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BYT 2014
Byron Youth Theatre
Byron Youth Theatre is celebrating!!
A wonderfully successful public performance of PASH: positive Adolescent Sexual Health at the Drill Hall, a Local Government Arts & Cultural Award for their production of Mind Made Me which was part of a Mental health program delivered to schools last October and confirmation of a Nortec Community Grant to create a whole new production next year!! What a Winter Warmer!!
The feedback from the 47 community members attending the PASH performance at the Drill Hall on Saturday 7th June and engaging in the Q & A afterwards with the cast was insightful about the power that Youth theatre can have. Many audience members were intrigued about the process BYT undertake to create their pieces and commended the young actors on their high level of skill and talent. It was particularly pleasing to see so many people recommending our work go further afield to more schools and community events.
We are hoping to liaise with some professionals in the Department of Education, the PASH Consortium and local psychologists in the future enable us to share this valuable work in 2015.
Having secured a Country Arts Support Program grant from Regional Arts NSW last year, BYT will continue to develop their highly successful production which focuses on youth mental health issues called Mind Made Me.
Last year in October, BYT were engaged in a series of Mental Health Days delivered to local schools including Yoga and Mindfulness program & Dealing with HSC stress for High achievers. 8 performances were given to Year 9 & 10 students with Company members assisting Director Lisa Apostolides in workshop activities afterwards. This innovative program spearheaded by Phoebe Lines, Youth Development Officer from Byron Council was recognised at the Local Government Arts & Cultural Awards recently. It is hoped that with another Mental Health month small grant that will be applied for, Mind Made Me will be back at local schools this October creating more awareness and understanding of prominent issues that affect so many people.
BYT are currently devising a whacky politically slanted Street Theatre piece which will showcase at Splendour in the Grass this July. Made possible by a Youth Activities Grant from Byron Council and very much supported by Byron Youth Service, BYT are having fun creating the "Ballad of Phony Maggot". They have recently been accepted in the Brisbane Fringe Festival and are waiting to hear from Mullum Music Festival as well as Woodford Folk Festival. The piece has already been booked to perform at Cranfest next year too!!
Lisa Apostolides is currently looking to businesses to come on board to give an annual donation to BYT to support their valuable work. " We are so grateful to Byron Youth Service for auspicing us which makes it possible for me to apply for as many grants as possible to keep us going. Grants vary in amounts and with the smaller ones it is often hard to cover all our costs."
If you are interested in becoming a member of BYT, donating time, money, goods or expertise please contact Lisa at byronyouththeatre2481@gmail.com
and please go visit and like our facebook page : Byron Youth Theatre
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