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The Grand Young Company offers high quality training and artist development opportunities to young people who have an interest in working towards future, creative careers in theatre making, performance and beyond.
The Grand Young Company offers two pathways for training:
Acting Pathway – for 14-19 year olds September 2024 – July 2025:
Our GYC Acting Pathway members will:
- Receive high quality actor training and skills development with leading artists from across the UK.
- Perform a brand new play as part of the nation-wide National Theatre Connections Festival during the Easter 2025 Holidays.
- Create and perform newly commissioned theatrical works at Blackpool Grand Theatre’s Storytelling Festival in July 2025.
Musical Theatre Pathway – for 16-24 year olds – September 2024 – July 2025:
Our GYC Musical Theatre Pathway members will:
- Receive high quality, skills development and cross-disciplinary training in acting, singing and dance.
- Perform newly commissioned Musical Theatre works in March 2025, written and created by leading artists and creatives from across the UK.
- Perform a musical at Blackpool Grand Theatre’s Storytelling Festival in July 2025.
“As a former member of the National Youth Theatre and National Youth Music Theatre myself, I know just how important it is for young people to be able to access high-quality opportunities to explore and develop their performance and theatre-making craft, to be inspired by experienced professionals, and to have pathways for future career opportunities whilst having fun, making new friends, and furthering their sense of belonging as an important and integral part of their local professional theatre.” Adam Knight, Chief Executive of Blackpool Grand Theatre
“The Grand Young Company offers a creative space for young people to develop their interests, build resilient confidence and a sense of belonging. It connects them to the wider world of theatre and our touring companies and offers a place where all people are valued and all ideas heard”. Celine Wyatt, Head of Creative Learning and Development at Blackpool Grand Theatre
Both the Acting and Musical Theatre Pathway Young Companies will meet on midweek evenings during term-time with additional, intensive training and rehearsal periods during school holidays and on weekends leading to performances. The full schedule for both pathways will be published in due course and shared with prospective members in advance of accepting a place on the programme following a successful audition.
Applications to join The Grand Young Company for the 2024/2025 season are now open.
To learn more about the Grand Young Company Pathways please click on the dropdown boxes below.
You can apply for the GYC Acting Pathway link below
https://forms.office.com/e/YKzF650gGW
You can apply for the GYC Musical Theatre Pathway link below
https://forms.office.com/e/4ERrY18Adi
(Main Image GYC Member Charlie Knowles in ‘Orchestra’ by Charlie Josephine at Blackpool Grand Theatre 2024- Credit Max Sandiford)
The Grand Young Company is for young people who are interested in working hard to train and develop skills for future careers in theatre making, performance and beyond.
For the 2024 – 2025 season, The Grand Young Company offers two pathways for training:
The GYC Acting Pathway is for 14-19 year olds.
The GYC Musical Theatre Pathway is for 16-24 year olds.
At GYC, we offer exciting and accessible training in theatre making and performance to the next generation of young artists in Blackpool.
Through taking part in:
- practical workshops
- masterclasses
- public performances
GYC members will gain skills and build confidence in:
- acting
- voice
- movement
- ensemble performance
- new writing
- and much more
We work with top industry professionals from all over the UK, inspiring our members and giving them space to develop their artistry. We make learning fun while also promoting personal growth, making new friendships, and building resilience.
As a member, you’ll have the amazing chance to watch selected shows that are visiting the Grand Theatre and take part in workshops with the artists and creative teams who have made them. We also provide the chance to take part in national opportunities, expanding your horizons and making new connections beyond our hometown.
Join us, and together we’ll embark on a journey towards a future career in the arts!
The GYC take part in lots of different projects and they will differ from year to year.
If you join the GYC Acting Pathway for the 2024/2025 season, alongside regular skills and training sessions the first awesome project you will be part of will give you the chance to learn and perform a brand-new play as part of the 30th Anniversary of the National Theatre Connections Festival – a nation-wide festival that celebrates excellent British Youth Theatre. (Awesome, right?)
You will rehearse this never-before-seen-play between October 2024 and March 2025 then you will perform it on the main stage at The Grand Theatre in April 2024.
If you join the GYC Musical Theatre Pathway for the 2024/2025 season, alongside regular skills, and training sessions your first amazing project will see you begin to work with artists, writers and creatives to create new musical theatre works. This could include the creation and writing of new songs and scenes, storytelling through dance to original music and even the creation of new concepts which could grow into full musicals in the future. This work will be presented to live audiences in March 2025 ahead of working on a full book musical for the summer.
Fees for GYC can be paid upfront or broken down into instalments that suit you across the course of the year. The Acting Pathway and Musical Theatre Pathway both have different pricing due to the nature of the work, staffing and performance costs across the differing programmes, therefore please read the below information carefully.
GYC Acting Pathway:
If you are successful at audition and offered a place, the fee for the 2024/2025 season will be £350 per company member.
GYC Musical Theatre Pathway:
If you are successful at audition and offered a place, the fee for the 2024/2025 season will be £450 per company member.
The membership fee for both pathways includes all associated costs for taking part in the programme across 10 months including:
- skills development masterclasses
- regular weekly sessions throughout term time
- Intensive rehearsal periods during school holidays (dates tbc)
- live performances
- performance insurances
- costuming for public performances
- tickets to see selected performances as part of the programme
After a successful audition, we will send you information on how to pay your fees and give you the following choices:
- Pay for the full year upfront when you join in September
- Pay for half of the year upfront in September and the second half of the year in February
- Pay monthly
- Pay weekly
We believe that everyone deserves a fair chance to participate in the Grand Young Company, regardless of their background or financial situation and this is why we have a limited number of bursary places available to those who need them most.
If you would love to join GYC but feel that the costs are too high, then we will try to help you break down financial barriers by awarding you with a free or half-price bursary place if you are successful at audition.
If you would like to apply for a bursary place, please check the relevant box during your application and if you are successful at audition, a member of the team will be in touch to discuss and agree your bursary application in the strictest of confidence.
More details on eligibility for bursary places is available in our FAQ Sheet.
You will never be treated differently because you have applied for or received a bursary.
To become a member of GYC, you need to apply for a place at our Open Audition Workshops.
For the GYC Acting Pathway you only need to select one of the below audition dates.
- Monday 15th July 2024, 5pm – 8pm
- Tuesday 16th July 2024, 5pm – 8pm
At your audition you will take part acting workshops and perform a monologue of your own choice. . For more information on what to prepare for your audition, please see our FAQ SHEET.
You may not be required to stay for the full duration of the audition, therefore please ensure that you are able to contact a parent/guardian to collect you once you complete your audition.
To be eligible to join the GYC Acting Pathway, you should be a UK resident aged 14 to 19 as of 2nd September 2024.
Don’t worry if you’re 13 now but turning 14 by the 2nd September 2024 – you can still apply! Remember, you must not turn 20 until after 20th July 2024.
If you’re unsure about your eligibility and want to speak to a member of our team for some help, send an email to: gyc@blackpoolgrand.co.uk
If you’re ready to apply for the GYC Acting Pathway, click the link to fill in the audition form: https://forms.office.com/e/YKzF650gGW
For the GYC Musical Theatre Pathway you should select your audition date and time based on your experience level in dance (beginner, intermediate or advanced).
Wednesday 17th July 2024:
- Beginner’s Dance – 10am to 12.30pm
- Intermediate Dance – 1pm to 3.30pm
- Advanced Dance – 4pm – 5.30pm
Saturday 20th July 2024:
- Beginner’s Dance – 10am to 12.30pm
- Intermediate Dance – 1pm to 3.30pm
- Advanced Dance – 4pm – 5.30pm
In your audition slot you will take part in a dance workshop and perform a monologue and two songs of your choice. For more information on what to prepare for your audition, please see our FAQ SHEET.
You may not be required to stay for the full duration of the audition, therefore please ensure that you are able to contact a parent/guardian to collect you once you complete your audition.
To be eligible to join the GYC Musical Theatre Pathway, you should be a UK resident aged 16 to 24 as of 2nd September 2024.
Don’t worry if you’re 15 now but turning 16 by the 2nd September 2024 – you can still apply! Remember, you must not turn 25 until after 20th July 2024.
If you’re unsure about your eligibility and want to speak to a member of our team for some help, send an email to: gyc@blackpoolgrand.co.uk
If you’re ready to apply for the GYC Musical Theatre Pathway, click here to fill in the audition form:
The 2024/2025 programme is intensive and requires serious levels of commitment from all company members.
Whilst we are of course able to accommodate absences from some sessions, it is expected that 2024/2025 company members will be able to commit to the majority of the programme, rehearsal schedule and all live performance dates. A full schedule will be published in due course and presented to all auditionee’s ahead of accepting places following a successful audition.
If you have any key dates that you will be unavailable, or any holiday’s planned between September 2024 and July 2025, you should let us know in this section of the application when filling out the form (link below).
To apply for an audition slot for the Acting Pathway, complete the form:
https://forms.office.com/e/YKzF650gGW
To apply for an audition slot for the Musical Theatre Pathway, complete the form:
https://forms.office.com/e/4ERrY18Adi
Once submitted, you’ll receive further information on what you need to do to prepare for your audition via email.
WE’VE GOT YOUR BACK
Your application is in safe hands! Our specialist team at Blackpool Grand Theatre will review it confidentially, ensuring your personal information remains secure.
NEED SOME MORE INFORMATION BEFORE YOU APPLY?
Then click here to see our FAQ sheet which includes details of how our relaxed, low-key auditions work, what you need to prepare, plus loads more information including fees and bursaries.
