Being part of a youth theatre, as a child and young adult, forms some of my best childhood memories. I can still feel the nervous butterflies in my tummy before finding out if I had secured the part I wanted; I can smell the sickly smell of the Strawberry Shoelaces we munched during long weekend rehearsals, and I can easily recount the tingly feeling of excitement when standing with thirty friends in the darkened wings listening to the auditorium fill up with people wanting to hear OUR story.

Youth theatre gave me confidence to think ‘outside the box’, a security to test creative ideas and friendships that I still maintain today. It is this belief in the strength of youth theatres and their role in young people’s lives that has meant, during all my working life, I have had some connection to one or more of them. Before coming to Vamos Theatre, I ran the Roses Theatre’s Youth Theatre in Tewkesbury with over 100 members, I also founded Cleeve  Youth  Theatre, as well  as working closely with many youth theatres in Gloucestershire.

Since returning from my third (and final) maternity leave, I feel privileged to be taking the helm of Vamos Youth Theatre and Vamos Central. I, and the whole Vamos Theatre team, are passionate  about both groups becoming  places where all members can create, play and enjoy making good quality theatre. Youth Theatre should be a space where young people can feel valued and heard, whilst providing training and opportunities within the wider company for the next generation of theatre makers.

This year we’ve some great projects and opportunities that will help our members grow in confidence and develop their creativity, including being part of Imagineer’s Bridge, an ambitious art and engineering project that will lead to the creation of an iconic bridge structure. Members of our Youth Theatres will be part of this major outdoor event in Worcester later in the year.

Along with everything else we’ve got planned for this year, it’s an exciting prospect, and one which I hope – like all good youth theatre – will change the lives of those involved.

Honor Hoskins