Havant Dynamo Youth Theatre have performed two very different shows this summer, both of which were enthusiastically received by audiences.
In the middle of July, the whole company performed ‘Where the Poppies Fall,’ a dramatic piece of workshop theatre to commemorate the centenary of the First World War. The piece was written and directed by the senior members who also researched the War with the help of the WW1 Remembrance Centre at Fort Widley and ran for four performances at St Faith’s Church Hall.
“We wanted to try and capture the mood of the country from the beginnings in 1914 when everyone was caught up in the excitement of war through the periods of mass casualties by telling two stories – the soldier on the western front and the munitions worker back in England, the women as well as men. The scenes were plotted and responsibilities shared out to develop and direct individual scenes. We actually had to create a complete production from scratch! Surely, this must be the most difficult task that a directing team of Dynamo has ever taken on†wrote the directors in the programme.
In early September, the seven members who had reached 18 and were leaving the company, performed a comedy, The Foreigner, by American author Larry Shue at The Spring. A difficult piece for young people to perform as it involved characters of varying ages and developing and sustaining Deep South American accents. As part of the characterisation, the cast went for a day to Gunwharf to convince visitors there that they were American students. They succeeded brilliantly with the final triumph being when they were up the Spinnaker Tower and asked whether the Isle of Wight was France, receiving the reply “You Americans always ask that!â€
The Company is now beginning rehearsals for the Christmas show. This is The Snow Queen by Ron Nicol based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and will be performed at The Spring from 8th to 10th January and 15th to 17th January at 7:30pm with matinees on Saturdays 10th and 17th at 2:30pm. This will be an ideal New Year treat for all the family and Dynamo hope to see you there! Tickets are available through The Spring’s website, www.thespring.co.uk or their box office 023 9247 2700.
Dynamo are always pleased to welcome new members between 11 and 18. Please visit the website www.hdyt.org.uk or call our membership secretary on 023 9249 8117.