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22/5/11 ** MADD Concert


Rehearsing and performing

Dynamo took part in the concert organised by MADD Hampshire Ltd at Fort Purbrook. After diverse rehearsals at the venue they performed songs from their anniversary show Thirty Years, winning the prize for the Most Entertaining Performance.

 

9/5/11 ** Andrew Bowker attends Reception at Buckingham Palace



Today our founder and long time Artistic Director, in recognition of his long service to youth theatre, attended a Reception given by Her Majesty The Queen at Buckingham Palace.

He was pleased to meet Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh, also several well known names including Dame Helen Mirren and Billy Conolly. He enjoyed  "A Celebration of Young People in the Performing Arts", a varied performance of dance and drama introduced by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.

 

17/4/11 ** 'Jerusalem' transfers to Broadway

We will be heard on stage at the Music Box Theatre on Broadway during the entire sixteen week run of the multi-award-winning play Jerusalem, by Jez Butterworth, singing a haunting Cornish folk song which features in one of the scenes.

Sound Designer Ian Dickinson who made the recording and worked on both the West End and New York productions, e-mailed the company to tell them “I'm sat here in my Manhattan apartment just before I go into rehearsals today and wanted to thank you all again for your help with the project.”

Earlier story

24/3/11 ** Dynasty wins at Totton Festival of Drama

The senior company, Dynasty, notched up considerable success at the Totton Festival of Drama in which drama groups from across Hampshire compete to represent the county in the First Round of the All England One Act Theatre Festival. 

They were awarded the Archie Gay Trophy as Overall Winners of the competition and go directly through to the next round in Shaftsbury on April 16th. They prevailed against seven other competitors. The Best Director Trophy went to Daniel Humphries who directed the play, The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter.

In the next round they will compete against, among others, Bench Theatre and Nuffield Youth Theatre.

Lucy Flannery (Secretary of Havant Dynamo Youth Theatre) also won an award for Best Original Script, for her play Computer Dating which was performed by Bench Theatre and directed by Dynasty's Company Leader Callum West.


19/4/10 ** 'Raise It Up' director's award

Senior Dynamo member Harry Atlee has received a special award in recognition of his achievement in staging the well-received musical evening 'Raise It Up' last November.Two books were presented by Chairman Tony Goodbody at the recent A.G.M.

 

 

28/3/10 ** Dynamo in the West End

Dynamo singers feature in the West End production of 'Jerusalem' at the Apollo Theatre. They are included in the programme (left) as 'Distant Voices'. The recording was made at St Faith's Hall last year.

 

3/2/10 ** Mayor's Combined Concert

 

Dynamo teamed up with Havant Light Opera to perform a delightful musical evening in aid of the Mayor's charities in the Council Chamber at Havant Civic Centre.

A selection of numbers from Raise It Up, by Dynamo, was interspersed with a complete rendition of Trial By July by HLO. The evening ended with both groups joining together to perform popular numbers from Pirates of Penzance.

Both groups declared that they had very much enjoyed working with, and learning from, the other.

Around £1000 was raised in aid of the mayor's charities.

The pictures were taken during rehearsal.

 

Dear Andrew, Tony,Mo and everyone at DYT,

Thank you very much for performing with us (HLO) at the Mayor's Charity Concert. We greatly enjoyed the two rehearsals we had together and your concert items were outstanding! HLO thoroughly enjoyed the combined 'Pirates' and really admired your vitality and enthusiasm.

I hope you all agree it was great fun and perhaps we could join forces again some time in the future!

With very best wishes from
Cathy Hales and all members of Havant Light Opera

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A letter in the Portsmouth News :-

A BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE

I had the pleasure of attending a combined charity concert featuring Havant Light Opera and Dynamo Youth Theatre at the council chambers in support of the Mayor of Havant's Charity Appeal Fund.

I would like to congratulate both groups on a brilliant performance featuring songs from modern musicals and extracts from Gilbert and Sullivan. In particular the finale, in which both groups combined to give a rendition of Pirates of Penzance, was brilliant. This was a truly inter-generational effort bringing together people of all ages and from all parts of the borough. Well done.

Sue Heather, Southsea.

14/11/09 ** Dynamo wins quiz

A team of Committee members won this year's Cancer Quiz at St Faith's Hall for the 7th time. The first team ever to score 100 points. So, a bunch of know-alls then, and conceited to boot.

Over £600 was raised during the evening.

1/11/09 ** Raise It Up

A one-night musical concert, conceived and organised by member Harry Atlee was enjoyed by a full house at the United Reformed church in Havant. 204 tickets were sold and, with other donations, raised over £1200, after a donation to the church. It was a sell-out. Magnificent effort both musically and organisationally from Harry Atlee! More

1/10/09 ** DYT at the Havant Literary Festival

On Sunday 27 September the older members of the Havant Dynamo Youth Theatre enjoyed the wonderful experience of working with Stella Duffy, wonderfully versatile actor, comedienne, author and director.

The day began at 10.30am with introductions and warm up, and over the following hours Stella led 19 young people through a workshop that challenged, encouraged and developed them beyond their expectations. In the evening an audience comprising of the Mayor of Havant (Councillor Jackie Branson), parents and supporters enjoyed a very entertaining performance of improvisation and inspiration.

Stella Duffy commented that the idea of working with so many young people had filled her with trepidation but had proved to be wonderfully rewarding. Andrew Bowker, artistic director of DYT with over 30 years experience of teaching drama, thanked Stella for providing a workshop which had filled him with awe. Andrew also thanked the organisers of the Havant Literary Festival for providing such a wonderful opportunity for the young people of DYT that the group would not have been able to afford.

The evening concluded with a few words from the Mayor of Havant, Councillor Jackie Branson, who said " What is good about Havant? ………. There is only one answer, Dynamo Youth Theatre". The Mayor further commented that it was a pleasure to see the young people enjoying such a wonderful experience.

The general consensus amongst the young members of DYT was that the day had been "amazing" and "fantastic fun". Clearly a good day was enjoyed by all!

Stella commented favourably on her blog

Commenting on Havant Literary Festival, Counsellor Jackie Branson, Mayor of Havant, said:

'The whole festival has been a great success. I've been to many events, but the standout has to be the workshop which Stella Duffy ran with Dynamo Youth Theatre. At the end they put on an improvised 45-minute show which was brilliant.'

 

Stella Duffy with Dynamo (click to enlarge)

 

22/9/09 ** Dynamo at the Royal Court Theatre and on into the West End

Dynamo was approached earlier in the summer to provide a sound effect for a new production called Jerusalem which opened at the Royal Court Theatre in London. The Company and a number of brave Committee members, sang a Cornish folk song which was recorded and provides an atmospheric background during one of the scenes.

This was a completely new experience for Dynamo -- learning and rehearsing the song in a couple of hours and singing it unaccompanied, repeatedly until Ian Dickinson, the Sound Manager for the production was happy he had a good take. Recording the same song over and over without losing concentration attracted compliments from Ian who described Dynamo as "a tightly knit, well disciplined group" who he had enjoyed working with.

The production was very well received by the critics and audiences and will be transferring to the West End shortly. Our name features in both the programmes and in the now-published script!

Another first for Dynamo!

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9/4/09 ** Waitrose helps Dynamo

Dynamo Youth Theatre has been chosen as one of the three ‘good causes’ for the month of April by Waitrose in Havant as part of their Community Matters project.

If you shop in Waitrose in Havant you will be given a green token at the checkout to place in your chosen ‘good cause’. Please can you encourage as many people as you know to post their token in the slot for DYT. The number of tokens we receive dictates how much of the share of £1000 will be received by DYT. Please tell any family, friends or work colleagues in the area

24/3/09 ** Oxfam Fundraising by Dielle Lodrick (Assistant Musical Director for 'Bombed Out')

"My band DiElle is having a Tour Launch Party on 28th March at The Centurion Pub (which has changed hands now and is very nice!), Waterlooville, doors open 7.30pm. There will be live music (some of which supplied by myself and my act:) and disco til late, hosted by James Morgan of Express FM. Entry is free, and fundraising will take place at the event."

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21/10/08 ** Matthew Kenny wins photography prize.

Well done. Read about it here (no longer available)

27/9/08 ** Dynamo basks in autumn sunshine …..


Click picture to enlarge

On Saturday 27th September Dynamo Youth Theatre gave two performances as part of the highly successful Havant Literary Festival.

Directed on this occasion by Fiona Fairhurst, an ex-DYT member, the group performed a medley of songs from musicals that DYT have performed in recent years. The company attracted good crowds in their prime location next to St. Faith's Church in the centre of Havant on a busy shopping day. Blessed by wonderful sunshine the performances were marked by a particularly moving rendition of the DYT signature song "One Pride One People" performed in the afternoon before a crowd that included the song's composer, John Gleadall.

 

13/8/08 ** Prize singer has them all bowled over
By Elise Brewerton - The News

A young baritone has been named young person of the year for his outstanding singing talent.

Jay Jupe has wowed audiences when taking to the stage to perform the kind of songs reserved for older and much more experienced singers.

The 14-year-old Park Community School pupil, from Leigh Park, had already earned a reputation for being a complete professional. But when members of Havant Rotary Club saw him perform at last year's More Music Madness concert they were bowled over.

The club has now made him its inaugural winner of The Lamont Young Person of the Year Award. Jay said: 'I was absolutely gobsmacked when I heard I had got this award. It's very honouring to be named young person of the year by the Rotary club.' John Gleadall, director of music at Jay's school, said: 'Jay was a shy and retiring pupil who has blossomed through the medium of singing.' His singing coach regards Jay as a once-in-a-life-time pupil; he has the singer's gift but also works very hard.'

Recently Jay has appeared on stage at Chichester Festival Theatre in the critically acclaimed first performance of Bombed Out and as Officer Krupke in West Side Story performed at the Havant Arts Centre.

It was at last November's More Music Madness in the Kings Theatre, Southsea, that he first came to the eye of Havant Rotary Club. Rotary member Eve Fuller said: 'The young, confident Jay commanded the stage and moved the audience with the maturity and depth of his baritone voice. It was indeed a moving occasion, and we wish him every success for the future. We are delighted Jay is the inaugural recipient of The Lamont Young Person of the Year Award.'

Jay is no stranger to winning top awards and wowing judges. Earlier this year he won the Chairman's Cup for his performance of Old Man River at Portsmouth Music Festival. And, along with a group of classmates, he was highly commended in the BBC Schools Report Scheme award, and their work was shown on BBC News 24.

 

August 08 ** Sam Gibbs - fundraiser

Sam Gibbs enlisted the help of his mother and aunt to raise money for Dynamo. They collected stuff from friends and took a stall at the Lawns Car Boot Sale in Waterloville. They withstood the rain and raised £40. Well done!!

19/6/08 ** Fundraising in the Himalayas

More fundraising by Dynamo members, this time as Sea Scounts. Ben Rigsby and Jake Elsbury are mountaineering and raising funds for the Royal British Legion. They return to U.K. on 29th July. Read The News article

May 2008 ** London trips recalled

Yasmin Langley recounts her experiences of Trips to London with Dynamo

 

19/4/08 ** Dynamo contributes to successful fundraising ....

Ross Cobbold repeated his success last year in this year's Spotlight fundraising show, contributing with Alice Mayhead and Abi Jeffery.

 

17/4/08 **The Set for 'Alice' Takes Shape

Nick, Ivor and Bruce discuss practicalities while
Steve paints a tree stump.

Some of the construction team:-
Steve, Nick, Ivor, Terry, Phil, Bruce

Older News items

 

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