– Alistair
Harrogate Youth Theatre
Harrogate Youth Theatre (HYT) is a great opportunity to make friends, build confidence, work with theatre professionals and above all have fun.
HYT run term-time weekly drama sessions for ages 5-18. Please click the boxes at the bottom of the page to find out more information about the classes suitable for your young person.
Each term HYT members get to try out different theatre skills and explore their own creativity. Together groups work on improvisation and performance skills. Each group perform to an audience at least once per year.
There are also regular holiday projects that HYT members can join in.
Youth Theatre is run by Disclosure and Barring Service checked theatre professionals with outstanding theatre training and are supported by an assistant.
Venue
HYT sessions take place in Hive, which is on Oxford Street in Harrogate, just between the Leeds Building Society and Duttons for Buttons. Hive has video entry which provides security for staff and participants working upstairs. It is also used for the safe entry of late-comers.
PLEASE NOTE: Access to Hive is by stairs only, we do not have a lift.
What We Do
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This group is called 1a, there are up to 15 people in this group. They meet every Saturday during term time 9:25am-10:25am.
In this group they will have fun developing a basic grasp of storytelling and performance skills. This group perform in a production once a year, in the Summer Term. Each performance will be for an ensemble cast, which means there will always be a part for everyone, with no big or small parts. These shows will either be scripted or devised (created from scratch by the young people).
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There are two groups for this age range and they are called 2a and 2b. There are up to 16 people in each group. They meet every Saturday during term time, 2a meet 9.15am-10.15am. 2b meet 10.35am-11.35am.
Saturday mornings are full of giggles as they develop group working skills, performing in character and make up their own performances. This group take part in a production once a year, in the Spring Term. Each performance will be for an ensemble cast, which means there will always be a part for everyone, with no big or small parts. These shows will either be scripted or devised (created from scratch by the young people).
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There are three groups for this age range, and they are called 3a, 3b and 3c. There are up to 16 people in each group. 3a meet on Mondays 5pm-6.30pm, 3b meet on Tuesdays 5pm-6.30pm and 3c meet on Wednesdays 5pm – 6.30pm during term time.
Weekday evenings are buzzing with energy as the 11-14s learn about theatre directors, writers and specific styles of theatre. They also further develop their performance skills. This group perform in a production once a year, in the Summer Term. Each performance will be for an ensemble cast, which means there will always be a part for everyone, with no big or small parts. These shows will either be scripted or devised (created from scratch by the young people).
Theatre Trips: the groups will be able to attend shows together at an additional cost of £5 per show, which will be added on to their term fee.
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There are two groups for this age range, and they are called 4a and 4c. There are up to 16 people in each group. 4a meet on Mondays 6.45pm-8.15pm and 4c meet on Wednesdays 6.45pm – 8.15pm during term time.
These groups are ready for a bigger challenge and they are treated as a young theatre company and work on their performance skills to an advanced level. They will perform in a production once a year. Each performance will be for an ensemble cast, which means there will always be a part for everyone, with no big or small parts. These shows will either be scripted or devised (created from scratch by the young people). Workshops are full of laughter, new ideas and experiments as we discover how we want to make theatre.
Theatre Trips: the groups will be able to attend shows together at an additional cost of £5 per show, which will be added on to their term fee.
How to join
To register your interest in joining Youth Theatre, please follow these easy steps:
- Complete a Registration Form, one per child.
- Your child will be allocated a space in the right group for their age and we will contact you with all the information you will need to pay for your child’s place. If there are no spaces available, we will add you to a waiting list and contact you as soon as a space becomes available.
Payment Information
Fees are £75 for a 10-week term. Payment is taken by our Box Office team. We also do a year-long discounted rate at £195 / £136 conc. for an academic year.
All fees are due a week before each term begins.
If you are entitled to free school meals, are on Universal Credit or any benefit scheme you can apply for the concessionary rate of £52.50. If you are eligible to receive this reduced fee, you must send us a photocopy/scan of the relevant documentation.
FAQs
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The waiting list can vary from group to group and it is difficult to give an accurate estimate as to how long you will be on the waiting list. On average it is one – two terms. We will be in touch as soon as a place becomes available.
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No. HYT is open to anyone with a passion for theatre. All you have to do is fill the registration form and send it back to us.
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Our payments are by term and not a weekly fee so unfortunately you will not be eligible for a refund.
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Unfortunately, due to fire restrictions once a production has sold out there is no room for extra people to watch the performance. We treat our Youth Theatre productions the same as touring companies. Once the tickets have gone, they’re gone.
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We find it is better for the child to start at the beginning of a term as it is a fresh start and a new topic for the whole group.
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No. We find if parents/guardians stay in the room during the first sessions children do not engage with the session or settle in to the group. Also, other HYT members are distracted by there being new adults in the room.
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We move members up an age band at the start of the academic year, alongside the school system.
1a Age 5-7 (Reception-Year 2) – Your child will move up an age band when they go into Year 3.
2a/2b (Year 3-Year 6) – Your child will move up an age band when they go into Year 7.
3a/3b/3c (Year 7-Year 9) – Your child will move up an age band when they enter Year 10.
4a/4b (Year 10-Year 13) – Once your child leaves full time education, they will become Youth Theatre alumni.
Creative Engagement
Find out more about how you, your child or your school can get involved below.
Learn more