YOUTH ACTION THEATRE TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT 2024 The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statement for the year ended 315t December 2024. Overvlew Youth Action Theatre (YAT) is a theatre and performing arts group for young people aged 16 to 25, based in the Teddington and Hampton Hill area of south-west London. Run entirely by volunteers and free of charge to its members the group has been operating now for 53 years, making it one of the longest running youth theatre groups in the country. Ob ectives Activitles & Public Benefit The object of the charity remains the same as has been the case since YAT'S inception: to advance in life and help young people by providing facilTties for them to participate in theatre workshops and productions, as actors or in back-stage role5, free of charge and under the guidance of experienced leaders, thereby promoting their artistic, personal and social development for the public benefit. The group is open to young people of all abiLities and regardless of past experience. Plays are chosen to include everyone that wants to take part and all that is required is a commitment to the rehearsal process and the enthusiasm to work hard in helping to produce high quality productions. Structure Governance & Mana ement YAT became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 30th January 2016 and continues to be run by a committee of past members, all who have been selected with regards to their skills, knowledge and experience to assist in the effective administration of the group and in accordance with its Constitution. The Committee appoint suitable group leaders to direct and produce plays that are performed by its young members throughout the year. Performances & Achievements in 2024 This year started with a production of Caryll Churchill's Vinegar Tom, directed by Rowan D'Albert, set in the 17th Century during the Salem witch hunts and telling the tale of four women in a journey from naive innocence to their ultimate executions. A 'powerful and deepLy moving" glimpse into a prejudiced society. Following on was a much more light hearted trip to Bushy Park's Woodland Gardens for three outdoor productions of "King Arthur: Cloudy with a Chance of Chao5. Written by Ella Barnett and co-directed with Josh Clark, our audience met Merlin, Lancelot, Queen Guinevere and Mordred, for a chaotic retelling of the story of King Arthur. The final production of 2024 was an adaptation by Asha Gill of Lewis Caroll's classic Alice in Wonderland. Full of innovations and fresh ideas, a progressive production that "was a perfect vehicle for exploring the talents of this young theatre group.
Ffnancial Review 2024 The rising costs of theatre hire have made it more difficult to ensure that income can match the annual expenses and some of the YAT reserves built up over the years had to be utilised to ensure that the current generation were able to experience the same benefits as previous members. To asslst with C05t reductions, opportunities for members to perform within the large Hampton Hill main auditorium had to be limited to just the one production of Alice and Wonderland, with Vinegar Tom being staged in the smalLer confines of the studio theatre. We remain hopeful that going forward we will be able to renegotiate improved theatre rates and receive additional support from the local community to ensure that this year's loss of £2,400 can be reversed and that we can continue to provide exciting theatrical opportunities and experiences for the young people in the Richmond area for many years into the future. Funds held as custodian on behalf of other5 YAT'S founder Eric Yardley, bequeathed a sum of £2LK),O(KJ Tn 2012 to support the training of young drama students. The bursary fulfils his wish of providing opportunities for those in need and talented students studying drama and stagecraft. This year the funds were transferred into a higher interest account with Virgin Money and it is now in its sixth year supporting some of the talented local drama students at St Mary's University in Twickenham. Future Plans for 2025 Plans for 2025 involve productions of Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors and Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, as well a production to be performed at Teddington Library Gardens as part of their Summer Reading Challenge. More informatlon about YAT and their work can be found on the website www. at.or .uk
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