The National Youth Theatre have today launched their 2016 season of work which will include five new commissions, two West End premieres as well as other projects to mark the occasion.
Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the National Youth Theatre, Paul Roseby, has confirmed the company’s 60th anniversary season of work and projects that will mark the occasion.
The 2016 programme will include adaptations of two Man Booker shortlisted novels, Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman and the world premiere production of The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Moshin Hamid.
Meanwhile the company will also present their first ever season at the Finborough Theatre, comprising of three brand new commissions, as well as two new plays at the Arcola Theatre with the National Youth Theatre’s inclusion course ‘Playing Up’.
The National Youth Theatre will also be returning to the Ambassadors Theatre in September, presenting alongside the premiere of Pigeon English a production of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
There will also be events taking place outside of London, marking the 60th anniversary of the company. These include performances of a newly adapted music-theatre version of The Tempest at Royal & Derngate in Northampton, making their premiere appearance at Hay Festival in Wales with Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy’s The World’s Wife and nationally tour free productions of If Chloe Can and You Can.
It was also confirmed that former members Zawe Ashton, Rosamund Pike and Sarah Solemani will become patrons of NYT and the company’s plans for a one-off anniversary gala ‘The Story of our Youth at 60’ in the West End’s Shaftesbury Theatre on 18 September 2016.
Talking about the programme Roseby said: “Over the past 60 years NYT has been championing talent and opportunity for thousands of young people and is not just nationally but internationally renowned as a result. In this gem of a diamond year we are continuing to engage the most talented and most in need with our unique passion for being a force for good, a force for positive change and a tour de force on stage.”
Meanwhile new patron and former member of the National Youth Theatre Rosamund Pike commented: “Being part of the National Youth Theatre was life-changing. The most fun I had during my teenage years was doing my NYT course, collaborating on productions and with the friends I made there. I am honoured to become a Patron in their 60th year.”
For more information and details about the 2016 programme visit: http://www.nyt.org.uk/.