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Tolethorpe Youth Drama

Marketing & Theatre Manager David Fensum shines the spotlight on the younger members in Tolethorpe Youth Drama...

Work in progress

The Stamford Shakespeare Company has just finished the audition process for the 2017 summer season. Taking place over two weekends, it was the best turnout for many years. We are very pleased to welcome several new members to the Company and are looking forward to beginning the rehearsal process in the New Year. Planning stages occur throughout November and December about set and costume designs so everyone is working The booking line opened at the beginning of November and the box office has inundated with calls.

Tolethorpe Youth Drama

Whilst all this is going on our younger members, involved with TYD (Tolethorpe Youth Drama) have also been busy. Established in September 2001, TYD provides professional tuition in the performing arts for young people between the ages of eight and eighteen. The school was founded by Carol King who has just retired as Principal after 16 years at the helm and been made the honorary President. We are indebted to Carol for her vision and leadership over the past 16 years. None of what has been achieved would have been possible without her and she leaves huge shoes to fill.

Bringing learning to the stage

We are very pleased to announce Steve Whittaker as the new Principal and the ideal person to carry on Carol’s legacy. Steve has been involved with the Company since its early days at the George Hotel in Stamford and brings with him a huge wealth of expertise and passion. The new term opened in September and will continue, on Saturday mornings, through to the end of May next year.

The courses are workshop-based and provide an opportunity for students to develop and extend their performance skills in acting, movement, speech and song. TYD is unique in that is it part of a working theatre and the students are exposed to a stimulating and supportive environment throughout their training. Students have the opportunity to take part in the Stamford Shakespeare Company’s productions during the annual summer season as actors, dancers, assistant stage managers and lighting and sound operators.

Television and Film Course

In November the Television and Film Course, once again kindly sponsored by the English Speaking Union, is all set to run for the fourth time and promises to be the most ambitious yet. Students get the opportunity to work alongside industry professionals and learn everything from getting a TV programme commissioned to understanding postproduction workflow. They have the chance to create storyboards, plan a live broadcast and try out different production roles as well as have hands-on experience of broadcast quality cameras, explore editing software and this year they’ll be able to control and fly a drone, capturing  aerial footage over the grounds of Tolethorpe Hall.

For further details about TYD please email For more information about the Company please visit the website www.stamfordshakespeare.co.uk To book tickets for the 2017 summer season please phone 01780 756133  

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