The Gantry Youth Theatre began in 1989 at the Gantry Arts Centre, Southampton. By 1993 it had grown to such an extent that the youth theatre needed its own premises and the Arches Drama Studio was opened by the Australian actor Ian Smith (Harold Bishop in Neighbours).
Many productions were staged including “The Real Inspector Hound” by Stoppard, “Fear and Misery in the Third Reich” by Bertolt Brecht, “Twelfth Night” by William Shakespeare and “Ice Palace” by Lucinda Croxton.
In 1996, GYT moved to new premises at Maddison Court, Southampton. When these premises were sold for re-development, GYT found a new home based at Ichen College, Bitterne, Southampton. “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” by Bob Thomson and Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”, both performed at the Gantry Arts Centre were the last productions rehearsed at Maddison Court.
GYT’s first production rehearsed at Itchen College was “Our Day Out” and the youth theatre received a personal message of support from its author Willy Russell. The youth theatre was invited by the Crime Prevention Unit to perform before HRH the Princess Royal at the Police Training Unit in Netley. A number of Nominations and Awards have been received by both Performers and Directors at the Gantry Youth Theatre.
Productions as diverse as “Fiddler on the Roof”, a Stein, Bock, Harnick production, the pantomime “Dick Whittington and his Cat” and Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” have been performed by the youth theatre. Members and tutors have continued to be nominated for, and have won, awards for their acting and directing.
At the end of each Summer and Autumn term each group entertains parents, carers and friends during a Showcase event – a chance for everyone to get together and see what’s been happening at the Gantry Youth Theatre.