York Theatre Royal’s Youth Theatre to stage Forward To Victory at York Castle Museum

This Summer, York Theatre Royal’s Youth Theatre will be putting on some very special promenade performances through the streets of Kirkgate at York Castle Museum. The 11-14 year-old Youth Theatre groups will be performing Forward To Victory, a powerful play written by Rachel Barnett-Jones focusing on young people in York during the First World War.

First performed at York Castle Museum in 2017, Forward to Victory will be restaged on the museum’s recreated Victorian street, Kirkgate, on 9-11 Jul, with two performances each day.

The 11-14 year old Youth Theatre Groups are now open for bookings – with availability across three different venues: York College, York Theatre Royal and York St John University. These fun weekly drama sessions are perfect for improving confidence, developing performance skills and giving young people the chance to work as part of a team. Whilst options are available for all ages from 5-19, the 11-14’s age group sessions currently place on either Mon, Tues or Weds with best availability for the Weds session at York St John University.

Julian Ollive, Head of Creative Engagement at York Theatre Royal said: “We are delighted to be re-staging Forward to Victory in partnership with York Castle Museum this summer. Having worked with Rachel, our writer from the inception of the project back in 2017, it feels a poignant time to be re-visiting this powerful story with our young people. Kirkgate is a wonderfully atmospheric and evocative space to perform in, and Rachel has provided us with a beautifully constructed insight into the world of those on the home front. We get glimpses into the lives of friends and families; some who are wishing the war to end, others who wish they were older so they could ‘do their bit’ and others who are quietly contemplating their place in this ever-changing world. York Theatre Royal Youth Theatre are proud to be performing this unique play in such a special setting. If you are between 11-14yrs old and would like to join us in this production, check our website to book your place for our Summer term.”

Rachel Barnett-Jones, Playwright said: “I was honoured to be invited to write Forward To Victory for York Theatre Royal and York Castle Museum. After spending a few very informative days of research in the museum, talking to the curators and looking through original documents in the archive, I realised I could sort the information into several categories. From those categories, and using the source material, stories and characters started to emerge. Each of these themes has inspired one of the short scenes in the final play; looking after the wounded, looking after the land, post to and from soldiers, conscientious objectors and living in a changed world. It was so interesting to focus on the effect the war had on the town and people of York, both as a microcosm of what was happening across all of the UK and the specifically important role York played during the war.”

Carla Starkey, Immersive Interpretation Producer at York Castle Museum commented, “It is such a privilege to be working with York Theatre Royal and Rachel again and revisiting this project almost 10 years on. York Castle Museum explores the reality of life in York during the First World War in the exhibition 1914: When the World Changed Forever, and this performance draws on the themes and objects already on display, allowing visitors to be immersed in creative and emotive storytelling in another part of the museum. The performance will again be held on our recreated Victorian Street, Kirkgate, the oldest of its kind in Britain! The atmospheric street provides the perfect backdrop to this production, and we are delighted to be able to provide a space for young people in our local community to engage with the arts, culture and heritage that surrounds them.” 

Forward to Victory plays at York Theatre Royal 9-11 Jul. Tickets are available here.