The Edinburgh buzz begins

Following another triumphant year, in which they received their seventh consecutive five-star review at the Edinburgh Fringe, Newbury Youth Theatre returns to The Corn Exchange on Saturday, July 26 with The Bee Man of Orn.
Originally written in 1887 by the American author Frank R Stockton, The Bee Man of Orn is a philosophical children’s story, centred on an old man’s journey of self-discovery.
NYT relay the story using their trademark rambunctious style of ensemble storytelling. While this has meant some additions to the original tale, they assure us that it is all very in keeping with the sentiment of the original.
“The book is about innocence, journeys and self-knowledge, which are universal themes,” says writer Tony Trigwell-Jones, “but it is also about nature and I think the way that we think about the natural world is different now to attitudes in the late 19th century.”
So here, alongside The Very Imp and The Languid Youth, we also have a blue whale who has seen less cod lately, an argument about invasive species and, of course, the disappearance of the bees.
There are also original songs, some terrible puns, and touches of simple magic, in what promises to be an enchanting show for the whole family.
Newbury Youth Theatre has been touring productions to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for over 15 years. In this time they consistently garnered four- and five-star reviews in the national and festival press and have been recognised with awards from Three Weeks and BroadwayBaby.
NYT are a non-auditioning company, welcoming young people aged 14-21 to join in with the creation of new and exciting theatre for all ages.
Tickets, priced £9, are available from the Corn Exchange box office on 0845 521 8218 or via www.cornexchangenew.com