As Second Star Youth Theatre present their production of Alice in Wonderland, Paul Adams looks back on how the Playgoers’ youth group was formed.  

Any theatre group needs a youth section to ensure that young people are visiting the theatre. Workington Playgoers had been without a youth group for several years when a series of coincidences brought about the formation of one. 

They were planning the refurbishment of the Theatre Royal with the aid of the Big Lottery and other grants and on the other hand, they had been approached by an independently run youth theatre wanting to hire the theatre as a base. As well as the refurbishment Playgoers were looking at how they operate, and the issue of a youth group came back into focus. 

The group using the theatre was approached with a view to being absorbed into Playgoers as its official youth group. The offer was accepted and Second Star Youth Theatre (SSYT) was launched. Slowly the group developed and the quality of their productions got better and better. 

Early in 2016 it was decided to appoint a Youth Theatre Facilitator to oversee all activities involving young people throughout the theatre. The youngsters are now integrated with the main theatre wherever possible, with some of the young actors being involved in productions of  ‘Macbeth’, Goodnight Mr. Tom’ and ‘Under Milk Wood’. 

Further changes took place when the group leader, Millie Hardy-Sims relinquished her position to go to University. This gave Playgoers an opportunity to restructure the SSYT set-up. They created a Youth Council, a small group aged between 15 and 18 who effectively run SSYT. They choose the plays, the activities and the directors. Each has a role which mirrors a role the main theatre (wardrobe, props, technical, finance, etc.) and is mentored by the adults undertaking the various roles. Already one of the older members of SSYT has joined the technical team and has been doing lighting, sound and set building for the Playgoers adult group.  

Too often people see youth activities as for “friends and families”, but their productions are of good quality and should be supported by everyone. They are the future for the theatre. 

Alice in Wonderland is showing at Workington Theatre Royal from 21 – 22 April.  

SSYT meets every Saturday from 10am – 12pm at the Theatre Royal. If you are interested, pop in to have a look round and see the group in action. 

For more information visit www.theatre-royal-workington.co.uk