User:Ledborough/The Young Theatre (at Beaconsfield)

The Young Theatre started life at St. Alban's Church Hall, North Harrow, Middlesex on Sunday 12th January 1964. Founded by Ian R. Wallace, this new group -- for young people aged from nine upwards -- was originally called The St. Alban's Junior Drama Group and established the concept of being a drama group for young people - run by young people. In 1966 the group was renamed and this concept was incorporated into The Young Theatre's first written constitution which also sets out the group's principal Aims and with the support of its first President, John H. Howden, the group quickly established itself and prospered.

On 31st May 1970, The Young Theatre expanded when a second group was formed at Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire by Ian R. Wallace and Aviva Wiseman. Based at The Burnham Hall and actively supported by its first President, Lady Burnham, this group also established a reputation for high performance and presentation standards, before moving to the newly created Curzon Centre at Beaconsfield in 1974.

The Harrow group, which had moved to the Harrow Arts Centre at Harrow Weald in September 1978, ceased operations in 1982. However The Young Theatre (at Beaconsfield) continues to maintain its unique ethos, and it remains financially independent; being entirely self-funding.

The Young Theatre (at Beaconsfield) is based at the Curzon Centre, Maxwell Road, Beaconsfield and produces three major production a year; one at Christmas, one at Easter and one in the summer. In addition, YT regularly enters local and national one act play competitions and in 2004 it won the All British One Act Play Festival, the first Youth Group ever to do so.