The Theatre Royal Ramsbottom’s Young Company is a very popular part of our Theatre. During term-time, we run weekly workshops on Saturday mornings, made up of two groups spanning age ranges 9 to 18 years old. We also aim to put on a performance for the general public at least once a year.
Activities in the groups include drama games, improvisation, scripted pieces, mime, circus skills, and much, much more. We want our members to have fun and build confidence, as well as learn new skills. Our younger group is aged 9-13 years old, whilst our older group is for 14-18 years old. Sessions run on Saturday mornings between 9.30am and 11am (younger group), and 11am-12.30pm (older group). Annual fees are £120 (payable at the start of the season or as two payments, with the 2nd payment due in January). The first (taster) session is free.
Get in touch via email to info@summerseatplayers.co.uk for more information and prices. (Please note that our groups are very popular with limited vacancies).
WHAT WE DO
We aim to give our Young Company members experience of all aspects of Theatre, and develop their confidence and skills through a variety of different activities. These activities can include exercises, improvisations or games, as well as scripted work. We focus on clear speaking, stagecraft, mime, movement, characterisation and listening skills. Our young people are encouraged to develop their technical skills, through Sound, Lighting, and film making, as well as being involved in directing and stage management. We even help them to safely learn stage combat!
Members gain confidence through cooperating with fellow members & the group leaders, as well as in performing in front of others and taking responsibility for the backstage and technical aspects of putting on a play, which are also encouraged in our wider productions.
There is typically at least one full production of a play (or other form of entertainment) each year, along with other opportunities to perform in front of an audience in some of our Society productions. Should the plays staged by Summerseat Players (both Main Stage and Studio) require young people, we actively encourage our Young Company members to audition and work with adults in those productions.
We also aim to enable visits to professional theatres where a suitable production and opportunity presents itself. This will involve an extra cost and advance notice will be given.
All relevant personnel, including our Young Company Leaders, are fully DBS checked, and we achaperone requirements, licencing, and best practice guidelines wherever appropriate.
WHAT WE EXPECT
Whilst we want members to enjoy themselves, good drama demands discipline and consideration for others. This means that Young Company members (who are automatically members of our wider Society), will be expected to enthusiastically participate in activities, attend sessions regularly*, and conform to any reasonable requests of the group leaders without hesitation or argument. We also expect all of our Society members to be considerate in their behaviour and attitude to other members. We are proud to support inclusion, equality and diversity throughout our Theatre.
*We reserve the right to release an individual's place in the Young Company group where 3 or more consecutive sessions have been missed without provision of a valid reason. As a result, membership may be forfeited.
Once a commitment is given to being part of a production (including main Society productions), then it is expected that production takes priority over all other extracurricular activities. Attendance at rehearsals is expected. A person may feel that they do not need to rehearse as they know their part, but others need to have them there in order for them to practice their parts.
Extra rehearsals are likely to be called in addition to the regular Young Company sessions, especially close to performance dates. If there is a particular problem, please discuss it with the group leader / producer of the show when casting is being done, or as soon as possible thereafter. We reserve the right to change casting and even cancel membership should a member not comply with this requirement.
Alongside the expectations for all Society members, we expect that our Young Company members treat our Theatre, 0ur premises, and all other Society members, including their peers, respectfully, and that they do not put themselves or others at risk.
OUR COMMITMENT
We will take every care to ensure that any member in attendance will be looked after properly. This means that no Young Company member will be permitted to leave the Theatre premises during the hours of the session, or rehearsal. Should any Young Company member need to leave a session early for a particular reason, we request prior notification from the parent or guardian. Our Young Company Group Leaders are fully DBS checked, and Summerseat Players operates a strict Safeguarding Policy, a copy of which is available on request.
PREVIOUS YOUNG COMPANY MEMBERS
Previous members of our Young Company (formerly the Youth Theatre) include stage and screen actors Ralf Little (credits include: Death In Paradise, The Royle Family, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps), Zak Ford-Williams (credits include: Bridgerton, Mobility, Better, Wolfe, The Real and Imagined History of the Elephant Man), and our Society Patron Kate O'Flynn (credits include: Glass Menagerie, Bridget Jones' Baby, Henpocalypse, Everyone Else Burns).
TO APPLY
For further information, prices and details about availability of places, which are typically available only for the start each new season (i.e. from *September onwards), please get in touch via email to info@summerseatplayers.co.uk or complete and submit the following form*: Young Company Application Form (updated 2024)
*Please note that, subject to availability, we are generally not able to consider additional intake beyond October of each season (unless otherwise advertised), as our sessions follow a planned programme of events.