Review: Our Day Out from The Courtyard Senior Youth Theatre.
By Willy Russell. Directed by Jamie Hutton. Musical director Greg Bishop.
We were delighted to experience the latest production from The Courtyard Senior Youth Theatre, and it really was an experience! We didn’t feel like we simply watched a show, it was more like we were viewing an actual day in the life of a class of teenagers and their teachers, which proved very much like a trip down memory lane for me!
The programme artwork is spot on for the theme – like a scrap book cover depicting memories collected and kept by a school child. It’s exactly the kind of thing I would have created as a teenager after a good day out. The cover lettering, cut out from press clippings, much like a ransom note would be, made me smile and wonder if teachers accompanying my class on school trips felt like they were being held against their will!
From the start, the stage set up put the audience at a completely different perspective to usual, with the stage area extending across what is normally a seating area, and some of the audience seats actually on stage level. As we entered the auditorium we were looking down on a bustling street scene, much as you would if you were sitting at an upstairs table in a café or office, people watching. And no, we weren’t late! ‘Real life’ was already happening on stage before any of the audience arrived – what a great way to draw us in and make us feel part of a day to day scene of children on their way to school. This gave the show a very natural realistic feel, like we were there watching life go by rather than waiting for a performance to start. We were already guessing characters by their movements, dress, and interactions with each other, seemingly before the show even started!
Set in inner city Liverpool, Mrs Kay’s progress class are bursting with excitement for their first school trip, until stern Mr Briggs comes along to supervise.
While Mrs Kay is determined to give the children a day they’ll never forget, Mr Briggs attempts to handle the entire day (and the children) with strict, old-fashioned school discipline. The result is very funny, and quite moving. Some of the characters definitely reminded me of pupils I was at school with in my teens.
Every one of the cast were brilliant, staying in character while on stage (and the entire cast was on stage for most of the time) with their mannerisms and amusing interactions. Zofia Wiktoria Winiarska was a stand out actor for us (and judging by the cheers at the end, by many others in the audience too) in her role as Carol, while Tasha Bugaj-Tanner played the calm, unflappable, kind Mrs Kay perfectly. Tom Beach was a brilliant Mr Briggs, and very much reminded me of some of my teachers! Every actor on stage was convincing and brilliant in their roles – we loved every minute.
We came away so impressed with this production, its unique style, and the full interaction of every cast member throughout the entire show was fantastic. This production just went to prove that The Courtyard Youth Theatre and Senior Youth Theatre offer so much for children of all ages and abilities. The confidence, team work and camaraderie was clear throughout, what a great thing for children to be part of!
While this was a Senior Youth Theatre production by children in year 12 plus, The Courtyard run youth theatre sessions for all ages, from reception age up, and are fully inclusive. Why not encourage your child to give it a try?
You can read more about Youth Theatre at The Courtyard here.
