We are a youth theatre charity for 16 to 25 year olds. The group was started back in 1970 by Eric Yardley and is now run by a Management Committee who are volunteers consisting of ex-YAT members and others who have had extensive experience working on the many productions over the years.

We put on at least three productions a year including plays, musicals, new writing and festivals, and include the opportunity to take part in events such as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and outdoor performances.

Rehearsals usually take place every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at the Peter and Paul Centre, Church Road, Teddington from 7:30 to 10pm. A Spring and Autumn production at the Hampton Hill Theatre is usually supplemented by a summer production, as well as a Christmas party.

Joining YAT couldn't be easier... Just turn up and complete a simple application for membership. That's it! No prior experience is necessary and there are no joining fees. You will not be asked to audition before you join. All you need to bring is a willingness to work hard and be part of a successful team.

First and foremost, YAT provides a terrific opportunity to meet friends with a similar interest in drama. Many long-lasting friendships have started in YAT. It also offers the chance to gain some excellent experience in live theatre. Although not a theatre school, many have gone on from their time with us to work in theatre, television, and film; others teach and some of us never left!

Membership is free of charge and all members between the ages of 16 to 25 are welcome to attend our rehearsals and join in the productions. No prior experience is necessary, just a willingness to work hard and desire to be part of a successful team. New members should have completed their GCSEs, and be able to attend evening rehearsals regularly in Teddington.

Plays are chosen to give opportunities for anyone who wants to be in the show whether on stage or, if preferred, in a backstage technical capacity. In return, we ask for your wholehearted commitment to ensure the standards of our productions remain of a high quality. That includes attending rehearsals when requested and arriving in plenty of time to be ready for the designated starting time. We also expect you to participate in promoting the show through various organised events, social media campaigns and of course selling as many tickets as possible to friends and family. This is the only regular source of income to fund the costs of the productions. If you are unable to be in our current production, then we can keep you informed of future events and you can come back or re-join us when the time is right.

Should we be nearing a performance when you come to join us the director may only be able to introduce you initially into a technical role working as part of the backstage team, or assisting front of house, but at least you can start to meet people and join the group. And it won’t be long until the next production is up and running.

We perform most of our plays at the Hampton Hill Theatre over a four-night run. A production usually takes between 8 and 12 weeks to rehearse and perform depending on the dates available in the annual programme of events. We normally rehearse on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights, and when we are nearing a production, we may need to rehearse on additional days as well.

The week leading up to the production will require a lot of intense work from everyone involved. Aside from additional rehearsals, over the penultimate weekend we need to assist the technical teams in set building, rigging the lights and sound equipment, organising props and costumes etc. All members are also expected to participate in the show ‘get-out’ which involves taking down the set and generally ensuring the theatre is left clean, tidy and in a fit state to receive the following production. This will generally happen following the final show.

We try to be as flexible as possible to everybody’s differing circumstances. Some members are involved in exams or have term-time obligations; others have work or family responsibilities. So long as you let us know before the auditions as to when you are unable to attend, then we can cast you in a role that will allow for these other commitments, and you can still be a valuable part of the team.

Once a play is auditioned and cast then we need everyone to stick to the rehearsal schedule, so any limited rehearsal time is used effectively. Should an emergency arise that would prevent you from attending then you need to contact the director at the earliest possible opportunity as they may have to reorganise the groups’ plans.

If you have any concerns or problems during the rehearsal process, you can contact YAT’s Safeguarding Lead via our Contact Us page.

Rehearsals and group meetings are normally held at the Peter and Paul Centre on Church Road, Teddington. It is approximately 5 minutes walk from Teddington train station, and there is a bus stop just 2 minutes walk away on the High Street. If the hall is not available at any time, we will try to find a suitable and local alternative.

Rehearsal venues are hired out to us at a cost, so we ask all our members to please respect the premises and the wishes of the facilities managers with whom we enjoy good relations, and in addition the neighbours who surround these premises. Please also take careful note of any special rules or regulations (such as a no-smoking policy) which might be in effect at any of these venues.

...and please remember to bring suitable footwear and clothing!

YAT is affiliated to Teddington Theatre Club (TTC) who manage the magnificent Hampton Hill Theatre (HHT) on Hampton Hill High Street. The Company provides us with some wonderful facilities in which to perform our productions and many TTC members give us their time and experience to assist us in our productions for free. Indeed, many of our members go on to join and play an active part in TTC.

Again, we ask all our members to take care when we use HHT and not to spoil any of the good relations that have been created over the many years of our association with the theatre and its members.

After reading this, please get in touch with us via our Contact Us page so we can let you know of the latest details and the best way to join us.

Visit these links to find out more:

Management Committee
Trustees
Patrons
Honoraries

If you have any questions, suggestions, comments, or concerns then please feel free to get in touch via our Contact Us page.