Youth Group information

SWMTC has a talented and committed Youth Group that puts on a musical each year in the autumn. Young people who wish to be involved must be aged 11-18 and in school years 7-13 on 1st September of the year of the production.

Membership

A fee of £80 is payable to participate in the production. This includes the SWMTC Youth Group Annual Membership fee of £40 and a production fee of £40.

Productions

Our shows require commitment and hard work but are tremendous fun and a valuable experience, The shows are of a very high quality and have won many awards over the years with productions including ‘Annie’, ‘Sweeney Todd’, ‘Phantom of the Opera’ and ‘Evita’. The November 2019 production of ‘Barnum’ won Best Youth Production at the 2019 NODA East Awards and our 2021 production, The Wind in the Willows, won Best Youth Production, Best Technical Production, Best Poster and Best Overall Production for District 7 at the 2020/21 NODA East Awards. In addition, Corbin Abbasi won Best Youth Performer for his portrayal of Mole in The Wind in the Willows. In 2022 we performed Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to sold out audiences at Saffron Walden Town Hall and we are thrilled that it was nominated for Best Youth Production at the 2022 NODA East Awards. In 2023 we brought Bugsy Malone to Saffron Walden.

The Youth Group performs one musical theatre production every November in Saffron Walden Town Hall. Occasionally a second show is produced in the summer, either in the form of a concert or another musical. Sometimes shows are done in conjunction with the adult members of the Company

For the November show, we hold workshop auditions in the summer. For health and safety reasons, there is a maximum number of children we can have in the cast, therefore all children have to audition. Rehearsals then begin in earnest in September. For information on the 2024 production, please click here

Rehearsals take place on Monday and Tuesday evenings in Saffron Walden. There are usually three or four full day Sunday rehearsals between September and November and two full days in October half term. The half term rehearsals are compulsory and we ask that you do not audition for the production if you cannot make these two rehearsals.

Volunteers

We rely on many volunteers for help backstage and front of house during show week, some of whom have been working on SWMTC shows for over 50 years. Help from parents/guardians is expected - no experience necessary - so please do volunteer to help with hair, makeup, selling programmes, organising the raffle, stewarding, manning the bar etc..

For general information on the Youth Group, please email Youth Group Chair / Producer Erica Redfern.

Our 2024 production is The Addams Family and will be performed at Saffron Walden Town Hall from 6th - 9th November 2024.

For further information on The Addams Family, please click here

PRODUCTION TEAM

Director: Adam Bonner

Producer: Erica Redfern

Musical Director: Paul Garner

Choreographer: Siobhan Austin-Guest

Production Assistant - Kerrie Scarff

Tech Director: George Alexander

Wardrobe: Rachel Betts

Sound/Lighting: Simon Bates