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.

Ben Christopher
Y&T Creative Director, Composer & Musical Director

Ben is a multi-instrumentalist and singer, with an eclectic performance history, rooted in vocal and intrumental music, musical theatre, dance and drag. After graduating with a BA in Music from Oxford University, Ben trained as a primary school teacher, and found his passion for enriching the lives of young people. Since then he has been using his skills to empower students and encourage their development in a variety of settings and roles, including here at Young&Talented. Ben loves to share his passion for music and theatre with everyone he comes across!

As Musical Director, Ben has worked on the festive shows at Theatre Peckham such as “The Wonderful”, “Scroogelicious!”,and “Rapunzel”. Other credits include “The Show that Goes RIGHT!” At the Cockpit Theatre in Marylebone and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Opera Holland Park.

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.

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

At Y&T we empower students of all abilities to express themselves through Acting, Singing and Dance. Our layered approach integrates these disciplines to bring out each student's unique performance potential. We pride ourselves in creating a dedicated, enthusiastic and very talented group of young performers.

Classes

Acting

Acting is an exciting and liberating art form where hopes and fears, dreams and emotions can be expressed. We develop acting skills through games, improvisation and character work.

Singing

Singing includes intensive vocal coaching to develop a solid vocal technique suitable for the safe performance. We develop individual voices, unison singing, harmonic skills and song writing.

Dance

Dance develops the ability to move and be at one with your own body. We believe that the ability to dance is present in everyone so we build the confidence to make it happen. At Y&T Dance is 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.
  • A three hour fusion of Acting, Singing and Dance.
  • 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 14th September 2024
Half-term (no session):
Saturday 2nd November 2024
Re-start:
Saturday 8th November 2024
End (last session:)
Saturday 14th December 2024

Term 2

Start:
Saturday 11th January 2025
Half-term (no session):
Saturday 22nd February 2025
Re-start:
Saturday 1st March 2025
End (last session:)
Saturday 5th April 2025

Term 3

Start:
Saturday 26th April 2025
Half-term (no session):
Saturday 31st May 2025
Re-start:
Saturday 7th June 2025
End (last session:)
Saturday 12th July 2025

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