Newbury Youth Theatre jubilant on arrival in Edinburgh for their 23rd Fringe
Newbury Youth Theatre have arrived safely in Edinburgh for their 23rd year at the Festival Fringe after their 10-hour coach journey. They couldn’t park outside the venue as usual, due to road closures, so in true theatrical style of “the show must go on” the youngsters had to run carrying the set along the George the Fourth Bridge to the Quaker Meeting House avoiding the crowds en route.
The company's artistic director Robin Strapp has told Newburytoday: "They are staying at Queen Margaret University student accommodation in Musselburgh overlooking the beautiful Pentland Hills. Looking after them are six adult volunteers and they will be cooking meals in the flats. The shopping experience in Aldi filled four trolleys to the brim! It’s going to be quite an experience.
"They are only a six minute train journey into Waverley station and the cast are looking forward to performing their new play The Lost Letters following their highly successful preview at Arlington Arts.
"The Quaker Meeting House have opened their venue especially for us following the Covid pressures. They are a wonderful supporter of NYT and our “home” for all these years and all their profits go to charity.
NYT have had to bring their own lighting and are performing with the audience sitting on two sides as there is no raised seating and are even running the venue box office. It’s a very different but exciting vibe.
For the 17-strong company this will be their first visit to Auld Reekie and the excitement is palpable."
15-year-old Amber Karasinski is “looking forward to the amazing experience of living with cast in the stunning city of Edinburgh whilst doing something I’m passionate about. It’ll be full of lots of first experiences and memories for life” she said.
While Saphi Stock (13) commented: “I’m so proud to be part of the experience, this is a fantastic learning opportunity.”
Sofia Hughes (12) echoed those thoughts and was excited "to explore Edinburgh’s well known landmarks and enjoy all the shows they have to offer”, while 12-year-old Amelia Martin-Doyle said: “I feel so lucky to perform at the Fringe at such a young age and am really looking forward to being part of such a big event with the rest of NYT.”
And what a variety they have to choose from. There are a total of over 3,000 shows in 255 venues with 49,827 performance from 58 countries with comedy, theatre, musicals, circus and street performers. Every available space has been converted into a performance area.
Plus, there is the International Festival with an exciting programme using all the city’s professional theatres and the highly successful Book Festival. International work has included performers from Korea, Australia, Europe and the USA. The Freedom Ballet of Ukraine who only arrived in the city last week are performing at EICC and been made to feel especially welcomed.
NYT have had an opportunity to choose three shows to see as part of their visit and a wide variety of activities have been planned from the Harry Potter walking tour to visits to the famous Edinburgh museum and National Gallery while some took an open top bus tour of the Edinburgh city at the weekend.
Some of the more adventurous have climbed to the top of Arthur’s Seat and have taken advantage of the beautiful meadows, a huge grass park in the centre of the city to play ball games and visited Edinburgh Castle.
The whole company went to see the Project Dictator by Rhum and Clay, who used to be an associate company at The Watermill.
"The media have been very interested in the show with Three Weeks naming them as one of their top three family shows to see," Robin reports. “Newbury Youth Theatre is one of our all time favourite Fringe regular companies who always turn up with beautiful shows that win lots of acclaim.”
"It’s going to be a wonderful week to remember!"
