A YOUTH theatre group has resumed activities for the new year with a spring in its step.

The Turrets Youth Theatre, the junior members of the Castle Players, meet each Wednesday at The Witham.

The group has successfully applied to Teesdale Action Partnership for two grants to support activities for young people in the dale.

Turrets director Rupert Philbrick explained: “These funds were given to support the youth theatre in two ways; by providing funds to secure the core costs of the groups activities over the next 12 months, and a dedicated pot of money to deliver six public workshops throughout 2018.”

Mr Philbrick said these free public workshops would be an opportunity to bring theatre, music and dance professionals who work across the north east and nationally to Barnard Castle to deliver a masterclass not just to the group, but to anyone else that wants to take part.

“Not only will this be a chance to learn new skills, but in meeting and working with these practitioners there is the opportunity to learn more about how they have made their journey into working in the arts,” added Mr Philbrick.

“At a point when the arts are ever more absent from curriculum agendas, it’s really important to let young people know that there are still ways to learn and work in the arts.”

The workshop programme is supported by The Witham, a growing partnership that has already provided opportunities for Turrets to work with touring theatre companies, plus £2 tickets for participants that mean monthly theatre trips for the group to see a wealth of diverse and contemporary productions.

If anyone would like to learn more about the upcoming workshops, or register an interest to join Turrets, contact Mr Philbrick via thetur retsofficial@gmail.com

Wednesday sessions take place from 4pm to 5.30pm for junior members of the Turrets; 5.30pm to 7pm for seniors.