Doorstep Youth Theatre
➜ Build a wide range of performance and creative skills in weekly sessions led by professional artists
➜ 1 x professional-standard production per year
➜ 1 x free guest workshop per term from a visiting industry-leading creative
➜ Access to extensive arts and career pathways support, including auditioning for our associate company the National Youth Theatre
Doorstep Youth Theatre is for young people aged 14 – 20 who aspire to be professional theatre makers. The group works as a repertory ensemble on a project-by-project basis alongside professional artists to create original theatre. In the past, we have created original musicals (Grit, Out of the Woods), toured original plays across the South West (White Moon), and most recently we created a site-specific show in Kent’s Cavern, Torquay’s world-famous prehistoric caves (The Inheritance). We believe that young people can create incredible professional quality art and Doorstep Youth Theatre is all about giving members of the group the platform to make that happen.
*This term our theme is Destiny; the things we think are decided for us, and the things that aren’t.
This means our work will focus on encouraging our young people to take ownership over what happens next for them and the groups they are part of – that might be pushing them to take a lead in artistic decision-making when we are creating a show, or working on stories that explore the paths we think are laid out for us and the paths we can still choose to take.
This will be an umbrella theme across all our participatory groups. We never quite know what our incredibly talented groups will create from these themes but that’s all part of the process – working in response to what our young people bring to the table.*
Check out what DYT got up to last term!
Listen to The Inheritance Radio Play.
Doorstep Arts · The Inheritance Radio Play – Live From Kent’s Cavern, DYT
This group is audition-only, but you do not have to be a performer to be an ensemble member. DYT is open to musicians, dancers, technicians, designers, actors, directors and writers. We approach all projects with a complete team, and would really encourage those interested in behind-the-scenes roles to contact us. Anyone interested in technical and production roles are welcome to get in touch at any time – please email sam@doorsteparts.co.uk.
Doorstep Youth Theatre is led by Sam Parker and Helen Gilbert.
Sam is one of the co-founders of Downstage Write. Sam is currently under commission with the Theatre Royal Plymouth as a playwright, and he has taught for the University of Plymouth. As a dramaturg and script reader, he has most recently worked for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Sam is the Pathways Producer for Doorstep Arts, which includes leadership of National Citizen Service in Torbay. He is the Lead Artist for Doorstep Youth Theatre & leads on the annual Young Writers Project and the National Youth Theatre (NYT) Associate scheme. He serves as the producer within the Collaborative Touring Network.
Helen is a theatre maker and facilitator based in Totnes, who has worked with a variety of Devon-based organisations. She is currently the Education and Engagement Manager for MED Theatre where she works within the rurally isolated communities of Dartmoor, co-creating original work with young people, and producing and directing large-scale community plays.
Email sam@doorsteparts.co.uk for more information on how to audition for the group.