The Court Theatre Is Looking For Young Performers For Their 2019 Youth Company

Applications are now open for The Court Theatre's 2019 Court Youth Company - a company which allows young performers to take the next step in their performing arts education.

Open to young adults aged 17 - 21, The Court Youth Company will be holding auditions between the 9th and 11th November, searching for 20 young theatre practitioners.

Programmes Manager Rachel Sears, who oversees the company, says they're looking for people who "love or loved high school drama, but want the next step. We're looking for young performers who want to get professional experience, make exciting work and find their own voice."

For William Burns, a member of the company in 2016 & 2017, "The Court Youth Company ties the knot between high school drama and professional drama."

Burns, now a full-time theatre practitioner, returned to the company this year to co-direct their first show for 2018 - the sold-out Vernon God Little. For him, the connections he made during his time in the company have allowed him to enter the world of professional theatre; tutoring, performing and directing, showing there are no limits to how far The Court Youth Company can take keen and dedicated performers.

The company meet twice a week for three hours at a time on Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons to learn theatrical skills from a range of tutors, including members of The Court's artistic team and visiting practitioners, and to prepare for their two productions which are performed to the public each year.

Current members of the 2018 company have also transitioned onto The Court's mainstage since their training, with Miriam Qualls having played Lavinia in Titus Andronicus earlier this year and Ocean Jones currently in rehearsals for her role in upcoming Kiwi comedy Astroman.

For Artistic Director Ross Gumbley, The Court Youth Company is a vital part of The Court Theatre itself.

"Theatre cannot exist without passion. It's important we find people who have passion for theatre as soon as we can. The Court Youth Company tees up young people who are excited about theatre with a platform to learn, grow and indulge that excitement."

Applications for the 2019 Court Youth Company are open now, with a range of scholarships available. Click here to find out more and apply.

Don't Miss a New Zealand News Story
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...