Lucy Betts is at the helm of the Yvonne Arnaud Youth Theatre. As the company prepares for a season of Orwell, she tells Jane McGowan why young people’s theatre matters so much
Lucy Betts is living the dream. As head of performance at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Youth Theatre, the 29-year-old is in her artistic element.
“Every day I wake up raring to go,” she says. “I get to work with these amazing young people and watch them grow and create. I am so lucky to have this job.”
Lucy realised very early that her future would involve the theatre. As well as studying drama for GCSE, A Level and at university, she attended the Festival Youth Theatre in her home town of Chichester between the ages of 7 and 20.
“Youth theatre has been an important part of my life,” she says. “So when it came to finding a job, I had to go back there. I felt that I owed it so much.”
Established more than 20 years ago, the Arnaud’s youth theatre is the biggest in Surrey, catering for youngsters aged 6-21. There is also the Discover Drama section – an inclusive theatre group which provides theatre workshops for young people with learning disabilities.
Having joined in September 2010, Lucy is now responsible for the performance side of the theatre alongside Nick White, head of youth and education. The company puts on several productions, a mixture of plays and musicals, during the course of the year, even including a stint at the Edinburgh Festival.
“We try to choose shows where everyone gets a chance to shine,” explains Lucy.
Next month Act One – a group of around 35 youth theatre actors aged 16-21 – will take on adaptations of George Orwell’s classic novels Animal Farm and 1984. Both plays, of course, have strong political undercurrents, although this was not the prime motivation for the choice.
“We chose them because the stories offer so many possibilities when it comes to acting. This little season gives the actors more to get their teeth into. There’s a huge amount for them to do and I am privileged to be working with such a talented cast.”
It’s not all just about performance on-stage – the YA Youth Theatre also offers teenagers the chance to get involved backstage and learn the techniques involved in staging a show. For Lucy, however, the overriding purpose of the youth theatre is to offer youngsters security and a sense of belonging.
“The pressure on young people today is just incredible,” she says. “We can talk about that and use it to create something really wonderful. Once you walk through the door, nothing else matters. All these young people care about is that they are coming together to share a love of drama.”
Animal Farm and 1984 are being performed at the Mill Studio from March 17-19 and March 24-26 respectively. Find out more by calling 01483 440000 or checking online
