For more information on the TYKES please contact

thedramalady@hotmail.co.uk

T.Y.K.E.S.

We are the Teignmouth Young Keystone EntertainerS, but we are better known as the T.Y.K.E.S.

We are an acting group all aged between 7-17 but we are split into younger and older groups and mainly focus on different things but often join together for big shows such as Granny Galactica (November 2009) and our upcoming production Armadadrama (Summer 2011) that will be on the beach.

 We have a leader, Leigh Toney, who has been our director for almost 3 years now, and we believe that    over that time we’ve put on some really great shows!

Our most recent performance, has been a play called Shooting Truth, a new and original script, which we performed in the Carlton Theatre (that is where we rehearse by the way) and then at the Drum, in Plymouth. This was all part of the National Theatre Connections Festival, and the adjudicator of our play enjoyed it so much that we have won a chance to perform the play on the 30th June at the Cottesloe Theatre in London.

Everyone who was involved in the project has had an incredible 6 months, developing stage skills, learning back stage ‘stuff’ and having LOADS of fun doing it!

We also do many performances at the Carlton Theatre, such as a wearable art competition the previous year. TYKES sometimes take part in workshops too, with people from other places coming to assist us, like in our most recent Stage Combat Workshop at the turn of the year.

TYKES sometimes delve into the more musical side of things. We showed off our skills in musical theatre by doing a cabaret, containing songs from all manner of musicals, from Chicago to Wicked; from West Side Story to Jesus Christ Superstar. Even the BBC has taken notice of us, by giving us the funding to perform the musical “Armadadrama”, written by David Haines, and will be free of charge to watch – come and see what you are missing!

However, if singing isn’t really your thing, don’t be discouraged. TYKES are a fun group, filled with teenagers who all have a passion for acting and performing. No matter what your reason for joining TYKES, whether it is to make new friends, improve your confidence, or just to get your chance to perform on stage, TYKES will welcome you with open arms.

Although the aim of T.Y.K.E.S. is to put on great shows that we think people will enjoy, we also believe in the ‘all work and no play makes a TYKE a very dull TYKE indeed’ ethic and throughout any rehearsal period or just our normal Friday sessions we make it as enjoyable as possible.

TYKES is not just a group of actors; it is a group of friends…

TYKES Go to the National Theatre in London

REVIEW OF National Theatre Connections 2011 project on www.ayoungertheatre.com

SHOOTING TRUTH _ The TYKES

On the other end of the spectrum comes a thoroughly engaging and challenging text by Molly Davies, Shooting Truth. As a group of students embark on a film project during the school holidays, the connections between the true life story of witchcraft and outcast merge with the reconstructed film version, blurring the stories into one. TYKES, under the direction of Leigh Toney, command the text, ploughing through Davies’ script with vigor, humour and a real dedication – this young ensemble certainly proved that they deserved to be at the National Theatre. By the end of Shooting Truth, I was surprised by how much of a journey TYKES’ young cast had taken me on. It’s one thing to get a group of young people to perform a play, but quite another to develop an emotional and physical journey for the audience, too.

The cast are as engaging and committed as the direction itself, playing both the modern day and sixteenth century with ease. There is something particularly charming in having two distinct time periods working simultaneously, which is greatly assisted by the two accents adopted by the cast. There are a number of laugh-out-loud moments with costume and props, and an excellent use of cameras and televisions to capture some close-up shots of the cast responding to their making a film. By the end however, this laughter has completely dissolved as the darker themes of Shooting Truth leave a slight chill down your spine. It would be unfair to praise certain TYKES performers above others, for the standard in this group was exceptional – a testament to the Connections Festival itself.

The National Theatre’s Connections Festival continues with a further six productions, but it’s clear that whilst we’re often quick to judge the work the National Theatre produces, the commitment and experience it offers for young performers and companies is second-to-none.

FROM THE LONDON EVENING STANDARD

Shooting Truth

★★★★✩

A sophisticated end to the second night came from Shooting Truth by Molly Davies, a Blair Witch-style tale that confidently interleaves the present with the 1640s, as a group of students make a film about a supposed teenage witch, Freya.

TYKES, from Teignmouth, had great fun with the staging possibilities of these overlapping narratives, as both real and actress Freyas struggle against hostile peers. Connections proves conclusively that the kids really are alright.