National Youth Theatre Raises More Than £150,000 In Annual Fundraiser Gala

On Monday 26 November, The National Youth Theatre hosted its annual fundraising gala, this year to the theme 'Puttin' on the Blitz Kidz' at Café de Paris, and was attended by VIP guests, past alumni and current NYT performers. The event, featuring music and theatre performances, auctions and fundraising events significantly exceeded targets, raising more than £150,000 to support The National Youth Theatre's ongoing projects.

Guests included Seraphina Beh, Barbara Broccoli, Cerrie Burnell, Lolita Chakrabarti, Ellise Chappell, Gwendoline Christie, Giles Deacon, Sope Dirisu, Rusty Egan, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Feeling, HRH The Earl of Wessex, Derek Jacobi, Lily James, Beverley Knight, Adrian Lester, Daisy Lewis, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Valene Kane, Kate Kennedy, Yolanda Kettle, Katia Kvinge, Lauren Lyle, Gina Miller, Gareth Pugh, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Matt Smith, Rhys Stephenson, Lucy Verasamy, Arabella Weir, Paula Wilcox, Shane Zaza and Ashley Zhangazha.

Charlie Ross hosted an auction of very special prizes including lunch with Sir Ian McKellen at Coutts HQ, dinner with Bond novelist Anthony Horowitz, a Rolls Royce Tour of London, memorabilia signed by Orlando Bloom, Daniel Craig, Labrinth and Helen Mirren, luxury holidays to South Africa and Marrakech, a Paul Oz Diamond David Bowie print, VIP experiences to the Aston Martin factory and Cheltenham Festival, Conor Collins commissioned artwork, a Remainers' dinner at the Houses of Parliament, an ITV weather masterclass with Lucy Verasamy and more.

The event was hosted by Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Cerrie Burnell with music from The Feeling and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, a DJ set by Rusty Egan, plus a performance from current members of The National Youth Theatre.

The evening was made possible thanks to the support of headline sponsors Eon Productions and host venue Café de Paris where VIP attendees enjoyed a champagne Bollinger reception followed by dinner specially chosen by Elizabeth Haigh, the youngest female chef ever to receive a Michelin star in the UK. The menu included ceviche of salmon, roasted squash hot salad, rump of lamp with rosemary jus, pan fried potato gnocchi with wild mushrooms, vanilla panna cotta and chocolate and orange mousse, accompanied by Majestic Loves wine.