CENTRAL YOUTH THEATRE Over the years thousands of young people have passed through our youth theatre and taken part in productions, specialist workshops, summer schools and international projects. The skills they have learned have taken our members into many different careers, including working professionally in acting, technical theatre, film and television.

1. CENTRAL
YOUTH
THEATREWOLVERHAMPTON
Inspiring young
people in theatre arts
since 1983.
Tel: 01902 572091
www.centralyouththeatre.org

2. We aren’t a stage school following a prescribed formula, or a performing arts academy with Ofsted
targets. Our individual members and their needs are at the heart of what we do. Each year
CYT’s artistic projects are different and unique because we choose work that develops the
particular talents of each year’s cohort of members.
There is no formulaic answer to developing talent - it is as individual as the people
who possess it. As an organisation, CYT strives to offer different possibilities for
its members, allowing them to experiment and find their niche. So whether
it’s performing comedy, working backstage, operating lighting or working on
costumes, the opportunities are there for young people to try.
Our open door policy and strong desire to be accessible to all keeps us
going, and as a registered charity (No 1130961) we annually strive to raise
funds to keep our pricing structure as affordable as possible.
CENTRAL YOUTH THEATRE
Over the years thousands of young people have passed through our youth theatre and taken part in productions,
specialist workshops, summer schools and international projects. The skills they have learned have taken our members
into many different careers, including working professionally in acting, technical theatre, film and television.
Salt ‘n’ Malt, comedy short film 2013
HOW TO JOIN CYT
Contact Jane Ward on: twwajane@aol.com
or call: 01902 572091
www.centralyouththeatre.org
Follow us on
Twitter
@CYT_Wolves
Like us on
Facebook
Central Youth
Theatre

3. WHO WE DO IT
WITH
CYT provides opportunities for young
people aged 8-25 to learn a broad
range of skills associated with the
dramatic arts.
We pride ourselves in the way we work
with a wide range of young people to
improve confidence and self-esteem
through performance.
We work in an inclusive way and young
people with disabilities are fully
integrated into the CYT experience
performing alongside other group
members.
Young people do not need to have
previous experience of performing to
join CYT. Everyone is welcome to come
along and take part in this vibrant and
inclusive group.
WHAT
OPPORTUNITIES
WE OFFER
Weekly group sessions
Perform in productions which are staged
throughout the year.
Learn skills in film-making
Summer Schools
Tour to international festivals
One-off workshops led by specialist
tutors
Young leadership roles
Work experience placements for school,
college and university students
International placements abroad
Careers guidance in the performing arts
including private lessons and audition
support
WHEN WE DO IT
Most of our weekly group sessions take
place on a Sunday and we have a number of
time slots for different ages. Young people
joining aged 8-12 enter our junior group,
and those aged 13 upwards become senior
members. We operate mainly within school
term dates. Our summer schools and other
special activities are optional extras for
current and non-members to take part in.
HOW MUCH IT COSTS
As a registered charity our membership fees
are considerably less than stage schools. We
have a sliding scale of discounts and
subsidies including reductions if more than
one child from the same family attends, or
where families are in receipt of benefit. To
find out more about current charges please
contact us.
AIMS &
OBJECTIVES
Stage theatre productions of
the highest possible
standard.
Expand young peoples’
flexibility through group
work.
Integrate young people from
different cultural
backgrounds and those with
additional needs.
Promote interest in, and
knowledge of, different
theatre forms.
Robin Hood: Men in Tights, at Held in
Tyrol, International Festival, Austria 2009

4. OUR WORKIN 30 YEARS WE HAVE:
Staged more than 200 productions.
Performed at more than 40 international
festivals and visited 15 countries.
Made a television film for Channel 4.
Engaged young people in writing,
directing, filming and performing in
many short films.
Employed many local, national and
international tutors to pass on
specialists skills to youth theatre
members.
Given apprentice and work experience
opportunities.
INTERNATIONAL
WORK
CYT has pioneered the spirit of
‘adventurous youth theatre’ taking
young people to the furthest corners
of Europe to represent their city.
Along the way members have
absorbed the cultures of the many
nationalities they have worked with and
these unique experiences have forged
three generations of international
friendships that have changed lives
forever.
From a pioneering trip across the Iron
Curtain to perform in Moscow and the Baltic states,
to singing their way down the Danube river and
watching the sunrise over the roofs of Vilnius, CYT
has created some very special memories for those who
have been lucky enough to be part of its international
artistic projects.
CYT’s proudest international achievement to date
was representing the UK at the 2013 World Amateur
Theatre Festival in Monaco where our members
joined groups from 24 countries from across five
continents. The trip culminated in two performances
in the stunning Salle Garnier Opera House in
Monte Carlo.
CYT’s director is a board member of the UK Branch
of International Theatre Exchange (AIATA) which
encourages more theatre groups to work
internationally.
RANGE OF THEATRICAL
PERFORMANCES & VENUES
From text-based classics to contemporary comedies,
tragedies and devised performance work, CYT stages
an eclectic range of shows that stretch young people
in very different ways. These have included: Scully,
Blood Brothers, Look Back in Anger, Macbeth, They Shoot
Horses Don’t They, Archangels Don’t Play Pinball,
Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit, Anna Karenina,
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, Alice in
Wonderland, The Bar Mitzvah Boy, One Flew
Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Charlie & The
Chocolate Factory, Cyrano De Bergerac, Daisy
Pulls it Off, Ptang Yang Kipperbang, The
Snow Queen & Stags & Hens.
PERFORMANCE
VENUES
CYT stages shows at many different
sized venues including the
Newhampton Arts Centre,
Wolverhampton University Arena
Theatre and the Grand Theatre.
Additionally performances are
staged in local schools,
community venues and site-
specific locations.
The countries we have performed in
Some of our
current and
previous funders

5. CELEBRATING THE HERITAGE
OF OUR CITY
Over the years CYT has delivered large scale, site-
specific projects, often highlighting the City’s
heritage. From
the history of
bicycles to dance
halls, CYT has
researched and
developed
projects which
have enabled
young people to
become apprentice writers, designers, directors,
historians, stage managers and technicians.
In 2011 CYT staged its largest ever project, funded
by the Cultural Olympiad and other lottery partners,
transforming the old Low Level Railway station into a
dance hall and bringing to life local people’s
memories of social dance through the decades. Once
more, CYT welcomed European friends from six
countries to the city, creating a festival of
performances to be proud of.
FILM & TV WORK
From 1985, when CYT was selected from 500 groups
across the UK to make a half hour drama to
represent England in the C4 International Film
Series “Its Our World” shown internationally, we have
gone on to embed film-making as a key part of what
we do.
CYT has produced more than 12 short
documentaries and drama films, some of
which have been commissioned by First
Light Films and can be seen on our
Central Youth Theatre You Tube
Channel.
Film and TV companies
frequently contact CYT and
members have been appeared
in Raised by Wolves, Crimewatch,
Jupiter Moon, The Bill, The
People’s Millions and Merchant
Ivory’s film The Feast of July.
Travels with Morris, comedy short
films 2012
Burnt by the Sun, World Amateur
Theatre Festival, Monaco 2013
Low Level Station

6. MORE THAN JUST A YOUTH THEATRE
OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY OFFER
INCREASING YOUNG PEOPLE’S
EMPLOYABILITY
At CYT we believe that our creative, enjoyable activities
help young people develop their own skills and interests. In
addition to regular drama sessions, we offer work
experience placements to young people from local schools
and colleges.
We also offer personal careers guidance and support to
members and strive to link young people with relevant
networks to help maximise their chances of securing work
and further study.
ADULT LEARNING COURSES
CYT runs creative courses for adults in the local area,
helping improve practical skills and increase confidence,
employability and future prospects. Recently we have run
programmes through the European Social Fund and the
government’s Community Learning Programme which have
included topics such as costume design, arts marketing,
technical theatre and local heritage.
Our adult activities change over time, so please get in touch
to find about what we currently have on offer.
VOLUNTEERING
As a registered charity we rely on regular support through
volunteering to help maintain our services and our offer to
local people. Volunteering with us helps continue our work
and offers rewarding experiences for those who give up
their time and contribute skills.
Volunteers find CYT to be a friendly, creative and rewarding
environment and we value the contributions made by
people in areas of expertise, such as fundraising, office
administration, helping operate our costume hire service
‘The Actor’s Wardrobe’ and becoming a trustee.
OUTREACH WORK FOR SCHOOLS
CYT has an experienced team of workshop leaders who
can offer a bespoke workshop service to both primary and
secondary schools. We can tailor workshops to your
curriculum requirements or provide drama activities that
support particular celebratory activities e.g. significant
anniversaries such as The Queen’s Jubilee, First World War
or the celebration of particular authors such as Beatrix
Potter. All our workshop leaders have full DBS certificates.
CONTRIBUTING TO THE CITY’S
CULTURAL OFFER
Wolverhampton is a city diverse in its culture, local history
and artistic activity. CYT has contributed to this offer since
1983 and we continue to strive to make our city an
inspiring place to live. Our regular performance work
features an emphasis on local history with past projects
featuring the stories of local manufacturing firm Sunbeam,
social dancing and shopping in the city. Our performances
are staged across the city as well as site-specifically in
outdoor and non-theatre venues. We continue to work with
many different local organisations on varied projects and
enjoy thinking ‘outside the box’!
ACTORS WARDROBE COSTUME HIRE &
OTHER RESOURCES
We have built up an extraordinary collection of more than
10,000 theatrical costumes which we hire out to individuals,
schools, drama groups and film & TV companies. (See our
back page advert).
Other resources we hire out include:
Portable lighting rigs and operating board
PA and sound desk
Theatrical props
EX-MEMBERS HELP CYT PLAN A
BRIGHT FUTURE.
Over recent years our former members have become a
strong collective group who support CYT in many ways
including writing, directing and designing shows, as well as
fundraising and championing our organisation.
We operate a “Friends of CYT” membership scheme to
enable former members and other friends to provide
ongoing support for us.
Apprentices working on Everybody Dance Now,
Festival 2011
Examples of our costume hire
Research Shop for
Oral Memories

7. WHAT SOME OF OUR EX-
MEMBERS ARE DOING TODAY
Tim Routledge – Freelance Lighting
Designer/Programmer.
Programmed the Opening & Closing Ceremonies of
the London 2012 Olympics & the Queen’s Diamond
Jubilee Concert. Designer for the 2014
Commonwealth Games Ceremonies.
Ian Connop – Stage Manager at the National
Theatre. Shows include War Horse & The Curious
Incident of the Dog in the Night Time.
Liz Griffiths – Set Decorator.
Films include About Time
directed by Richard Curtis, Pride,
Spooks & Shaun of the Dead.
Ed O’Driscoll – Theatre Producer.
Touring stage productions include: Shaun the
Sheep, Morse & ‘Ello, ‘Ello.
Stephen Abbiss – Freelance
Lighting Designer.
Working with music artists such
as Fat Boy Slim, Beverley Knight
& Stereophonics.
Alys Cummings – Assistant Producer for BBC
Current Affairs programmes.
Claire Pearson – Production and Event
Management. Working with recording artists such
as One Direction, Boyzone & Beyonce.
Ben Clark and Tom
Parry are two thirds of
Pappy's - Britain’s
best live sketch
group. They write and
star in their own
BBC3 sitcom
‘Badults’ and
produce award
winning podcasts.
Beverly Knight – Award winning singer, songwriter and record
producer with performances in West End shows including The
Bodyguard and Memphis.

8. ”
“
Fundraising
As a charity, part of our engagement ethos with members and parents
is encouraging them to support our on-going fundraising programme.
Each year we plan a varied range of fundraising events and activities,
some of which are supported by local partners such as local retailers,
Rotary clubs etc. By supporting our work in this area our members and
parents realise they are keeping our organisation accessible for all,
and enabling young people to participate in life-changing
opportunities such as trips abroad and unique arts projects.
CYT Angels & Community Partners
We actively seek out local businesses and community partners who
can support us through sponsorship, advertising or volunteering (e.g
most recently several companies helped us to renovate our current
costume hire premises).
If you are interested in supporting a local charity that has a high profile
and touches on the lives of so many young people in the city please
contact us for more information on how you can help us.
Please email Jane Ward on: twwajane@aol.com or call: 01902 572091
Brochure design and artwork donated by Sizzle Tel: 0121 569 7785
Central Youth Theatre is a registered charity No. 6264703, and we work hard to generate
funds to support our activities and to keep them accessible for all young people
CENTRAL YOUTH THEATRE
Inspiring young people in theatre arts since 1983.
Jack’s Story
When I was 18, in the final year of college, I really had no direction
in my life. I was at a college I hated, studying subjects I didn’t like
with teachers who didn’t like me. So I would get up each morning, sit
on my phone through lessons and after college, head home to play
video games. Like most teenagers, I had no desire to change.
One day my sister came to me, pleading for me to help her with some
acting because one of the boys had dropped out very close to the show
date. So that Sunday I came to the Newhampton Arts Centre and
acted. Acting! What was I doing acting? After I had helped out I went
on Job Seekers Allowance lacking all motivation to get a job.
Three years later I was in Monaco with Central Youth Theatre,
playing the lead character. Without CYT I don’t know what I would be
doing. These experiences, these impossible, invaluable experiences,
simply would never have existed. I would be stuck in a dead end job –
I owe CYT for my future, my happiness and my determination.
Jack jab_baggott@yahoo.co.uk
From Sukhy Gill
Sixteen months ago I was afraid of the world and
all the people who inhabited it. I had no confidence
and I felt that I didn’t belong anywhere. Then, by
chance, my mom heard about CYT and, though I
was reluctant, she made me sign up to join. I did so,
and I can honestly say that it was the best thing that
has ever happened to me. In just 16 months, my life
has changed immeasurably. I owe this to CYT.
Sukhy sukhygill93@yahoo.co.uk
Lindsey Büster
During my time at CYT, I not only increased in
confidence (without which future as a lecturer and
academic would have been virtually impossible), but
I made life-long friendships and lasting memories.
Lindsey Post-doctoral Researcher in
Archaeology, University of Bradford
From Joe Hancock
My name is Joe Hancock. I am a freelance theatre
director from Wolverhampton and the current
Director-in-Residence at Eton College, Berkshire.
From the age of 12 I attended CYT, the place that
provided me with all the experience that set me on
the path to where I am today.
Joe j.hancock@etoncollege.org.uk
From Susan Barrow
CYT clearly gives its members skills that are not just
useful to jobseekers, but that the current market says
they are not seeing enough of. CYT gives its
members, the young people of Wolverhampton, the
skills that can be the difference between remaining
unemployed or not.
Susan Head of Digital, Finlay James Assoc.