About Riverside Youth

Riverside Youth welcomes boys and girls from 7 years of age. Our aim is to teach basic drama, develop personal confidence and team building skills. Sessions are run by a team of enthusiastic volunteers who are all registered chaperones. We are also delighted to have the services of Scott Le Crass, a professional drama teacher. No audition is necessary - the hardest thing for a new member to do is to come along for the first time.

However, if you do we can promise a warm welcome and definitely nothing scary! Riverside Youth meet at Eynsford Village Hall at 6.00pm - 7.45pm during school term time. Sessions are £2.00.

Naomi.

Any queries phone Naomi on 07791808359 

Youth group is now running on Wednesdays during term time at Eynsford Village Hall 6-7.45pm.

See you there - just come along and join in the fun!!!

Each session is £3.00.

Riverside Youth Present

Beauty is a Beast

2nd March 2013

Riverside Youth will be treading the boards again, in the production of Beauty is a Beast, showing at Eynsford Village Hall, at 2pm.

Synopsis of show - Beauty is the most beautiful girl in the whole of the Kingdom, on the outside, but inside, she is ugly and mean.  Her fairy-godmother turns her inside out to teach her a lesson.

As last year, the children have produced the poster and the winning poster was designed by Cameron D. Please come along and show your support for the next generation of Riverside Players. For those who did attend last year’s show, spread the word as you know, you will be in for a real treat

Cast

Princess Beauty Katie P
Princess Honor  Jessica P
Fairy                Eloise R
Prince Andres    Jacob Mc
King                Libby Mc
Nick                Joshua R
Janie               Kate E.S
Scribe             Gabriel W
Guards            Ollie E.S & Hannah Mc
Tutor & Peter    Lauren S
Mayor              Kemp B
Meg & Patty      Imogen R
Sarah & Cindy   Chloe L
Sam & Bill        Emily W
Tim & Molly      Neve 
Jo, Joe & Old Lady  Cameron D

Tickets £5 adults, under 12s free!

Please call Naomi on  07791 808359

PEGGY THE PINT SIZED PIRATE

Riverside Youth will be treading the boards again this year with two performances of Peggy the Pint Sized Pirate on 30th June in Eynsford Village hall at 3pm and 5pm.

“Synopsis of show  - Peggy is too short to be a pirate, but when all the other pirates are captured by a sea monster, she is the only one left who can help.”

As last year, the children have produced the poster and will be helping out with the set painting. Please come along and show your support for the next generation of Riverside Players. For those who did attend last year’s show, spread the word as you know, you will be in for a real treat.

Cast of the show:

Tickets £5 adults, under 14s free!

Please call Naomi on  07791 808359

Sunlight & Moonlight

The Riverside Youth Group gave two performances of a short play in Eynsford Village Hall on Saturday 16^th July 2011 entitled Sunlight & Moonlight. This production was special for the Youth Group as they had not only supplied the actors, but also had designed the poster and helped with building and painting the set.

The stage was set out in a manner similar to that used for the main group’s 2007 production of A Man For All Seasons employing the portable staging with a curtain backdrop providing a thrust stage with the audience arranged around. This gave a very intimate feel to the show and allowed the actors to use both the floor and staging to good effect. Sunlight coloured programs were included in the ticket price of £5 and gave us a cast of characters and the production team.

The play was introduced by the Director Scott Le Crass who told us of a folk tale from Tibet set in the distant past, which aims to keep the art of storytelling alive, and to promote imagination.

It is true in performance that if you can grab the attention of the audience and engage them immediately then half the battle is won – this was certainly the case! The cast made a very dramatic entrance wailing like banshees and running all around the auditorium, it had energy! The two narrators (Hannah Sexton & Hannah Callum) began unfolding the story of the wicked Queen who wanted to drink the blood of her stepson Sunlight, played by Melody Lee, so that her own son Moonlight, played by Morgan Durrant, could inherit the throne. The device of choosing from among the listening cast who would play the parts in the tale brought us into the action. The Queen (Bonnie Osenton-Welch) attended by Daisy Campbell as the maid made a strong initial impression with her characterisation and excellent make-up.

The story progressed with Khan (Jodie Hummersone) trying to trick the wicked Queen, but, being overheard, caused the two title characters to run away together for fear of their lives. They found refuge with a hermit (Katie Aitchison) and his faithful pet Grommet played by Georgia Menditta. But were soon discovered by the fearsome soldiers (Sean Eveleigh, Rosie Down, Abbie Pearson and Lauren Sargent). Sunlight tricked the soldiers into believing that his half brother was dead, so that only he would captured and taken to the palace of the cruel and mighty Khan (played very mightily and cruelly by Chase Simmons) and his Queen played by Sian Nicolas. The Khan had two princesses (Cameron Durrant and Daisy Campbell) one whom pleaded for the life of Sunlight, this angered the Khan that both she and Sunlight were condemned to the cave of the Demon Bears played by Bonnie Osenton-Welch, Charlotte Fussell and Katie Aitchison. But far from being demons, the bears were touched by the unselfishness of the two in their peril that they released their prey. The story resolves when Sunlight returns to the hermit to rescue Moonlight and they both marry the two Princesses. The wicked queen died (because she was too evil to live) and it seems that everybody else did live happily ever after.

Throughout the play the sets were slickly changed to reflect the different scenes with minimal but effective furniture and painted backdrops. These often went unnoticed as the actors were providing diversion at the front of the stage. There were strange and ethereal ethnic musical interludes between the scenes that evoked the setting of distant Tibet.

Along with the rest of the audience, I applaud the Riverside Youth Group for mounting a public performance that showed confidence and style, great costumes (particularly the demon bears feet!) and make up. Thanks are due to all the helpers and crew, to Scott Le Crass for Directing and to Naomi Wolfe for producing the show. I hope the Youth Group continue to produce plays regularly in the future.

Ian Slipper

Warning!!

New Talent Approaching!

Yes, that’s right Riverside reader, you read it correctly! (If you don’t believe me, read the title again!) I popped down to see what the youth group had to offer on the evening of Wednesday 14th July.

I remember what it was like to do a show with the youth group... it was great fun! (before moving up to the older, less mature group!!). Having said that, it was nice to see so many familiar (older!) faces in the audience; not just the parents of the young performers. Scott Le Crass (Director), approached the audience at the start of the show, begging us to applaud, laugh, and to be understanding to the little ones; as they were very nervous. However when the young comedians walked out, they were unbelievably confidant, and delivered a fantastic show!

The piece was entitled ‘COMEDY,’ and it was filled with lots of comical sketches involving just two children per sketch. When there are only two people onstage, you have to rely on each other, bounce off each other and work with each other! Which can be a very challenging task. Every sketch, was short, sharp and funny - just like the performers! They all had multiple lines to learn and they gave it their all! Which was great to see. I couldn’t possibly pick out a favourite sketch or performer, because you all did yourselves proud!

I will always be a strong believer in young talent, and will always support the youth group, hoping to see it carry on, as they are the future! Many of you will also know, I myself came from the youth group and it really does give you an ‘umph’. Not just in performing, but in life. Every parent should be proud if their child (or children) took part in this piece, and I’m sure you are. Another surprise was just how professional they were. They all had company T-shirts too! I never had that!..... Wait a minute.... I STILL DON’T HAVE THAT!

I thought I was one of the youngest in the group. Clearly I was wrong, compared to this talented lot I may as well grow a beard, get a pair of glasses and call myself Alan Cremer!

I congratulate Katie Aitchison, Rebecca May, Hannah Callum, Zander Callum, Rosie Down, Chase Simmons, Morgan Durrant, Cameron Durrant, Melody Lee, Eleanor McBride, Masie White, Daisy Campbell, Georgia Menditta, Selina Yan, Sean Eveleigh, Charlotte Fussell, Mia Crocker, Olivia Begg, Lottie Wilkinson, Emily Hobbs, Abby Pearson, Grace Gonella and Sian Nicolas. Remember those names Riverside! You saw it here first! They all received a well-deserved certificate. Two of the younglings received special trophy awards. Hannah Callum for ‘most improved performer’ and Chase Simmons for ‘outstanding performer’. All of these little ones have been guided by Scott Le Crass, who did a great job putting the show together! But I’m sure he would of found it a lot harder if it wasn’t for the trusty chaperones Naomi Wolfe, Jan Stanyon and Trish Morris, who kept the kids on track! Well done folks... and as for you young performers, the one tip I will give you is, don’t let this performance be your last. Never give up! Go forth Riverside youth and show us what you can do. I will look forward to working in a show with you soon!

Lawrence Watling

We have enjoyed a very busy Summer Term climaxing in a trip into London to see The Railway Children. This was a subsided event made possible by the gererousity of The Community Fund which enabled us to take charge our youngsters just £10 including travel to see this fantastic professional production. I’m not sure who enjoyed it the most, the kids or the accompanying adults! I have been back for a second visit as, for me, once was just not enough!

Looking ahead, our Autumn term commences on 8^th September at 6pm- 7.45pm in Eynsford Village hall. This term we aim to perform a ‘gang show’ which will provide a platform for all sorts of creative activities for our youngsters. If you would like to be involved, just come along to our first session and we’ll make you feel most welcome. No audition is necessary, just enthusiasm.

Sessions are open to youths aged 7years and over and cost £2.00 per session, which is an increase on last term to cover rising costs.

Riverside Youth employs a professional drama teacher Scott le Crass and is co-ordinated by registered chaperones in the form of Tricia Morris, Jan Stanyon and Naomi Wolfe.

We look forward to seeing you in September.

Jan

What have we been doing recently.......last term our theme was the 2nd world war, specifically the evacuation of the children. As a climax to the term we presented a workshop entitled 'The Evacuees' to a packed and enthusiastic audience . See review below. We also took a trip to the Imperial War Museum to see the 'Blitz Experience' and the 'Childrens War' at first hand.

Youth Show Review by Clive Stanyon

On Wednesday 2^nd December 2009 I attended Eynsford Village Hall to watch a young, youth group production of ‘Evacuees’ directed by Scott Le Crass. Having witnessed the ongoing success of the youth group over the years, as well as having seen so many young people flourish so well in our adult productions I went along with high hopes. I am pleased to say that I was not disappointed.

The show was about the plight of evacuees during World War II, including leaving behind parents, meeting new friends and joining new families in the country. In the show, most members of the cast were spotlighted in little, interactive groups, so that everyone had a chance to feature and make an important contribution. Performances by Masie White and Katy Achinnson particularly impressed.

However, for me, it was the overall pictures arranged by Scott, as well as the co-ordinated, disciplined and sympathetic performances of the cast as a whole, to tell the story, that most impressed. This was particularly remarkable bearing in mind the ages of the actors, who may all be very proud of themselves.

All this was complimented by some interesting posters and ephemera of the time, as well as a glass (or two) of mulled wine. Congratulations are due to all involved and, in particular, to the Riversiders who devote so much of their time for the benefit of these young people: Jan Stanyon, Tricia Morris, Laura Davis and Naomi Wolfe. What a pity it was then that this event was so poorly supported by members of the adult group. Let’s see if we can get a few more of you supporting our future in future.

Saturday 8^th August was the last performance of our outdoor production The Wizard of Oz. Members of Riverside Youth played a large part in the production and had a fantastic time entertaining large audiences both during the performances and as part of the pre-show street theatre. Many people have commented on how professional our youngsters were and also that they were a credit to Riverside Players. From our perspective as youth leaders this has made Tricia and I so proud of our youth and we are delighted for the opportunity that The Wizard of Oz has given them. Its now time for a short break to get our energies back because we will be commencing youth group in September - so enjoy the rest of the summer and we’ll see you soon!