"PASH"IONATE
BYT
Byron Youth Theatre are straight into action devising a new piece of dynamic theatre to present
at a Sexual Health conference titled "PASH" this April 2014.
Positive Adolescent Sexual Health: PASH was inspired by the Youth Development Officer,
Phoebe Lines who was a BYT company member in 2010. The conference is being organised by
PASH consortium, a network of over 30 North Coast organisations with a mandate for Youth
Development, safety and health. The 2 day conference will be presented to young people aged
14 to 24 as well as bringing together some high profile Keynote speakers, GPs, psychologists and health practitioners.
Funding from the Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF) & Byron Youth Council has given BYT this fantastic opportunity to create a thought provoking theatre piece that will also lead into engaging workshops as part of the conference.
At the end of 2013, Director Lisa Apostolides received great news that BYT have been awarded
a Country Arts Support Program grant to further their performance piece Mind Made Me which focuses on youth Mental Health issues.
Mind Made Me was devised in 2013 (funded by NRCF, Byron Youth Council and NSW Mental
health Association) as a series of vignettes highlighting issues such as anxiety, depression and
non suicidal self harm.
"It was a starting point to open a conversation about these complex issues with Year 9 & 10
students in local schools" Lisa explains. "The overwhelming positive response to all 11
performances delivered in November and December 2013 was astounding, which confirmed that young people want to discuss, explore and find positive solutions. I am so grateful that we can now continue this important work through further funding".
Mind Made Me project will continue in May 2014 and BYT are hoping to receive more funding
from a Youth Development and Support Program Grant that was applied for in 2013.
An application for a Youth Activities grant has recently been submitted by BYT that would allow them to devise a piece of Street/Event Theatre that could be taken to the ever growing amount of local festivals. It is planned that while being entertaining and spectacular to look at it will also get a strong message across to audiences. BYT is interested to collaborate with young local costume designers for this project. If interested please contact Lisa 0403023693.
Director Lisa Apostolides expects 2014 to be an awesome year for BYT as their profile continues to rise in the local community she trusts that BYT's work will be able to travel further to reach other young people in the region, State and even overseas!!
As part of the grand plan she is approaching local businesses and individuals to contribute $50
annually to a BYT fund that will greatly assist in transport costs enabling more young people who live further from Byron to get home after weekly sessions. If you are able to "come on board" with this please contact Lisa.
If you are a young person aged between 14 to 18 years, are passionate about theatre, dedicated
and enjoy group work come along to BYT at the YAC, 1 Gilmore Crescent, Byron Bay on
Tuesdays 4 to 6pm.
For more information contact Lisa 0403023693
We particularly encourage young men and indigeneous youth to come join us!