About Our Youth Groups
Hi, I’m Simon Parr and I am lucky enough to be the Youth Director here at the Barn.
We have a huge number of ex-youth theatre members who have gone on to work professionally in the entertainment industry. So many of these ex-members, and some current ones too, that now work as back-stage technicians and as actors and writers alike, have benefitted enormously from the foundations set in their early years, learning and enjoying the Barn Youth Theatre activities. The hard work and dedication of those that run the weekly sessions can not be over-stated and we thank them all, past and present, for the contribution and difference they have made to literally hundreds of young people.
You can also be a ‘youth’ member of the Barn Theatre without attending a Barn Youth Group. This entitles you to audition for any Barn Theatre show throughout the year and provides the opportunity to get involved backstage too should you wish to but of course you do not have to pay for, or attend, the weekly group sessions.
We have a total of four youth groups. Three junior groups, Pigwidgen, Hedwig and Errol and one senior group Hermes – their details can be seen below.
Having a wonderful, solid and competent team of leaders running our groups is one thing but none of this would happen without Lucy Winston who runs the day-to-day administration of the groups – liasing with parents, managing waiting lists, placing students, moving students, taking payment from students, chasing parents for payment, the list goes on and on and she makes my lilfe a whole lot easier – thank you Lucy!
Senior Group (Hermes)
School Year 11+
The Senior Youth Theatre is known as HERMES and provides an opportunity for young people aged from 16 – 21 to have some theatre training and gain experience in performance, backstage work, and theatre practices and etiquette.
Members are expected to attend weekly drama workshops/training sessions on Mondays during term time 8.00pm – 10.00pm. The sessions will include improvisation, play readings, characterisation, and group work. In addition, the Senior Youth Theatre may be preparing a Barn main-stage presentation or for a show to be entered into the Welwyn Garden City Youth Drama Festival
For the more able and experienced, there may also be an opportunity to work on one or more of the Barn’s Main Season productions in the main theatre.
Any young people interested in working hard at on-stage performances or backstage theatre work are always most welcome.
Tutor: Sean Scotchford
£90/term
Junior Groups
PIGWIDGEON
Ages 9 - 11
(up to and including School Yr 7)
Mondays 4.00pm - 5.30pm
Georgina Bennett
£70/term
HEDWIG
Ages 11 - 13
(School Yrs 7-9)
Tuesdays 6.15pm - 7.45pm
Louise Purdy
£70/term
ERROL
Ages 13 - 15
(School Yrs 9-11)
Mondays 5.45pm - 7.45pm
Louise Pardy
£90/term
"I can't stress the importance of youth drama enough. The experience and confidence our group members gain by participating is always wonderful to see and it helps them in every area of their lives"
Term Dates
Autumn 2022
xx September – xx October 2022
Half term
(w/c xx October 2022)
w/c xx October – xx December 2022
Spring 2023
xx January – xx February 2023
Half term
(w/c xx February 2023)
w/c xx February – xx April 2023
Summer 2023
xx January – xx February 2023
Half term
(w/c xx February 2023)
w/c xx February – xx April 2023
How to Join
* denotes required fields.
If you have any queries you can contact Simon Parr, Youth Director
Barn Theatre, Handside Lane, Welwyn Garden City Herts AL8 6ST
NB: Any paperwork, payments and communications can also be placed safely in envelopes provided in the ‘pigeon hole’ post system (marked Youth Theatre) located at the back end of the Bar area at the Barn or please pass to the relevant Tutor.
