Every year RCT attends the Junior Theatre Festival, a celebration of all things musical theatre!
Hosted by one of the world's biggest theatrical rights holders, Music Theatre International, the Junior Theatre Festival (JTF) brings together young performers from across Europe to share their love for being on stage.
RCT's trip to JTF2024 will feature a two night stay away from home, the festival itself and then a trip to Chester Zoo the day after!
At a Glance - The Junior Theatre Festival
The 2024 Junior Theatre Festival takes place on Sat 18th May at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham. It will include over 1000 young performers from across Europe and feature performance adjudications, workshops and performances from West End stars.
Adjudication
In the morning, we'll take part in performance adjudication. We'll perform a 15 minute extract of Doctor Dolittle Jr. in front of other groups in our 'pod' and in front of a panel of two or three industry professionals. The panel will score us on various elements of our performance and provide expert advice. The best group from each pod will get to perform on the main stage at the end of the day. Two members from the group are selected as All Stars to take part in a special performance. After a cool down / debrief, we'll return to the pod and watch others perform their adjudication pieces.
New Works Showcase and Workshops
After lunch, we're into the main hall to watch snippets of up and coming Broadway Jr releases. After this, we head out for three workshops, covering singing, dancing and acting, all lead by West End / Broadway professionals.
Awards Ceremony
The end of the day sees the Awards Ceremony where we'll watch some of the Outstanding Productions of the day, enjoy a mini concert from a current West End performer and if we're incredibly lucky maybe even pick up an award or two! The festival ends with the AllStars performance.
Still not sure what to expect? Check out our JTF YouTube playlist here
About the Trip
Travel
Coach travel will be provided by Mackies Coaches who we have used in the past for the JTF trips.
Accommodation
We'll be spending two nights at the YHA National Forest, Swadlincote which we have the sole use of. With plenty of outdoor space and situated next to a forest, it's ideal for rehearsing, chilling out and exploring. All rooms are dorms of four people and are all ensuite. Kids will have the option to express room sharing preferences.
Food / Drinks
We are staying on a full board basis at the hostel. More information about food options, dietary requirements etc. will be provided nearer the time. Food and drink is not provided for the coach journey from and to Dunblane, however rest stops at services are planned
Trip to Chester Zoo
We found Chester Zoo a great place to visit in 2023 and plan to return in 2024. More information about the zoo can be found at: www.chesterzoo.org
Supervision
The group will be supervised by at least five of the RCT adults, most of whom will have been involved in Doctor Dolittle Jr. in some capacity so will be familiar to those attending and all are experienced in leading groups away from home. Although much of what we do will be as one group, younger cast members will be allocated an adult on the occasions we do split up.
Itinerary
8.00am Leave Dunblane
3.00pm Arrive at YHA National Forest & room allocations
4.00pm Final rehearsal
6.00pm Dinner
7.00pm Downtime
9.30pm Heading to rooms / bed.
Times are approximate
Additional Information
Fee
The fee for the Theatre Festival Trip is £310 per person. The fee is subsidised by RCT.
Fee includes:
- Youth hostel accommodation with exclusive use on a full board basis for 2 nights.
- Coach travel to and from all locations.
- Entry to the Junior Theatre Festival.
- Entry to Chester Zoo.
- Junior Theatre Festival t-shirt & wristband.
Ways to Pay
There are four ways to pay for the trip:
- In full at time of registration.
- Over six monthly instalments (first payment at time of registration)
- Over three monthly instalments starting Feb 2024.
- By invoice, due 30th April 2024.
Full payment information can be found on the registration page. The link to the registration page is included in the e-mail sent to you.
