‘For me, it’s important that each youtheatre production is well-made, well-acted and different to anything that’s been done before,’ he says. ‘Whether it’s Brecht or Shakespeare or a piece of contemporary theatre, we always strive to offer audiences something new.’
Youtheatre was first set up by Daniel in September 2001, shortly after he was appointed the Arts Centre’s executive and artistic director. Perhaps surprisingly, Daniel had only ever visited Jersey once prior to his appointment, on what he refers to as a ‘spy weekend’.
‘I was thinking, Jersey? I don’t know what this place is,’ he laughs. ‘I wanted to find out what the Island was about, so that I’d know what I was talking about in the interview. So, the weekend before, I snuck over to do some undercover research.’
Duly appointed, Daniel immediately set about establishing a youth theatre group for local teenagers aged from 14 to 19.
‘I was surprised that there wasn’t already one in place,’ he says. ‘I think it’s essential that every arts establishment has a youth theatre, somewhere that offers young people an opportunity to take part in the kind of plays they wouldn’t otherwise get in school or at drama societies.’
Fourteen years and 29 shows later, Daniel says that one of the key reasons for the continued success of the group is its refusal to pander to its participants’ age; instead, Daniel encourages his young casts and crews to stick rigidly to what he calls the three Cs: communication, concentration and commitment.
‘If you’re appearing in a youtheatre production then it’s your responsibility to learn lines,’ says Daniel. ‘If you don’t, you’re in trouble. The same goes for turning up on time – we won’t chase you. We only ever want people to be there because they want to be there, not because they’re being forced to.’
The aim, he says, ‘is to stand members in good stead should they choose to continue in theatre, which many of them do, whether studying acting at university or pursuing theatre as a career’.
Among those to do so are Hettie Duncan and Nicole Twinam, two ex-youtheatre performers who now act as official co-directors of the group alongside Daniel, in addition to their roles as, respectively, the Arts Centre’s outreach co-ordinator and marketing assistant.
‘I always said I wanted to have a career in youth theatre and now I have,’ says Hettie. ‘Youtheatre may sound intense but it really isn’t.’
‘There’s always a positive atmosphere,’ agrees Nicole. ‘We take our productions seriously, but we still have a great laugh.’
Together, Hettie and Nicole are co-directing youtheatre’s latest production, an adaption of Ken Kesey’s classic novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
‘It’ll be quite different from the film,’ says Hettie. ‘It’s very much based on the original novel so if people think they’re going to see the film reproduced on stage they’re in for a surprise.’
The play will include one of youtheatre’s larger casts – including 15-year-old Peter Jones as the rebellious anti-hero Randle P McMurphy – and sees Daniel foregoing the directorial chair for the first time, something which he maintains he has been relaxed about doing.
‘It’s nice knowing that Nicole and Hettie are there and that, when the time comes, there are two people to whom I can permanently hand over the reins,’ he says. ‘I know they will ensure a consistency of direction and that they understand what it is youtheatre does.’
Daniel is also keen to dispel misconceptions about the group: ‘A lot of people think we audition, but we don’t. No one has ever been turned away, ever. Anyone who wants to take part is welcome to come along and do so.’
‘We have a new intake of members in September,’ says Hettie. ‘We always allow them a couple of weeks to get to know the company and see how we operate. Then we’ll start preparing our next play around November.’
The group produce two new productions annually, with performances typically held in February and June each year.
‘The size of the group and their skills dictate the direction the play will go in,’ says Nicole. ‘Often a theatre group will choose a play and then cast it, but at youtheatre we do it the other way round.’
By the time rehearsals begin for the group’s summer production, the members will be more established and as such the rehearsal period is more streamlined.
‘Ultimately, it offers two very different approaches,’ says Nicole. ‘The first is more drawn-out, more of a slow burner, whereas with the second, rehearsals are faster and more intuitive.’
Or as Daniel puts it, ‘youtheatre provides an amazing toolbox’.
