Lyric gets a younger view

Tuesday October 19, 2010

Youthful movers and shakers are, from left, Payam Edalat, Sam Benjamin, Tanika Yearwood, Grace Surrey, Nathan Bryon and Jake Hall

Young performers at the Lyric theatre have landed a new starring role in making the big decisions behind the scenes as part of a newly launched youth board.

The Hammersmith theatre, which has a long history of nurturing young stage talent, has unveiled its new Lyric Youth Board of six representatives.

Board members Tanika Yearwood, 17, and Jake Hall, 18, both previously involved in the Lyric's Ambassadors programme, said they were relishing the opportunity to have more influence in the new group.

"The Ambassadors scheme ran for about five years but we didn't feel it was giving us enough of a voice to make changes," Tanika said.

"When I heard that I could become a full member of the youth board I really liked the idea of being able to voice my opinions."

Jake added: "I was an ambassador as well and always wanted to be able to change things, so when that chance came I jumped at it because I knew it would be a bigger and better opportunity."

Tanika and Jake were selected for the board back in January after a professional interviewing process, alongside fellow board members Grace Surrey, 21; Nathan Byron, 19; Payam Edalat, 17; and Sam Benjamin, 24.

Since then, the board of six has met several times and Jake, who lives with his family in White City, said he already felt as though the group was making a difference on big issues at the King Street venue.

"We're looking behind the stage shows at the business of theatre," he said.

"One of our first meetings was on the Lyric's building project, and we looked at the blueprint and gave our input on what we liked and didn't like about it.

"It felt like we were giving our opinion on something straight away."

Talika, who lives in Shepherds Bush and attended Phoenix High School, said she also felt like she was building up professional skills through the youth board experience.

"It's giving me useful skills like leadership, and that's something that everyone needs some time in their life," she said.

Jake added: "I'm also learning leadership skills, and I enjoy helping other young people to come here and get the same things out of it that I did - it helps change people's lives."

Jake and Tanika have also been appointed as the Lyric's 'Facebook guardians', and are responsible for regularly updating the Facebook page with photos and upcoming events.

"We still need to get more people to join up to the page - although it's not always that easy to get someone to click the 'like' button on Facebook," Jake said.

"But it's a really good opportunity for us and Facebook is such a brilliant marketing tool."

The board will also have regular input into Lyric Young Company productions at the theatre and has already helped out on major events like a gala fundraising party for the upcoming building extension earlier this year.

"One of the youth board's big targets is to access more young people," Jake said.

"If we are going to have a new building we need more young people to come in and use it."