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Dateline: 26th February, 2006
Calling All NYT Alumni The National Youth Theatre celebrates its fiftieth birthday this year and is calling on all previous members to get in touch and join in the celebrations. Themed to tie in with the simultaneous fiftieth birthday of "the teen", a programme of nationwide activity is being planned to run throughout the year, encompassing every aspect of youth culture and teenage life. The word "teenager" first emerged in common usage in the 1950's to describe the new cultural phenomenon of those between childhood and adulthood who were playing an increasingly large part in consuming and determining modern culture. At the same time, Michael Croft set up what was to become one of the most groundbreaking and prolific youth theatres in the world. Its mission was to give teens and young adults a voice and an opportunity to explore their identity and creativity through the medium of theatre. From its earliest days, the National Youth Theatre has engaged thousands of Britain's young people from across the social spectrum in critically acclaimed projects in performance arena ranging from prisons to opera houses. Beginning with a press launch on Wednesday 29 March at BAFTA, a year of nationwide activity is planned to mark this double birthday across the UK. Alumni who have gone on to work in all arenas from performance to construction are being invited to get in touch, participate, and ask themselves "what the National Youth Theatre did for them". Meanwhile an extensive programme of live events, performances and workshops are in place to involve the widest range and the greatest number of young people possible. Exploring themes as diverse as youth crime, teen pregnancy, second-generation cultural identity, fashion, popular music and the emergence of the teddy boy and girl is a programme of new writing, performances and live events. The season also includes the chance for young people to appear in an exciting line-up of diverse, professionally produced theatre productions. Past members have taking their first steps into subsequent glittering careers with National Youth Theatre, with Alumni regularly appearing in the nominations and winners lists for awards such as the Oliviers, which this year number Michael Grandage, Bill Kenwright, Howard Harrison, Derek Jacobi and Douglas Hodge among their nominees, all of whom took part in previous NYT productions. The National Youth Theatre is supported by Arts Council England. Sarah Weir, Executive Director of Arts Council England, London comments, "The development of a thriving youth theatre sector is a priority for Arts Council England, so we are proud to join the National Youth Theatre in celebrating its 50th anniversary. The value of an amazing artistic experience as a young person cannot be underestimated; through the National Youth Theatre, thousands of young people across the country have taken part, have grown in skills and confidence, have been challenged and inspired to widen their horizons. We look forward to working with the organisation to inspire even more young peoplethrough theatre - in the future." Please note that all three Archive indices are very long and will therefore take some time to download.
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