Suffolk Young People's Theatre
Suffolk Young People’s Theatre (SYPT) was founded in 1979 by Ray Dyer. Having taken up the post as Suffolk’s Drama Advisor, Ray was astonished to find limited drama taking place in upper schools. So he brought together a group of Heads of Drama from the West Area to consider the idea of a Summer School for young People, and it was from this meeting that the seeds were sown.
However in 2007 following Rays’ death, it looked unlikely that SYPT would be able to continue, but with a lot of dedication and support the group is now about to embark on its 2009 production. Our Community Reporter, Kerry Burn, met Daphne Dyer (Production Manager) and Chris Starkey (Director) to find out more.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers will be the 31st production for SYPT and the auditions held in May were well attended with nearly 60 attendees.
‘With a predominantly male led cast, we had to encourage as many boys as possible to attend the audition’ Daphne explained ‘thankfully the local press helped with running a feature for us and we were very pleased with the outcome’
From the 60 who attended a cast of 34 have now been selected and they will go on to attend a 2 week Summer School starting on the 13th July. Here they will find out the roles they are playing and start to learn their parts. Considering the curtain is due to go up for their opening performance on Tuesday 28th July, I say rather them than me!
‘The tight deadlines are down to Ray’ Daphne says ‘he found that if the cast were left to learn their lines themselves over a longer period then it would not happen but he said if he could have them continually for the 2 weeks prior to the performance then it could be done!’
If you have seen any of the groups past performances you will certainly know that this approach has worked.
Another legacy of its founder is a bursary for young directors. This was established after a flood of donations that were made at a memorial service for Ray in 2008.
‘Details of this annual bursary are sent round to a number of universities in the country and from that we accept applications’ Daphne says ‘We then shortlist and hold interviews from where we decide on our trainee director for the next summer school.’
This year sees Chris Starkey as the beneficiary. Chris graduated from university last year and has been performing with the SYPT since 2002. ‘I was very shy at school but I had a very good Drama teacher in year 10 who encouraged me to join SYPT’ Chris says ‘and I’ve never looked back’
Professor Higgins (Chris Starkey), Eliza Doolittle (Charlotte Couture) and Colonel Pickering (Ben Musgrove) Photo by Andy Abbott,
Chris will be working closely with Daphne (Production Manager), Sarah Franklin (Choreographer and Artistic Director), James Recknell (Musical Director) plus the rest of the talented SYPT Production Team who give up their free time to support the company.
Chris played Professor Higgins in last year’s performance of My Fair Lady.
Although plans are well underway, this year’s performance will be marred by the passing of two well known members:
Iris Sawyer who was involved in helping to make the costumes and whose face was always in the audience during rehearsals and Mike Ingham who for many years had not only been responsible for the programme and posters but also played in the orchestra and was dubbed ‘The Banjo Man’ by many in the cast. ‘They will be sorely missed’ echo Daphne & Chris.
Meet the cast and team:
The cast and production team will be at ASDA in Bury St Edmunds on Saturday 18th July from 9am – 4pm packing bags to raise money for SYPT.
Get involved:
Are you aged between 14 – 21 and interested in drama then why not keep an eye on the SYPT website and go along to next years auditions.
Thanks:
SYPT would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who support them through sponsorship, fundraising and also to thank the dedicated Production Team who all give their own time so willingly.
Also special thanks to King Edward the 6th Upper School and Westgate CP School for the use of their drama facilities for the summer school rehearsals and auditions.
And finally I would like to wish all the cast and team the very best for this year’s performance and I can not wait until opening night – Break a leg!!
To book your tickets for this year’s performance go to Theatre Royal website. Believe me its worth going to see. (Read review from last year’s performance)