PANTO 2016 - Youth Cast

We're back! This year all under 16 year old cast members are Youth Cast, with Seniors (secondary school age) offered different options for involvement.
About the Panto and Youth Involvement

Young People in Big Numbers
The panto attracts more and more young people to the cast every year, which is a fantastic! In an acting cast of 50, we have had as many as 45 young people. Add to this the 20 dancers who are under 18, and, while having so many young people in our community involved is a joy,  you can see that we have to organise looking after the young people involved very carefully. With many of us parents ourselves, with our own junior and senior children involved, we are very keen to ensure that young people have a good theatre experience.

Volunteers with a Professional Approach
​All cast and crew of the Crowborough Players are volunteers but this doesn't mean that we don't take theatre seriously. We are aware that we are asking people to watch our show and to pay to see it, so we do all we can to ensure we put on a show worth paying to see.
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​The Youth Theatre means Fun for Everyone
With the large numbers of young people involved, we work very closely with What You Will Youth Theatre (WyW). WyW offers a youth-friendly theatre environment  to ensure young people enjoy the theatre experience. In addition, offering this tailored Youth Theatre experience ensures that, rather than spending time ensuring the safety, behaviour, and entertainment of the  40 or more young people in the cast,  the volunteer adults in the cast and crew can enjoy the theatre experience, and concentrate on creating a show worth paying to see.
Panto Auditions​
  • Senior Youth Cast (School Year 7 to 11): Auditions for larger Senior Youth Cast roles are now completed.
    Come along to the workshop on Sunday 11th September 3.00 to 4.30PM to join in the panto. 
  • Junior Youth Cast (School Year 1 to 6): Workshop casting via WyW Youth Theatre, starting on Sunday 11th September 3.00 to 4.30PM. See www.wywtheatre.com.
  • NOTE: Any Seniors who just want to join WyW and have Youth Rehearsal Times only, do not need to audition; just come to the workshop on Sunday 11th September 3.00 to 4.30PM.
Youth Cast Permission and Options Form
Seniors, please bring the completed and signed Permission and Options Form to audition.
About What You Will (WyW) Youth Theatre
WyW runs every Sunday afternoon in school term time for under 18 drama games and training.
Although called 'games', these activities are professional performance theatre tools used at drama schools around the world and by professional theatre production companies. Activities include theatre games, warm-up, voice and character coaching, team activities, and in Sept to Dec Panto Term,  extra youth scene rehearsals. Our emphasis is on having fun while respecting the art and craft of theatre.
Rehearsal Information
  • Standard (Adult) Rehearsal Times - Thursday evenings 7.30 to 9.30 PM, Sunday afternoons between 2 and 7PM, including  a long Tech Rehearsal (6-8 hours) and a Thursday evening Dress Rehearsal.
  • Youth Rehearsal Times - Sunday afternoons only (between 2 and 7PM) and a Fast-track Tech Rehearsal.  (An option recommended for Senior youth Cast who don't like late evening rehearsals and can't sustain a 6-8 hour Technical Rehearsal.) 
  • Junior Youth Cast Rehearsal Times - Sunday afternoons only, school term times, in the WyW drama club time slot (3 to 6 PM time slot - precise times tbc) until Run-though when WyW hands over to the Crow Players. Fast-track Tech Rehearsal (Tech Rehearsal is 6 to 8 hours, Fast-track is 1 to 2 hours).

NOTE: These rehearsals from the beginning of September to the performance dates. Unless you are a lead character, you are not likely to be called to every rehearsal or for the duration of the rehearsal.  
Notes for Adults and Young People on Panto Involvement
If you've ever been involved with theatre, you'll know that rehearsals involve a lot of waiting around. This is tedious enough for adults, but incredibly tedious for young people and, understandably, young people get restless and bored. 

We take rehearsals seriously: We want young people to enjoy the theatre experience but we want the volunteer adults to as well. To facilitate this;
  • WyW offers a youth-friendly theatre environment with games, activities, running around, singing, dancing and lots of noise for 1 to 2 hours every Sunday for 9 weeks for £45 (production fee of £10 waived, so the additional cost is £35), and
  • there are some expectations of all Senior Youth Cast and Adult Cast members.

Expectations During Panto Rehearsals
Joining WyW will give Youth Cast members the best possible experience but it is not obligatory for Senior Youth Cast members.  If you/your children choose not join WyW, please be aware of the expectations in rehearsals. These expectations do not apply to WyW rehearsals and drama club sessions.

See: Rehearsal Expectations.
Dates in 2016 for WyW Drama Club

WyW Panto Term​ Dates: Sept-Nov 2016
Starting Sept 11th (No Sundays in the holidays)
  • Sept 11th, 18th, 25th
  • Oct 2nd, 9th, 16th
  • Nov 6th, 13th, 20th

See Rehearsals & Important Dates for more information on panto dates.