Next sessions:

6.30-8.00pm:

Tuesday 7th February 2012

** Want to go straight to the rehearsal schedule?

Members of our group are aged 8-13, and new members are always welcome to apply.

We meet on a Tuesday evening, 6.30-8.00pm at Roath Church House (need a map?), and we do a mixture of games, singing and acting exercises.

Through practical work we

• learn the basics of acting technique
• introduce some technical terms for theatre space and acting
• learn about discipline and respect for others in rehearsal and in performance.

We develop confidence and skills and we have fun while we're doing it!

Everyone is welcome, whether or not they have performance experience. All we ask is that once a member has made a commitment to joining the group, they need to work hard at being a good company member. This means:

• attending sessions regularly
• letting us know if you can't make a session (e.g. if you're ill)
• respecting the others in the group
• working hard at rehearsal
• learning lines thoroughly, when we're working on a show

We also put on shows - sometimes, some or all of the YoYos are involved in productions with the main, older group too - but we also do shows which are just for our own members. Take a look at our history page.

The sessions are run by one of our experienced directors, Lon David, who is often helped by one of the members of the main group. This is a photo of Lon:

Many of our members have moved on to join the main Unknown Theatre Company group, once they leave the YoYos. Here, you get the chance to work on bigger productions, usually musicals, which allow you to develop your skills further. Sometimes the older group does plays too.

We have a record of doing a wide range of activities in the older group, such as performing in international festivals, the Edinburgh Fringe etc. Find out more about the main group, and some of our reviews, or awards.

This photo is from the dress rehearsal of A Midsummer Night's (Little) Dream (June 2010)

At the moment - as of January 2012

We are currently full, but if you're interested in joining us, contact us to let us know. Places are limited, so you are advised to reserve your place by contacting us as soon as possible.

What it costs

Those involved in running The Unknown Theatre Company and the YoYos are volunteers, and the group is run on a non-profit basis. We still have costs to cover though, and we have an annual membership fee of £50 (this includes a company t shirt), and a weekly sub of £3 per rehearsal. This covers rehearsal space, performance and rehearsal insurance, and as far as we can manage it, costume fees and scripts. Sometimes, we may have to ask for a small contribution to cover some performance-related costs, but every effort is made to keep costs to a minimum.

We do everything we can to keep costs down to enable everyone to participate, but this means that we do have to do fundraising activities from time to time. We encourage everyone to get involved with these, including the YoYos, as these events benefit everyone in the group.

Auditions

We don't hold auditions in the YoYos.

We do some workshops, and we try some scenes from the play with different people in different parts, then Lon, the director, chooses people for the roles.

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While we can't promise to involve YoYos in all main company productions, we try to do so where we feel it's appropriate, to give YoYos as wide an experience as possible. And we try to involve YoYos in the main company where possible as we like to encourage a real company atmosphere across all parts of The Unknown Theatre Company.

At the moment, the YoYos have joined with the main group and are preparing Unga Bunga - our big spring show for performance at the end of March 2012.

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2nd February 2012

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