About RYT

Riverside Youth Theatre (RYT) was started in 1982 to provide opportunities for young people aged between 12 and 18 who have an interest in drama.

We aim to encourage an interest and develop skills and experience in all aspects of theatre, through auditions, rehearsals, and the staging of real productions which are presented to live audiences.

Productions range from period costume drama to musicals and are always demanding.

Members can also join the technical team and learn about lighting, sound, and set building.

The group is run by a small committee of volunteers made up of past and present parents, some of whom have been involved in professional theatre.

We meet every Sunday 2-6 pm and members are expected to attend every week and to demonstrate a real commitment to whatever is going on.

Most of the time the group is involved in preparing for the next production – auditioning, learning lines and songs, rehearsing scenes, and developing their talents. From time to time special we also have specific workshops to develop new skills or to complement the performance of particular scenes.

Alongside this, the stage crew will be designing, building, and planning the stage set, gathering props, and choosing costumes – or making them on many occasions! As production week approaches, members are expected to attend longer sessions for technical and dress rehearsals.

We have access to a fully equipped stage, excellent technical facilities, workshops, and dressing rooms.

Our current annual fee for Membership is £80.00, payable in full in September or in two installments of £40.00 in September and January. This covers the costs that RYT incurs for hiring the stage and rehearsal facilities, insurance and other running expenses.

Members may also be required to contribute towards scripts or music scores to help cover the costs – normally £5 for each production.

RYT is affiliated with the Riverside Arts Centre (RAC), which is a charity, and survives on the funds it receives from membership, ticket sales, and the occasional fund-raising events we may stage during the year.

New members are usually invited to RYT in September or January, as we prepare for the new production seasons.

There is a waiting list for membership, but existing members do sometimes leave or move away from the area so if we need to make up numbers we could contact you at any time of the year. Both boys and girls can start as soon as they reach 12 years of age, or at any age up to 18.

Go to the ‘Contact Us’ page to find out more.

Remember, commitment is everything.

Riverside Youth Theatre

Website developed by: John Hart