This has since been cancelled.
It is with great disappointment Scottish Youth Theatre has decided to withdraw summer festival courses in Dumfries. Due to lack of applications from young people in the Dumfries area the financial viability of the Festival was compromised. The small number of applicants from Dumfries resulted in additional funding not a being made available. Scottish Youth Theatre and others have tried everything within our power to ensure these courses were available to the young people who have been our priority through out the process.
Dumfries audition dates announced for Scottish Youth Theatre’s prestigious Summer Festival.
Scottish Youth Theatre has announced the audition dates for its first ever Summer Festival 2014 performance courses in Dumfries.
Young people from Dumfries and Galloway could become the next Gerard Butler or Karen Gillan by attending the auditions which will be held on Saturday 31st May and Sunday 1st June at the Electric Theatre Workshop, Dumfries.
Summer Festival is a flagship national course for young drama enthusiasts from across the country. From 21st July – 9th August young people can take part in a variety of performance courses. Funded places and bursaries are also available for young people in and around Dumfries.
Previous participants of Scottish Youth Theatre’s Summer Festival include Hollywood star Gerard Butler best known for his roles in Law Abiding Citizen and 300; Karen Gillan, Dr. Who’s flame- haired assistant Amy Pond; Douglas Henshall of Shetland and Kirstie Steele of Waterloo Road.
Young performers who attend the Summer Festival will also form the cast and crew of a brand new production of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, adapted and directed by Scottish Youth Theatre’s Artistic Director Mary McCluskey. This highly entertaining and engaging production brings Barrie’s beloved story back to the town where it was originally conceived.
Graham Main, Artistic Director of the Electric Theatre Workshop in Dumfries , where the performance courses will be held, said: “Electric Theatre Workshop is delighted to be working in partnership with Scottish Youth Theatre. The Summer Festival courses in Dumfries are a great opportunity for young people locally to get professional performance training which could lead to a career in drama.”
Local Moffat teenager, James Charlton (18), who took part in last year’s Summer Festival, went onto hold one of the leading parts in the successful production ‘Now’s the Hour’ about the Scottish Independence Referendum through the eyes 16 & 17-year-old actors & first time voters.
James said: “I feel like Summer Festival really defined what I wanted to do in the future, which is becoming an actor. I loved working with such skilled people who supported me every step of the way. I made a whole bunch of new friends too.”
‘Now’s the Hour’ has been so popular it will be running at the Edinburgh Fringe in August. James, who was praised by reviewers for his performance and stage presence in ‘Now’s the Hour’, added: “I would definitely recommend Summer Festival to anyone who wants to find who they are and what they really want to do.”
Mary McCluskey, Artistic Director of Scottish Youth Theatre added: “Scottish Youth Theatre’s Summer Festival has something to offer everyone “Every summer, hundreds of young people who are passionate about theatre and performance take part. It gives young people a fantastic insight in to the thriving world of theatre and the opportunity to make friends with other young people their age with the same interests”.
The following Summer Festival Courses are available: 3-week Performance Course, 16-25 yrs; Intermediate Ensemble Course, 14-18 yrs; Foundation Course, 12-15 yrs.
To apply for Summer Festival or for more information on funded places go to www.scottishyouththeatre.org, call 0141 552 3988 or email: [email protected]. Apply now to book an audition.
