The Nelson Youth Theatre Company has just reached a major milestone, completing the season of its 50th show. Its 50th show however, was not just any run-of-the-mill drama or comedy. It was one of the world’s most famous and challenging productions, Les Miserables.
Producing 50 shows in the Theatre’s eight year history is an incredible achievement, and one that has only been possible with the faith, passion and commitment of a tremendous team of volunteers.
The Nelson Youth Theatre Company was founded by Richard Carruthers, as he wanted to provide an opportunity for his own children who were passionate about drama and theatre.
“There was a general feeling that kids could not carry their own show. I didn’t believe that and I wanted to do better,” says Richard.
The Company’s first show had a budget of $500 and made a loss of $100 – a figure Richard says seemed huge at the time but now looks insignificant considering Les Miserables' $70,000 budget!
Despite the small financial loss from that first show, the actors loved every minute of it and wanted to do it again – and that is what the Nelson Youth Theatre Company has done, 49 more times!
The Nelson Youth Theatre Company mainly involves children between the ages of 10 and 18 years old. The Company produces on average seven shows a year, sometimes working on three or four plays at the same time. Finding talent to take to the stage is not an issue for the Company, which has a large database of youth keen to play a part. About 100 young people have acted for the company over the last year.
The Company also offers about half a dozen courses each year, where tertiary level providers or teachers come to Nelson to help the Company’s actors upskill in various areas, such as Shakespeare or Stage Combat (where the actors are taught how to stage a dangerous-looking but entirely safe punch-up, brawl or sword-fight).
Richard Carruthers says that it is due to that training that the skill level of the young people involved has increased dramatically, with the Company boasting a team of young people who are as proficient at stage combat as some professionally trained actors.
In 2003 the Nelson Youth Theatre Company won the Supreme Award at the TrustPower Nelson Community Awards, and then went on to represent the region at the TrustPower National Community Awards in March 2004.
Richard Carruthers says their win at the Community Awards gave everyone a lot of pride and satisfaction, with the win still being a major milestone in the Youth Theatre’s history.
The TrustPower Community Awards win however, also brought with it some challenges.
“Being named Supreme Winner at the TrustPower Community Awards created such a huge expectation. We thought we needed to work even harder, and that was challenging.”
It appears however, that those high expectations have been met.
The Nelson Youth Theatre Company’s production of Les Miserables, which involved actors aged 15 to 24, was double-cast…meaning that each role had two actors with the teams of actors alternating each night’s performance.
To have the talent to be able to double-cast the roles is fantastic, but to do that and achieve fantastic reviews and sell-out crowds is outstanding.
Richard Carruthers says in the Company’s eight year history they have found heaps of true acting talents.
“We have developed a history of getting the students to direct the shows, and the calibre of what they can get out of their peers is amazing – very creative.”
Richard says they tend to lose track of the actors once they go to University or move away from Nelson, however he says a number of the Company’s previous stars have gone on to study drama at University.
The Nelson public, as well as local companies such as Trustpower, Creative Communities and Port Nelson, have been hugely supportive of the Nelson Youth Theatre Company.
“Friends keep coming up to me and saying ‘People are still talking about the show!’ – and Les Miserables finished up a month ago!” says Richard.
But while Richard says he might be the front-man for the Theatre Company, without volunteers the Company simply wouldn’t exist.
“The Nelson Youth Theatre Company is fuelled by an ever-widening source of volunteer labour. We have a core group of about 40 volunteers, with others helping on a show-by-show basis. The volunteer team love what they do – it’s a big theatre family!”
For more information about the Nelson Youth Theatre Company contact Richard Carruthers on 03 548 8414 or email youtheatre@paradise.net.nz .
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