After enjoying a successful 2017 with their inaugural National Ensemble, Scottish Youth Theatre has recruited the 2018 company. Earlier this October, the company travelled to Dundee, Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow to audition young people aged 16 – 25 to represent the next generation of performers and theatre makers from Scotland.
After receiving over 80 applications from young hopefuls across Scotland, the final line-up of 20 was unveiled last weekend, and four of the company members are based in Edinburgh. Emery Law (20), Heather Mitchell (23), Dan Orejon (25) and Tom Whiston (20) are delighted to have been called up as Emery confirms
“I’m so excited to be chosen as a member of Scottish Youth Theatre’s National Ensemble. The audition was so relaxed and I loved meeting the staff”.
Daniel who is originally from Spain adds, “When I moved to Edinburgh from Madrid seven years ago I never thought I would be given such an amazing opportunity to collaborate with theatre professionals and other young creatives from Scotland”.
When asked what the foursome can expect from their Ensemble experience, SYT’s Artistic Director Mary McCluskey explains;
“Membership lasts a year and during that time, participants will be given the opportunity to collaborate with acclaimed theatre practitioners and companies on a monthly basis. They will then put what they have learned into practice when they devise and perform in a new piece of theatre in the summer – details of which will be announced early next year”
On their call up to the Ensemble Mary states, “The ability displayed by the auditionees was outstanding. The Ensemble is a platform to showcase the high standard of emerging performers and theatre makers we have right here in Scotland and all four of these young people definitely fall into that category”
The talented youngsters met their fellow Ensemble members last weekend and Tom, who is originally from Manchester, is very optimistic about the year ahead,
“I’m looking forward to seeing more of Scotland with the Ensemble during our Development weekends, and getting to learn techniques from some of the best teachers and theatre practitioners in the UK.
Heather is interested in exploring all aspects of theatre making,
“I come from a performer background so I am excited to try new areas of theatre making such as directing and writing. I believe the National Ensemble will be a safe and nurturing environment where I can experiment and really push myself”.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
