By Noelle Williamson
Leeds Youth Opera (LYO) has always been a place for young people to develop not only a love for singing, but also solid stage skills and the ability to connect with a wide range of audiences.
It brought classic operas and thought-provoking modern musicals to new audiences for over 50 years, until Covid changed the cultural landscape.
Facing down the existential challenge which Covid posed for many arts organisations, LYO made bold choices.
It appointed brilliant artistic and musical directors Anita Adams and Seàn Gleeson with a brief to move away from full-scale operatic productions and take a different approach to secure the immediate future. They remain committed to building back up to those big productions in due course.
Working with a small new cohort of young people at Interplay Theatre in Armley, Anita and Seàn focused on building confidence and wellbeing, celebrating all music, and helping LYO to thrive again.
Productions of ‘Shackleton the Musical’ and ‘Children of Eden’ built momentum and brought new members. Last year’s glorious ‘Seussical the Musical’ was built on incredible ensemble and solo performances, and a set constructed almost entirely from foam noodles!
After an Innovation Award, and a review talking about ‘confidence untainted by vanity’, testified to bucketloads of talent and the establishment of a very special community, it’s hardly surprising that the young people wanted a new name for their group, to capture what was going on now.
‘Leeds Young Creatives’, take a bow!
And beside Leeds Young Creatives under the LYO umbrella, another exciting new group has recently opened: The Drama Division.
At The Drama Division, members can develop acting and character skills, learn vocal techniques and look forward to performing a full-scale play each year.
The first few sessions have been fun, collaborative, wacky and thought-provoking by turns – a really enjoyable mix of round-robin chats and activities in which everyone is encouraged to think and do, every contribution is welcomed but nothing is forced, everyone has a really good time and, incidentally, those acting and character skills are given a warm-up.
The Drama Division team “is dedicated to supporting young theatre makers to find their voice in a welcoming, safe space that celebrates individuality and encourages collaboration.” Watching these early sessions, you could tell.
- For more information contact info.leedsyouthopera@gmail.com.
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