National Youth Theatre Extend West End Season

Today, as the National Youth Theatre opens their second rep season in the West End, they mark the success of the last year's work with the announcement of their diversity statistics, the simultaneous professional stage debuts of three of last years 'graduates', and an extension to their 2014 West End run.

The National Youth Theatre have published their diversity statistics, which rank as some of the best in the industry, with 26% of the NYT rep Company BAME and 60% of those who took their Social Inclusion course BAME. 52% of NYT performers are female, vs 38% in top 10 subsidised theatres, alongside 45% of directors and 48% of writers vs 25% and 35% of writers in the subsidised sector. 70% of NYT's Acting Intake was from outside the South-East with 57% of their shows since 2010 outside London.

The announcement of the latest statistics comes as the 2014 NYT REP company take to the stage to open their West End season at the Ambassadors Theatre this evening. The run, which includes Selfie, the brand new adaptation ofThe Picture of Dorian Gray¸ Private Peaceful, adapted from Michael Morpurgo's Award-winning novel and Macbethhas been extended by two weeks to include 6 more performances.

Whilst the NYT open the REP season, Gavinder Singh Chera, Simon Lennon and Zainab Hasan, all on stage with the National Youth Theatre in 2013, will make their professional debuts at the National Theatre, the Almeida Theatre and the Donmar Warehouse respectively this autumn. One year on from NYT REP season 2013, two members of the cast who starred in Tory Boyz, Pope Joan and Prince of Denmark in the West End, and one graduate of the NYT's scheme 'Playing Up' join the casts of some of the most eagerly anticipated productions of the year.

Chera, 19, from Mitcham, will appear in Behind the Beautiful Forevers at the National Theatre from 18 Novemberwhilst across the river 22 year old Londoner Zainab Hasan, member of the National Youth Theatre's West End REP season last year, joins the cast of Phylida Lloyd's all female Henry IV at the Donmar Warehouse, opening October 9. 20 year old Simon Lennon from Liverpool, also in last year's REP season, will join the cast of Our Town at the Almeida in the same month, opening 17 October.

This is the latest success for the NYT's West End REP season, now in its second year. The season, instilling companys of the NYT's very best actors into West End theatres, gives members a chance to train by performing in front of paying audiences. It's also the latest in a line of triumphs for Playing Up, a free ten-month talent development programme for young people who are at risk or not in education, employment or training.

95% of this year's Playing Up students have been offered places on higher or further education courses, at institutions including Bristol Old Vic, Central School of Speech and Drama, East 15 and Rose Bruford. Other former members of Playing Up have gone on to roles in Youngers (E4), The Smoke (Sky1), The Musketeers (BBC) and at theatres such as West Yorkshire Playhouse, Soho Theatre and the Roundhouse. Overall, Playing Up has an 85% success rate of moving young people into higher education, further training or employment. 55% of this year's Playing Up members were BAME and all previous cohorts have included a similar level of diversity.

Ten of the fifteen company members of last year's REP season have found professional employment as actors since graduating from the REP, and all have been signed by leading talent agents.

Paul Roseby, Artistic Director of the NYT, said:

"The success of Gavi, Zainab, Simon a is testament to the quality and value of these vital alternative routes into the industry, and of course their unique talent. Our recruitment policy of 'ban the bland' and to discover the best of young British talent regardless of their background, ethnicity or gender. They are the future. We are championing the alternative as we strive to create free opportunities that remove financial barriers and allow diverse talent to thrive."

The National Youth Theatre is grateful to all the individuals and organisations who support our important work, especially our principal supporters Arts Council England, Paul Hamlyn Foundation and The John Ellerman Foundation.

More information at www.nyt.org.uk

To post a comment, you must register and login.