Next Stage Youth Theatre
11-18 years old? Interested in theatre? Want to meet like-minded friends? Eager to learn performance skills?
Why not join Bath's highly-acclaimed Next Stage Youth Theatre Company?
Sundays 4.30-6pm
10 week terms
£150 per term
For further information please call Ann Ellison on 01225 967006
or email nextstagebath@aol.com
West Side Story: School Edition (2023)
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 (2023)
Living with Lady Macbeth (2022)
Launched in the same year as the parent company, Next Stage Youth has been in existence since 1994. Next Stage tutors and actors have coached hundreds of youngsters, preparing many for performances, auditions and competitions. Indeed, some of our talented young actors have gone on from Next Stage Youth to train for the professional theatre.
Key attributes of Next Stage Youth are:
An emphasis on friendship, teamwork, support and a professional grounding in theatre arts.
No auditions.
The opportunity to perform in 1-2 fully staged productions a year.
Training in all performance skills, including backstage roles.
Regular, professionally-led workshops run at Burdall’s Yard.
The opportunity to take part in festival work.
A dedicated 100 - 150 seater, versatile performance space - The Mission Theatre - enabling the company to frequently produce plays in-the-round.
Regular collaboration on productions with Next Stage Theatre Company.
The opportunity, on occasions, to take part in bi-annual tours to the Minack open-air Theatre on the cliffs at Porthcurno, Cornwall.
A bursary scheme is available to help established members to pursue further training for the professional theatre.
“My favourite thing about Next Stage Youth is how much it develops your skills, and every single time you do a production you can feel yourself growing and improving as an actor.”
“Next Stage Youth has helped me build my confidence massively over the past few years and also built some really amazing friendships”
“I enjoy Next Stage Youth because it feels like we’re all part of a family, and it’s nice to be able to do a professional looking show”
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2015) at The Minack, Cornwall
Cast of Peter Pan (2015)
Goodnight Mister Tom (2017)
The Railway Children (2018)
His Dark Materials Part 1 & 2 (2018)
Tom's Midnight Garden (2019)
Noughts and Crosses (2021)
Living With Lady Macbeth (2022)
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 (2023)
Next Stage Youth working alongside Next Stage Theatre Company
Members of Next Stage Youth frequently enjoy the opportunity to work with adult actors from Next Stage Theatre Company. Most recently, The Railway Children in 2018 had a cast of 10 youth actors and 7 adults. Such collaborations are enjoyed by all. Youthers occasionally join adult casts going on tour, as was the case with Next Stage’s August 2019 production of Great Expectations which toured to the Minack Theatre in Cornwall from 29th July - 2nd August.
“What I love about being part of Next Stage Youth is the amazing opportunities we get, such as working with the adult company and getting to work with some amazing people”
Awards and Opportunities for Further Development
In May 2012, Next Stage Theatre Company announced the creation of the Come You Giants (CYG) bursary, open to all members of Next Stage Youth who have been in the company for at least 1 year. The £1000 grant has been set up specifically to help young and talented actors who wish to pursue further training in performing arts.
2023’s recipients are Fin Hancorn, Miranda Webb, and Lauren Jéan who are all using their bursaries to fund further academic and extracurricular endeavors in theatre.
Fin, Miranda and Lauren have been enthusiastic members of Next Stage Youth in recent years and are all worthy recipients of help from Come You Giants.
To find out more about past recipients, click here.
The Bridget Cassé Award for Excellence in Youth Theatre
Each year, the Next Stage Youth tutors nominate youth members for this prestigious award from which one individual is selected. Inaugurated in 2010, in memory of a talented Next Stage actress - Bridget Cassé - who had also been a Youth tutor.
The trophy is given to somebody who has shown theatrical talent, enthusiasm, a willingness to help out and a positive attitude towards fellow members. The Bridget Cassé trophy was awarded for the first time in 2010 to Philip Davies and the current award holders are Miranda Webb and Fin Hancorn.
Fin Hancorn pictured as Adrian in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole: The Musical
Lauren pictured as Caroline in Living With Lady Macbeth
Miranda pictured as Lily in Living With Lady Macbeth
Lauren (Left), Fin and Miranda (Right) at the Mid-Somerset Drama Festival 2023
The winners of the prestigious 2022 Bridget Cassé Award for Excellence, Fin Hancorn (R) Miranda Webb (C), pictured alongside the Artistic Director of Next Stage, Ann Ellsion (L).
Amberley Couchman as Wendy in Peter Pan (2015)
“What lovely memories I have been blessed with in such a special place. It was over 10 years ago now that I first joined NSY in Dracula Spectacular, and would do anything to do it all over again! Next Stage really did shape me into the young adult I am now. I can not be more grateful for the hard work the Mission Theatre team has put in for so many years, creating beautiful performances that I could not be more proud to have been a part of. The personal tight knit friendships formed across all ages and the belief/trust we all had in each other truly developed hundreds of confident and caring young people, equipping them for life beyond education. Next Stage provided this platform for us, a safe space of support and love, where we could truly be our authentic selves, knowing we would be accepted. I still giggle to myself at the games, the laughs and pure effervescent joy that developed show after show.”
Amberley Couchman, ex-Youther: