EVER since she can remember, Georgina McKevitt from Drimnagh, Dublin, has wanted to be an actress. She'd taken part in school plays, but she was their never sure how she could further ambitions until her mother heard about the Dublin Youth Theatre.
Georgina applied immediately, was auditioned and was accepted as a member of the theatre company at the age of 14. She's now a 17 year old fifth year student at Pearse College, Crumlin, Dublin.
Youngsters join the Dublin Youth Theatre for all sorts of reasons. Some, like Georgina, want to become professional actors. Some are interested in set or costume design. Others want to write or direct. And there are those who simply want to widen their horizons or meet new people. Former members include actor Peter Hanly who plays the young garda in Ballykissangel, film director Jim Sheridan and writers Paul Mercier and Lee Dunne.
DYT is open to young people aged between 14 and 22 years. Auditions are held every September when up to 50 new members are admitted. Auditions are less fearsome than they may sound. You don't need to learn anything off by heart. You simply participate in a drama workshop and convince the directors of DYT that you would be a committed member.
"We try to get a balanced membership," explains DYT director Veronica Coburn who is a founder member of the theatre company, Barabas. "We try to ensure a good spread of ages and a good mix of males and females."
DYT's 48 week programme caters for everyone regardless of experience and includes Saturday morning workshops in DYT's premises in Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin. Newcomers take the first 10 workshops together. "We try to get the group to gel and to get them used to the medium of drama," explains Cob urn. "They loose their inhibitions, learn to improvise drama and develop a theatre vocabulary."
After Christmas first year members join up with second years (even if you stay eight years you remain a second year) and up to six workshops focus on assimilating the newcomers.
Members can expect to take part in general workshop (including improvisation and devising and clowning) and specialist workshops (writing, directing and technical skills for example). "We don't have a set programme each year," says Coburn. "It all depends on the experience of the group.
This year for example, DYT members have recently enjoyed a series of workshops on dance, which 22 year old rock musician Hugh Phelan from Swords, Co Dublin, describes as "brilliant." Hugh, who says he has been in and out of bands since he was 14, joined DYT because he needed new challenges. "I've been writing short stories at home that came out of song writing and I'd like to get into play wrighting."
DYT stages one major production each year using a professional production manager, set designer, costume designer and lighting manager. "This gives our members a chance to work with professionals," Coburn says.
This year DYT is celebrating its 20th birthday and is mounting a second major production Buzzin' to Bits by Mark O'Rowe which runs at Project at the Mint, Henry Place, Dublin, until next Saturday.
Usually during March and April DYT runs a series of "directors one acts" single act plays directed by in house directors. "It gives members a chance to act on stage in a relaxed atmosphere," comments Coburn. Similarly, during the summer, members are given the opportunity to write, cast, design, costume and act in their own one act plays. "We do as many as four per night over a two week period," she says.
DYT directors stress that the emphasis is less on training and more on having fun. However, there can be no doubt that members learn a lot. "I've grown up so much since I've been here," says 17 year old Maria Schweppe, from Ballymun, Dublin, who joined two years ago. "I've gained a lot of confidence. Coming here really opens you out."
Since joining the company Maria has decided she wants to go into costume design. "The great thing about DYT is that you get to do everything. I love it here so much I can't imagine leaving.
