Y&T Saturday School

Who We Are

Young and Talented is a theatre school with a difference. We embrace young people from all socio-economic backgrounds, religions and ethnicities, and provide them with high calibre coaching and opportunities.

As a social enterprise, Young and Talented has been nurturing and developing young people for stage and screen since 2004. We enrich the quality of our work and the opportunities we offer our young people through our association with professional theatre company – Pilot Theatre an award-winning Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation.

For Stage, Screen and Life

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Y&T Saturday School Team

Suzann McLean Robinson MBE DIP, MA, PP
Founder & Director

Suzann trained at the prestigious Italia Conti Academy and has an MA in Professional Practice (directing and producing theatre for Social Change) and is the 2022 winner of the Black British Business Award. In 2018 Suzann became the CEO/Artistic Director of Theatre Peckham. As an actress her credits include Good Omens, Dr. Who, Casualty, Bafta nominated Little Miss Jocelyn, Eastenders, The Honourable Woman and the BUPA for living commercial. In 2012 Suzann was selected to carry the Olympic Flame in the Torch Relay in recognition for her work within the community.

Demii Lee Walker
Y&T Creative Director

Demii Lee Walker is an actor, writer and poet, who graduated from The Urdang Academy and Guildford school of acting. She has a strong passion for passing her knowledge and inspiring the next generation.

Musical Theatre credits include ; Matilda Asia Tour (RSC) Cover Miss Phelps.

Tv and film credits include; Aladdin (Disney) Something in the closet (BFI) Tracey Ullman breaks the news (BBC) The Lodge (Disney) The other art show (Sky)

Writer credits include; Mixedracevoices, Shameless Festival, Make it in Brixton, Change, Live, Grow event, Black and Brit-Ish, and Lambeth Country Show.

Other credits include; Director of Spoken Word Theatre Company (Theatre Peckham)
Director of I have you and I have me too (Theatre Peckham) Aladdin Soundtrack (Disney).

Andreea Urzica
Y&T Director and Company Development Manager

Andreea completed her Masters in Performing Arts with Distinction at the University of Siena (Arezzo – Italy). In the last 15 years Andreea worked as a freelancer with various theatre companies from Italy and the UK. She performed on stage as well as working behind the scenes. Since moving to London 11 years ago, she worked as project manager for community arts projects. She works as a Company Development Coordinator for Young & Talented School of Stage and Screen since 2012.

Ben Christopher
Y&T Musical Director

After studying Music at Oxford University, Ben trained as a primary school teacher where he found his passion for enriching the lives of young people. Ben has an eclectic performance history rooted in music, musical theatre, dance and drag. Most recently, he flourished as the Musical Director of "The Wonderful" at Theatre Peckham in December 2020. Alongside teaching the songs and finessing the technique of the adult actors, Ben travelled to the various schools who were to be the audience in order to engage the children in the project by teaching them a song and inviting them to join in on performance day. Ben loves to share his passion for music and theatre with everyone he comes across!

Jade Benjamin
Y&T Dance Director

Jade Leanne Benjamin is an award-winning R&B artist; dancer; and actress from East London, whose love and passion for the arts can be traced back as far as she can remember. Jade first began training in all three disciplines at Young and Talented School of Stage and Screen from the age of 13-16.
Afterward, she would go on to train in musical theatre for an additional 2 years, at the performing arts specialist sixth form, ‘Chobham Academy’, whilst also being a member of Trinity Laban’s youth dance company for a year. Following this, Jade also completed an additional acting course at Theatre Royal Stratford East, in partnership with RADA, Guildhall and Young and Talented.
In 2018, Jade burst onto the music scene, then fast forwarding to April 2020, Jade released her highly anticipated debut EP, ’The Experience’, earning her the title of, ‘Rookie Of The Year 2020’ at the State Of R&B Awards.

As well as making a name for herself in the music scene, Jade also has acting credits to her name; debuting professionally in Stratford East’s Panto, ‘Rapunzel’ (2017-2018) and most recently, the stage-play, ‘Maryland’ (2021).

Roy Alexander Weise MBE
Y&T Associate

Roy trained at Rose Bruford, he was the 19th annual winner of the James Menzies-Kitchin Award and directed his critically acclaimed, sell out production of The Mountaintop by Katori Hall at the Young Vic. In 2019 Roy became the joint Artistic Director of Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre. Theatre directing credits include: Nine Night (National Theatre & West End), The Trick (Bush Theatre and UK Tour); Dead Don’t Floss (National Theatre); Br’er Cotton (Theatre 503).

Jordan Benjamin
Y&T Associate

Jordan is a professional performer, starring in CBBC’s ‘Rocket’s Island’ as a series regular and Channel 5’s ‘Man In The Mirror’ as Tito Jackson. His most recent role is at the West End in ‘Hairspray’ as a member of the Ensemble and 1st Cover Seaweed. This all started with Young and Talented when Jordan joined at the age of 11, which is where he was taught and raised to be a better performer. The skills he acquired then he is still using to this day in his personal and professional career. Jordan returned to Young and Talented to support the next generation become the best performers they want to be, so more young people can have the skills to achieve to the highest degree.

Mei Henri
Y&T Associate

Mei is a professional actress currently appearing as series regular in Hijack on AppleTV+ starring Idris Elba.

Jordan Xavier
Music Associate

Jordan has worked for a range of recording artists and directors including including Will (Chase&Status), Luke Smith (George Michael). He won a scholarship to train at the prestigious Berkley School of Music in USA. Jordan currently writes and composes music for TV and radio, he has also played at numerous venues throughout London as a singer and a musician and also teaches music at Beulah junior school and Croydon Music & Arts.

Y&T are winners of

Showing that not only do our young people learn how to perform, they also learn how to succeed in life.

Our Offer

Young People

Are you Young and Talented? Would you like the chance to perform on TV & be WINNERS just like our group The Real Deal? Then join our Triple Talent Programme every Saturday during term time. All you need is comfortable clothes, trainers and bags of energy.

Castings

At Young and Talented we nurture a wide selection of bright, energetic and talented children and young adults from all ethnic backgrounds. Each has their own unique, confident and distinctive personality.

Parents

At Young and Talented the most important aspect is for your child to really enjoy their time with us. Y&T is designed to help young people be at their best and realise their true potential for stage, screen and life.

Saturday Classes

Our sessions are for ages 6 - 16 year olds during term time. The Triple Talent programme offers a 3-hour rotation (1 hour Acting, 1 hour Singing, 1 hour Dance) as well as choreography, song and script writing, leading up to a full production in term 3. We pride ourselves in creating a dedicated, enthusiastic and very talented group of young performers.

Classes

Drama Classes

Acting is an exciting and liberating art form where hopes and fears, dreams and emotions can be expressed. Young & Talented drama classes are designed to develop acting skills through games, improvisation and character work.

Singing Classes

Singing classes offer intensive vocal coaching to develop a solid vocal technique suitable for the safe performance of a variety of musical genre. Singing develops the individual’s voice. Group singing enhances unison and harmonic skills.

Dance Classes

We emphasise performance. We believe that the ability to dance is present in everyone - our classes build the confidence to make it happen. Dance classes are a fusion of Street, contemporary, Jazz and Musical Theatre.

We measure our success by how much we positively influence the lives of children and young people. When you sign up for our Triple Talent Programme here’s what you can expect:

  • Affordable, fully inclusive workshops with no hidden extras.
  • Three one-hour workshops in Acting, Singing and Dancing.
  • A safe and fun family atmosphere excellent for building confidence, self-esteem and creativity.
  • Professional, on the pulse tutors all DBS checked.
  • A part in the Summer Show. All of our productions are original and cutting edge, created by young people for young people and directly relevant to the lives of inner-city kids.
  • Effective training to draw out the talent that is already within.

The Programme

September - December

ENSEMBLE

Making new friends, learning new skills and exploring individual talents.

Term 1

JANUARY - APRIL

CREATE

Working on script writing, choreography & song writing. All the material created goes towards the final show.

Term 2

APRIL - JULY

PERFORM

Rehearsing the show ready for its audience at the end of year performance.

Term 3

WHERE ARE WE?

Young and Talented takes place every Saturday during term time at:

Oxford House
Derbyshire Street
Bethnal Green E2 6HG

A modern centre for the arts in the heart of East London

Classes run from 10:30am – 1:30pm

Theatre Peckham
221 Havil Street
Southwark SE5 7SB

A flagship cultural venue and a pioneering Learning Theatre

Classes run from 10:30am-12:30pm

Term Dates

(for the current academic year)

Start:
Half-term (no session):
Re-start:
End (last session:)

Term 1

Start:
Saturday 17th September 2022
Half-term (no session):
Saturday 29h October 2022
Re-start:
Saturday 5th November 2022
End (last session:)
Saturday 3rd December 2022

Term 2

Start:
Saturday 14th January 2023
Half-term (no session):
Saturday 18th February 2023
Re-start:
Saturday 25th February 2023
End (last session:)
Saturday 1st April 2023

Term 3

Start:
Saturday 22th April 2023
Half-term (no session):
Saturday 3rd June 2023
Re-start:
Saturday 10th June 2023
End (last session:)
Saturday 8th July 2023

Testimonials

Never will I be a stranger to you guys, thank you for all you’ve taught me and all the opportunities you guys have given me. My journey with Y&T has put me on such a good path so much so that as I embark on this new journey I’ll be able to use the foundation you guys have given me to keep be grounded.

Student: Zecharia 2019

Y&T offers me the chance to combine creative responses to a provocative modern classic text from a diverse group to produce a piece of relevant theatre that shares ideas and voices of the generation who will make society’s big decisions in the near future.

Richard Hurford, playwright 2018

As vibrant and engaging youth and community drama group as I’ve come across. A fundamental part of East London’s creative and dramatic life.

Simon Stephens, playwright 2018

A big thank you to you and all the team at Y&T for giving Jeremy the amazing opportunity to discover his passion. We are grateful for everything. The mentorship you give him means so much to us and he continues to inspire myself and his siblings and friends.

Parent: Taf 2018

The magazine is now out, What a souvenir / memorie! Myself and Harrison Obioha both came from Young And Talented with incredible experience in acting and behind the scene. I just want to take this time thank Young And Talented for helping us to achieve this amazing work and always believed in our talented as well as support and encouragement. Young And Talented gave me and Harrison today the ability to dream about becoming an Actor/ Actress, our journey with them was lots of worth.

Student: Tsara 2016

Can I just use this opportunity to say how impressed and pleased we are with the YT set-up. We have seen Nuriah develop enormously over the past 18 months and would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the staff for their positive input, tenacity and effort on the children.

Parent: Victor 2017