Eight talented young people from Northern Ireland will join the ranks of former alumni — including Brit Award winner Ed Sheeran and Grammy Award winner Sam Smith — when they complete their place on Youth Music Theatre UK’s (YMT) prestigious residential programme this summer.
Youth Music Theatre, the leading UK music theatre company for young people, toured the UK and Ireland, auditioning more than 1,200 young people in 24 cities.
Eight teenagers from Northern Ireland have been chosen to join the YMT Company, to take part in a two/three-week residential course where they will work with professional creative teams to create a brand new musical version of Gulliver’s Travels.
The musical will then be performed at the Lyric Theatre from July 30-August 1, with each participant also receiving a qualification from Trinity College London.
YMT executive producer Jon Bromwich said: “We are delighted to have such extremely talented individuals join the YMT Company and they will work alongside a team of creative professionals who hail from Northern Ireland in the production of Gulliver’s Travels at the Lyric Theatre. The production promises to take audiences on a journey through unknown lands with mythical creatures, as we bring Jonathan Swift’s classical satirical tale magically to life.”
Aged between 14 and18, the young people taking part in the programme are: Deaglan Arthurs, Frances Commins, Emma Dallas, Lucy Elliot, Will McKee, Christopher McNeilly, Alicia Walsh and Mark Woods. The production of Gulliver’s Travels is part-supported by small grants funding from Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Joanna Johnston, of Arts Council of Northern Ireland, added: “The Arts Council is delighted to support this production of Gulliver’s Travels at the Lyric Theatre. It is important that our young people are given opportunities to broaden their creative experiences, and to perform on the stage of the Lyric Theatre will be an experience that stays with them throughout their lives.
“Youth Music Theatre UK has assembled an impressive creative team in choreographer Jennifer Rooney, director Des Kennedy and the wonderful Duke Special. I would encourage everyone to go along and enjoy this musical adaptation of a well-loved tale this July.”