Past Productions

Crongton Knights Youth Festival (2020)

“Crongton Knights Youth Festival” was due to take place at Theatre Peckham. Due to Covid-19 pandemic we decided to move this event online. The festival took place throughout the day on Monday 4th May 2020, 10:30am-6:30pm online across Y&T’s social media platforms. The young people have been working flat out during this period of isolation and we were very proud of their achievements. 

The “Crongton Knights Youth Festival” was an opportunity for young people to showcase their own unique responses to the story and themes of “Crongton Knights” by Alex Wheatle adapted for stage by Pilot Theatre. 

This was showcased in a digital festival of performance created by Y&T Rep Company. Each performance has been made in collaboration with education settings, youth groups and artists in London. 

XOXO (2019)

Oxford House Branch

In 2019 Y&T collaborated with award-winning touring company Pilot Theatre on their production of “Noughts & Crosses” by Malorie Blackman adapted by Sabrina Mahfouz. Y&T students across all of our 3 existing branches devised and script their own response piece of theatre using the themes and story of “Noughts & Crosses”. The resulting pieces of theatre were performed in various theatres in London to young audiences.

45 young people performed XOXO, they presented their own version of the play.

X Y Z (2019)

Theatre Peckham Branch

In 2019 Y&T collaborated with award-winning touring company Pilot Theatre on their production of “Noughts & Crosses” by Malorie Blackman adapted by Sabrina Mahfouz. Y&T students across all of our 3 existing branches devised and script their own response piece of theatre using the themes and story of “Noughts & Crosses”. The resulting pieces of theatre were performed in various theatres in London to young audiences.

X Y Z was the first show performed by Y&T students at our newest branch at Theatre Peckham. Our students worked over the year to prepare their own version of the play.

Tic Tac Toe (2019)

Broadway Theatre Branch

In 2019 Y&T collaborated with award-winning touring company Pilot Theatre on their production of “Noughts & Crosses” by Malorie Blackman adapted by Sabrina Mahfouz. Y&T students across all of our 3 existing branches devised and script their own response piece of theatre using the themes and story of “Noughts & Crosses”. The resulting pieces of theatre were performed in various theatres in London to young audiences.

This show was presented on the stage of Broadway Theatre, our Y&T students ages 5 – 15 years old presented their version of “Noughts & Crosses” to their family, friends and special guests.

B_Rock Double Bill (2018)

Oxford House branch and Albany Theatre branch

‘B_Rock Double Bill’ was made up by 2 plays: ‘Rock Face Boy’ by Oakley Flanagan and performed by Y&T students from Albany theatre branch and ‘B_Rock Park’ by Richard Hurford performed by Y&T students from Oxford House branch. The plays were presented on the stage of Theatre Royal Stratford East.

B-Rock Trilogy (2018)

Broadway Theatre Branch

“B_Rock Trilogy” was made up by 3 plays: “B_Sea” by Kiell Smith-Bynoe, “Brighton Skies” by Kiell Smith-Bynoe and “Blue Sea and Blue Skies” by Emma Dennis Edwards. The plays were performed on the stage of Broadway Theatre.

Zion (2017)

Oxford House Branch

Our students from Oxford House branch presented their end of year show on the stage of Theatre Royal Stratford East in July 2017. A magical experience where amazing stories, music and songs meet.

Take The Stage Festival (2017)

Broadway Theatre Branch

Young people aged 5 to 18 years old performed at Broadway Theatre in the ‘Take the Stage Festival’ in April 2017. It showcased the talented local young people to an audience made of family, friends and special guests.

Zero for The Young Dudes (2017)

Broadway Theatre Branch

On 5th March at Broadway Barking our senior group had their performance of “Zero For The Young Dudes” for National Theatre Connections 2017. This was our home performance at Broadway theatre in the studio where we had in attendance the NTC director and Soho NTC producer. The play was written specifically for young people by acclaimed playwright Alistair McDowall, and directed by JMK Award Winner Roy Alexander Weise assisted by Catherine Palmer. Designed by Charlie Cridlan. “The inmates at a bizarre summer camp are plotting a revolution. Or has it already happened?”

Butter Brain – The Musical (2016)

Oxford House Branch

46 young people performed “Butter Brain The Musical” at Theatre Royal Stratford East. They learnt how text can be staged in different ways. ‘Butter Brain The Musical’ was a new story about digital inter-connectedness. It was a coming-of-age adventure that explored the blurred boundaries between our online and offline lives. Kerry Michael AD of Theatre Royal Stratford East presented one of our awards together with actress Holly Dempsey. An article of this show was written on the Epping Forest Guardian in their feature July 11th – 17th July week 2016.

Butter Brain (2016)

Broadway Theatre Branch

“Butter Brain” was a new play for young people exploring how to be online but not believe everything they see. Written by Sarah Kosar, directed by Roy Alexander Weise, musical director Enrico Delves, designed by Lily Faith Knight. “Butter Brain” a coming-of-age adventure that explored the blurred boundaries between our online and offline lives. Performed by young people aged 5-16. Supported by Pilot Theatre and Arts Council England. Our special guest actress Natalie Casey presented the recognition award for best performance.

Under The Hood (2016)

 Y&T “Under the hood” was performed by our very talented BYT Seniors class. This show was part of the National Theatre Connections Festival at Theatre Royal Stratford East. “Under the hood” written by BAFTA nominated Actress /Comedian Jocelyn Jee Esien and directed by Roy Wise, Suzann McLean and Paris Campbell. The sketch style drama expressed the challenges of transitioning from childhood to adulthood. This powerful piece was further performed at Rich Mix Theatre for their Youth Take Over season where it played to a sold-out audience.

East Side Story (2015)

Oxford House Branch

East Side Story was written by Sarah Falvey and Suzann McLean. Using ideas that came from the young people this modern version of Romeo and Juliet was set in East London on the backdrop of feud between two schools under the umbrella of the same Academy. The story expressed the pressures to be accepted, fit-in, live up to parents’ expectations and desire to find their own place in society. It was an emotive piece, particularly for the adults watching as the play often spoke directly to them with the young characters asking adults for acceptance, freedom and guidance. The music was composed by Jordan Xavier who also musically directed the band for the live performance. There is a desire for this production to develop into a touring production with a team of young professional actors mixed with local school-aged children.

The Power Of Youth (2015)

“The Power of Youth” was written by Roy Alexander Weise through a devising process with 14-19 year olds. The sketch style drama expressed the challenges of transitioning from childhood to adulthood. This powerful piece was well received at The Broadway Theatre in Barking and went on to a further performance at Rich Mix Theatre for their Youth Take Over season where it played to a sold-out audience. 

The production received encouraging feedback and it has been suggested that it continues to be developed, strengthened and given future exposure.

Within the Windrush Dream (2014)

Broadway Theatre branch

“Within the Windrush Dream” was written by Suzann McLean to accommodate a flexible cast of 100 young people from as young as 5 years old. The story allowed young people to parallel the challenges that they face growing up in a diverse culture today with life of those in the late 1940s. The young people excelled in exploring cross culture experiences of the Caribbean and England. The increased numbers of Eastern Europeans attending Y&T gave further encouragement for the script to include historic reference to the Polish experience on-board the Empire Windrush. The music was composed and taught by Juwon Ogungbe and backing tracks were created by Jordan Xavier.

Kick It Youth Musical (2014)

Broadway Theatre branch

This was a show that celebrated the World Cup 2014. The young people participated in daily workshops and the participants worked towards a theatre performance ending with a Football Musical production “Kick It” on the Broadway Theatre stage for the local community and special guests.This was a show that celebrated the World Cup 2014. The young people participated in daily workshops and the participants worked towards a theatre performance ending with a Football Musical production “Kick It” on the Broadway Theatre stage for the local community and special guests.

10th Anniversary Gala (2014)

Oxford House Branch

Y&T celebrated their 10th Anniversary. The Gala gave highlights of the exceptional productions that Y&T have created since 2004 such as ‘Within The Windrush Dream’, ‘Respect 06’ and ‘The Last Twilight’. The night was magical with special guests in the house.

Benefits Street (2014)

Broadway Theatre Branch

This production was performed in July 2014 at The Broadway Theatre as part of Y&T’s end of year show. The students, ages 14+, benefited from the self-discipline that the performing arts training entails and the challenges that live performance provides. This nurtured empathy and allowed them to freely express themselves in a way they wouldn’t normally feel confident enough to do. The students had their self-esteem raised which filtered into other areas of their life creating a positive mind-set.

Once Upon A Time (2014)

Broadway Theatre Branch

The first production at our Y&T Branch in The Broadway was “Once Upon a Time” performed by students aged 5 – 14 years old. The students were given ownership over the work and shared the stories they wanted to tell as young people. The students were inspired to become involved in expressing themselves through our process of training, rehearsing and performance.

The New Generation Youth Festival (2013)

Oxford House Branch

The festival comprised of three 20-minute Musical Plays that were written, composed and choreographed by our students aged between 6 and 16yrs old. We showcased the innovative work our students created to industry professionals and potential investors and gave a platform to new stories from a child’s perspective. The musicals that our students created were relevant to the lives of young people today. The challenges that young people had to overcome made them more aware of their true potential.

Viva Eastender! The Olympic Cabaret (2012)

Oxford House Branch

Building on the success of our previous end of year performances we wanted to make 2012’s show bigger and better than ever before. We wanted to celebrate the London Olympics Games of 2012 in style. Our young people had requested a special performance which reflected on the Olympic legacy so as our term drew to an end both our students got ready for an extra special performance. The title was chosen by our students, Viva Eastender!, and was an exciting Olympic themed Cabaret presented at Rich Mix Theatre.