A year in Dynamo
The Dynamo year varies a little
from time to time but the main events have
been fairly well established for most of the
company's lifetime. A small-cast production
for senior members is staged in early September,
after the school exams and before the leavers
go off to universities or jobs. It is frequently
the last production some members will act
in before advancing age requires their departure
from the company. The production normally
runs for four or five performances before
the general public.
In October a coach trip to a
(usually) West End theatre is very popular.
The main full-cast production
takes place in early January. For many years
this has been a popular musical, often with
the involvement of a live band. Considerable
technical effort backstage is supplied by
large numbers of parents and other helpers.
Five or six performances are very well patronised
by the paying public.
The A.G.M is in March or April,
coincidentally about the same time as the
Director's Challenge for the Liz Goodbody
Shield. In this eight teams are formed, each
led by a senior member. They write, rehearse
and perform a ten minute piece conforming
to the theme specified by the Artistic Director,
for a panel of judges and an audience of parents.
In May each year the production
is normally a formal drama piece with four
or five public performances. Some of the more
junior members may well find themselves in
their first big roles, in the absence of senior
members pre-occupied with school exams.
A Revue, performed for parents
and helpers brings the year to a close in
July. This varied and highly entertaining
show is written and performed by the whole
company, working in groups.
Read
what 'The News' said about DYT
The
Future of Dynamo Youth Theatre???
(Reprinted
from the West Side Story programme, January
2008)
Dynamo
has been based here at the Havant Arts Centre
since it was founded
in 1981. During these 26 years, most of the
shows have been performed
here but we have found that the size of the
stage is becoming increasingly a constraint
on staging our large cast shows. In
particular, a modern, imaginative
set leaves little room for energetic
dance movement.
Additionally,
in recent years, the Arts Centre has been
much more energetic
in attracting shows, audiences and a variety
of other activities into
the building. This has resulted in Dynamo
having difficulties in getting
as much rehearsal time as needed and in having
access to the theatre
for set construction and on-set rehearsal
as far ahead of the first
night as we had in the past. Without the generosity
of St Faith's church
allowing us almost unlimited access to the
church hall for rehearsals
and advance construction of the set, we would
find it impossible
to stage a show like "West Side Story"
or last year's "Tommy".
During
this year, the Committee of Dynamo have been
actively exploring
whether a building in the area could be acquired
as our headquarters
-- for the Monday workshops, twice weekly
rehearsals before
a show, storage of our costumes, set building
equipment and materials
and to enable the group to expand the age
range downwards to
include a junior section for children younger
than the current joining age
and upwards to include a senior section from
the present leaving age
of 18 up to 25.
Can
you help us in our search for a building and
help with fund raising?
As
a minimum, we need somewhere central which
is easy to get to using
public transport, provide 2 rooms that can
be used for rehearsals and
as much storage space as possible. It is not
essential for the building
to be exclusive to Dynamo but we would like
to have first call on
the facilities. If you have any ideas or would
be willing to help us with
time and/or expertise, please get in touch
by e-mailing mail@dyt.org.uk.
We hope you enjoy our website.
Please get in touch to let us know what you
think of the site or to request more information.
We're particularly keen to hear from ex-cast
and committee members whom we've lost touch
with over the years. web@dyt.org.uk
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