Please select from the following sections to find out more about A Younger Theatre
About / History / Mission / Team / Write For Us
A Younger Theatre is a platform for young people to express their views on theatre and performance. The site is maintained, edited and published by under 26 year olds who all have a passion for theatre.
A Younger Theatre is a resource and platform for theatre and young people.
A Younger Theatre was set up in 2009 as a blog to offer a form of criticism on theatre from a younger persons point of view. The blog was a place for reviews and rambling comments from its owner, Jake.
During the course of 2009 the blog grew in both size and reputation. It became apparent that there was a need for younger people to have their view on theatre – a platform was needed.
2010 saw the development of the blog into an online resource for young people who want to know about theatre but from a young persons view. The site has since expanded into what you see now.
Taken from the old blog, with the same ethics that this site is based on:
“The intention of this blog is based upon the response that currently most of the reports, reviews, and critical responses from and relating to theatre comes from older generations of theatre goers and workers. Whilst we can appreciate the depth of knowledge that these people can bring into the insight of theatre, sometimes we feel that there is a lack of response from the younger critiques of the theatre world.
And thus… A Younger Theatre was formed.
We aim to be a response to theatre, to give a younger perspective upon events, shows, and concepts. We don’t proclaim to be anything other than a younger generation with a passion for one thing: Theatre”
AYT’s mission is:
- To allow young people a voice in a culture that is saturated with older critics and criticism.
- To be an open resource for young people to engage and learn about theatre.
- A website for young people, by young people.
Jake Orr – Editor and Founder
Jake is a 23 year old obsessive theatre lover. He is the founder and editor for A Younger Theatre. When Jake is working on the AYT he does marketing and social media work for arts organisations. Jake trained at Rose Bruford College and has a huge passion for digital technologies to bridge the gap between audience and performance.
Email Jake
Tweet: @jakeyoh
Blog: Theatre Thought
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Laura Turner – Features Editor
Laura graduated from the University of York with a first class BA in English Literature and is now lucky enough to combine her loves of theatre and writing with freelance journalism. She has written, reviewed and edited for several publications and is currently employed as Resident Scriptwriter at Chapterhouse Theatre Company, for whom she has scripted twelve national theatre tours. Most recently, Laura was commissioned to write for the third series of the BBC’s EastEnders: E20.
Email Laura
Tweet: @ljzturner
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Lois Jeary – Deputy Features Editor
Lois is a freelance journalist and is in charge of our Young Arts Journalists Team, writing featured articles and conducting interviews for AYT. She also writes for Exeunt and For Folk’s Sake and has previously reviewed and sub-edited for ThreeWeeks.
Email Lois
Tweet: @LoisJeary
Blog: Taking Notes
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Eleanor Turney – Web Editor
Eleanor is a freelance journalist, coypwriter and editor. She writes for The Guardian, The Stage and Ideas Tap, and is currently working for the Poetry Society. She runs the website Word Ninja (www.word-ninja.co.uk) and reviews for AYT and Bachtrack.
Email Eleanor
Tweet: @EleanorTurney
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Peter Holland – Reviews Coordinator
Pete trained at Bretton Hall in Music Theatre and then set off performing across the UK and Paris. On coming to London he became the Musical Manager for an established Theatrical Rights company, and now works as the General Manager of a National and International touring theatre company. He is often in a theatre watching it, or in a bar talking about it, or riding his trusty bike thinking about it.
Email Peter
Tweet: @PeterJHolland
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Catherine Noonan – Blogs Editor
Catherine Noonan is in her third year studying English at the University of Leeds, with ambitions to find a job where she can spend all day writing. She also enjoys going to the theatre (unsurprisingly!) and has a particular love of musicals. When not reading books in Leeds, Catherine returns to her hometown of Leamington Spa, where she makes the most of living on Shakespeare’s doorstep. Favourite things include: the smell of coffee, the smell of books, and her little black dog Oscar (although not the smell of him).
Email Catherine
Tweet: @KateNoonan
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Edward Franklin – South West Regional Editor
Edward is an A-Level student, aspiring director and keen critic, heading up our coverage of all things theatrical in Bristol, Bath and beyond. When he isn’t nagging his friends to read more Pinter or listen to more Sondheim, he can probably be found doing the same to his followers on Twitter.
Email Ed
Tweet: @edfranklin42
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The Bloggers
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Nick Coupe
Blog: In Turn
Corrinne Curtis
Blog: Corrinne’s Blog
Pippa Howie
Blog: State of Play
Filskit Theatre
Blog: Filskit Theatre
Tristan Pate
Blog: Exit From Stage Left
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Young Journalists
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Rosy Banham
Amy Powell Yeates
Yessi Bello
Lara Akinnawo
Erykah Brackenbury
Jack Blumenau
Rebecca Felgate
Ellen Carr
Jessica Wilson
Marése Sullivan
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Reviewers
Alice Weleminsky-Smith, Chloe Ravat, Corinne Meredith, Daniel Kok, Eve Nicole, Fiona Mulvihill, Julia Rank, Laurin Campbell, Lee Anderson, Melissa Nego, Sammi Woollard, Tiffany Stoneman, Tilly Mitchell, Will Kitson, Francesca Beckett, Jasmine Wingfield, David Ross, Elinor Walpole, Cathryn Short, Sharlene Teo, Amy Merchant, Vivenne Egan, James Hartnell, Alice Longhurst, Lori Hopkins, Amina Bhuiyan, Jack Worthington, Peggitty Pollard-Davey, Jingan Young, Catherine Noonan, Rachel Whitehouse, Joe Miller, Imogen Sarre, Jessican Edwards, Adam Penny, Ryan Ahem, Sarah Parkhouse, Ryan Sullivan,
All our current jobs are listed in our Jobs Section of the website.
AYT is always seeking new people to work with. If you are interested in writing articles, features, conducting interviews, or reviewing shows for us then do get in touch by email jake[at]ayoungertheatre.com
We are particularly interested in working with young people under the age of 26.
