Earl of Wessex Sees Yvonne Arnaud Youth Theatre At Work

Published on: 23 Feb, 2017
Updated on: 25 Feb, 2017

Prince Edward meets a younger member of the Yvonne Arnaud Youth Theatre watched by Julia Black, youth theatre leader and head of youth theatre, Nick White

Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex visited the Yvonne Arnaud Youth Theatre today (February 23) and watched an excerpt of Guildford School of Acting’s current main stage production of Guys and Dolls.

In a busy visit schedule, the Earl was also able to observe the youth theatre working with students from King’s College, on a project to create a piece of theatre about the perceptions and reality of their locality which will tour the area.

Later he learnt about their involvement with the Guildford Aspire project, a Guildford Borough Council initiative. Through the project the youth theatre get involved in some of the more deprived areas of the borough to promote the belief that ‘every person matters’.

Oliver Turner (left) and Rob Cann show The Earl of Wessex a mouse prop, used in Witches

Having watched a scene from Guys and Dolls, the Earl was also able to gain an insight into youth theatre’s productions, receiving a tour of the set for Roald Dahl’s The Witches in the Mill Studio with show director Rob Cann, as well as meeting the young cast.

Director of the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, James Barber said: “We are thrilled to have been given the opportunity to welcome His Royal Highness, the Earl of Wessex back to our theatre.

“We are incredibly proud of our youth theatre. We are always trying to find new ways to work with and engage our local community so it was a privilege for us to be able to showcase some of these initiatives and the theatre in education projects that we are leading, with the support of Guildford Borough Council. We very much hope he enjoyed meeting the team and observing them in action.”

On arrival at the theatre, the Earl was greeted by HM Lord-Lieutenant Mr Michael More Molyneux; James Barber, director and CEO of the theatre; Sue Sturgeon, managing director of Guildford Borough Council; Nick White, head of the youth theatre and Julia Black, youth theatre leader.