Guildford Shakespeare Young Company

Activity Description

Following in the footsteps of our professionals, the GSC Young Company is a weekly course for 12-18 yr olds. Members devise and rehearse a brand new play inspired by our professional season.

“Guildford Shakespeare Company is like a family! The yearly play is really uplifting and the whole group perform so brilliantly it’s hard to remember they are not professionals… yet!”

Now in its fifth year, the Young Company have performed in four sell-out shows to great acclaim. By intertwining the different plots from our professional productions, the company create new story twists and characters based on the originals. Each show is staged in a local Guildford venue, emulating our company’s site-responsive philosophy.

Please Note: Please note that students must audition to become a member of the Young Company.

GSC’s in-house creatives run a mentoring programme, allowing the Young Company to gain an even greater insight into the workings of our professional company. Members will gain feedback on their acting skills and take on creative and backstage roles, through a variety of masterclasses, production meetings and guided tasks.

Building on the success of 2020’s Measure The Merry Night, members will be greatly involved in the writing process. The play will be created through a combination of devising, improvisation and written text. GSC’s Associate Playwright, Ant Stones (Robin Hood, Alice in Wonderland, Grimms’ Fairy Tales) will guide the script, while the Young Company Director, Francesca McInally (Midsummer in Romona and Love and Wonder) will lead rehearsals.

The course is split into two phases. Phase 1 focuses on devising the script through practical exercises. Phase 2 will rehearse and improve the completed script, leading to technical and dress rehearsals before the final public performance.

The course is designed so children can join at the beginning of Phase 1 or Phase 2 (availability permitting).