Ever since joining Bawtry Phoenix Theatre, I have absolutely loved it! I have been going for 5 years now and will carry on going until I turn 19, I must say whenever I walk in everyone of us is always made to feel welcomed, the activities are fun and skilful which teaches us new skills with acting every week. These past couple of months for me have been extremely hard due to different circumstances but I must say Jonah, Bev and Barbara have helped me out so much and are just a great team! Since being at Bawtry Phoenix my confidence has grown a lot as well as my acting skills due to the activities and performances, Jonah and the team make every Saturday fun filled and a joy to go to for a few hours!

Bawtry Phoenix Young Players is one of the best things to have happened to my daughter. She joined in April 2021 and, unlike any other club or activity she had tried before, she immediately loved it and couldn’t wait to return. BPYP has become a big part of her life, and definitely her favourite part. Right from the start everyone there has been so friendly, welcoming and inclusive. The all round confidence in my daughter has blossomed and I’m without a doubt that it is because of her involvement and enjoyment in BPYP. From the weekly rehearsal sessions to the additional expert delivered workshops and right through to the main performance of the year, my daughter has experienced and learned so much. The main performance, Bugsy Malone, was absolutely incredible and truly deserved its ‘sold out’ status. It was evident how much dedication and organisation had gone into the whole show and was heart warming to watch so many talented youngsters up on the stage doing what they clearly thrive on. I am proud my daughter is a part of this group and look forward to all it brings in 2022.

Molly joined Bawtry Young Players when she was 6 years old, around 7 years ago due to her love of musicals and performing. Attending the local Bawtry Phoenix theatre with such a great community feel has been a fantastic experience for Molly and has developed both her acting and singing skills which she has performed in roles for some of the main productions including Wizard of Oz, The Midnight Circus, Annie (as starring role) and recently Bugsy Malone. Her knowledge of theatre production in addition to performance techniques has grown and her passion for acting and singing has flourished throughout the years benefiting her experiences in school where she has performed in school productions and is now following Performing Arts as a subject. Jonah and the team do a wonderful job, coaching and developing the Young Players and Molly’s long-standing attendance at the group is testament to the dedication of the leaders. Thank you Bawtry Young Players

The first time my son Leo stepped inside the Phoenix Theatre was as a four-year-old in 2011 to watch his dad’s dress rehearsal for ‘Allo ‘Allo. It wasn’t until the spring of 2016 that he and a friend joined the Young Players aged eight.

When his friend decided it wasn’t for them, I did wonder if Leo’s interest would wane but how wrong I was. At first the signs weren’t especially promising. I remember dropping him off and he insisted on sitting on his own at the end of a row in the auditorium. Fast forward to 2022 and the teenager who now can’t wait for the next drama session to come round is a very different one to that little boy.

Being a member of the Young Players isn’t ‘just’ about rehearsing for the next production. Living in a small village outside Bawtry, the theatre has opened up a whole new opportunity to meet lots of other children from across a wide area as well as build confidence, creative skills and also learn and appreciate theatre craft from a talented group of adults who give their time freely and willingly. I never cease to be amazed at the dedication of everyone involved as the group gets closer to ‘curtain up’ and the rehearsals intensify in both frequency and duration.

Leo’s first appearance on stage was as a T-Bird in a sketch from the musical Grease. His most recent one was as Snake Eyes in Bugsy Malone. In between he’s been a murderous magician and a Munchkin and every time the buzz is palpable from the moment auditions are held to the closing night.

Yet it’s so much more than that too. The film nights – recent screenings have included Dirty Dancing and Mrs Doubtfire – have been a great way for the group to do something a little different along with a trip to Bawtry paintball centre. Lockdown was especially hard. Like everywhere else, the theatre had to close its doors but the Zoom quiz was one of the weekly highlights at home.

It’s more than 10 years since Leo first stepped into the theatre and nearly six as a Young Player. In that time, lots of other activities have come and gone but it remains a firm favourite and it’s easy to see why. Thanks to everyone who makes the Young Players possible.

Bawtry Young Players has supported a significant growth in my confidence since joining numerous years ago. I’m proud to say I’ve been a part of a vast majority of the performances produced by this group and the enjoyment experienced by the audience, cast and crew is phenomenal. I joined with no past experience in Performing Arts and the progress led by our dedicated team of adults is beyond one's expectations. I have learned the basics of stage etiquette and how to create and retain credible characters in a range of performance genres. The group’s director (Jonah Thompson), with support of other crew members, design activities and assign roles that challenge each member of the group based on individual strengths and weaknesses, which is the driving factor for why I believe this group has such exceptional results. Thank you for providing such an enriching program!

I think that the group has helped me developed better acting skills. Not only has that helped me but also the little acting activities we do really brings out my confidence with performing. I enjoy myself at theatre because I get to engage with new people and be myself around them. I think what makes the younger group participate and enjoy themselves is how supportive and friendly the adults and children are there.