Young Dramatic Arts Theatre Company is the high quality Theatre Company established by ITW over 20 years ago to identify talented young actors, directors and technicians and give them the opportunity to develop their skills. Membership is open to young people from 15 - 18 years of age with entry by audition.
Each Thursday evening there are acting workshops and rehearsals at ITW Studios, Clonskeagh.
Our Young Dramatic Arts Theatre Company year is divided into two sections.
The first part of the year from September to November is focussed on a Shakespeare production and is spent taking part in a number of diverse workshops and rehearsals from week to week. We believe in an education in all the different aspects of theatre making and therefore have workshops in areas such as set-design, lighting and sound, costume design as well as various acting technique workshops. We also welcome industry professionals in areas such as film, stage combat, accents, comedy etc.
From then we start work on our National Theatre Connections Festival Play – a new play every year, premiered in a Dublin Theatre in February/March and then in April at The Lyric Theatre, Belfast. We have been participating in the National Theatre Connections Festival for 15 years and it is a highlight of our year. Our Connections Festival 2021 entry (“Find a Partner” by Miriam Battye) was rehearsed and recorded fully online and we are grateful to the Connections Festival Committee for their encouragement and support.
The members are expected to be fully involved in every aspect of the process from choosing the plays to be produced, to operating and designing the lighting and sound, creating the sets and props, and working on stage and behind the scenes. They participate in youth theatre festivals at home and away, including the Senior Shakespeare Festival performance in the first part of the year and the group's entry to the Connections Festival in the latter part of the year. For this reason, a high level of commitment and enthusiasm is vital to retain a place in Young Dramatic Arts Theatre Company.
Find a partner
This years production ‘Find A Partner’ was rehearsed partly in person but mostly on ZOOM! It was then filmed on ZOOM and will be streamed as part of the Connections 2021 Festival on Friday 25th June at 7pm and will then be available to stream for the entire weekend. FIND OUT MORE BY CLICKING THIS LINK
The company is run for and by the members and to this end a committee has been formed. The Theatre Company employ facilitators and directors to steer their work and they fund the Company through fundraising and sponsorship.
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YDA is a fantastic training ground for young actors; many of our alumni have gone on to have successful careers as actors, directors, producers and playwrights! These include Shaun Dunne, Leanna Ní Chleirigh, Aaron Heffernan, Dan Colley, Jack Gleeson, Sarah Bradley, Mollie Molumby and Levi O’Sullivan
