This autumn Altru Young Actors Company bring their acclaimed performance Missing? to Liverpool’s Bluecoat following a successful premier at the National Festival of Youth Theatre in Fife. The company of young actors, aged 16 – 21, have all been members of Altru Youth Theatre groups, and have come together to create this innovative new piece of theatre which explores what happens when someone goes missing.
The piece, which has been funded by the B.B.C. Performing Arts Fund, was inspired by the sheer volume of missing people stories, pleas and postings on social media, and by the way in which social media such as Facebook connects us to people whether we want it to or not. The play asks many questions about the world we now live in, and through a diverse range of characters, explores the key question ‘Aren’t we all a little bit missing?’
The young actors are keen to share their talents with Liverpool, after a wonderful reception in Fife, and they hope their home audience will take the play to their hearts in much the same way. Abby Middleton, who is a National Youth Theatre member as well as being part of Altru Young Actors Company, thinks the Liverpool audience will really take to the piece, she explains, “Missing? has been a huge challenge to create, as the topic is so big and we knew we needed to do it justice. But the interconnected stories and the range of different characters in the play really do allow the audience to connect with the subject – on lots of different levels.”
Altru Young Actors Company was established in 2012 and their performances to date have included Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ which was performed at the R.S.C.’s outside theatre space ‘The Dell’ in Stratford Upon Avon and Jonathan Harvey’s Tomorrow I’ll Be Happy, which was described as a “Hidden gem of a play performed and produced with real affection and care” (Vicky Anderson, www.madeup.lv), which was performed both at Liverpool’s Bluecoat and The Lowry in Salford.
The group’s dedication and commitment to create high quality theatre saw them invited to perform Missing? at the National Festival of Youth Theatre, run by Youth Theatre Arts Scotland, where they were the only English company in attendance. It was a rewarding experience for all involved, and director Kate Cotterell is keen to express the impact the group had on their peers in Scotland, she says, “Missing? was so beautifully received in Scotland, there were times where you could hear a pin drop, moments of raucous laughter, some tears and a standing ovation from the audience of 300! It will, of course, be hard to follow that! But we absolutely know our home shows will be really special. Liverpool has a great tradition of giving its support to talented young people who are aiming high – and we know this performance will be no different!”
Missing? plays at Liverpool’s Bluecoat for just 3 nights in October. Tickets are available now from the Box Office on 0151 702 5324 or on the Bluecoat website – www.bluecoat.org.uk. Tickets are priced at £5 with concessions available at £4. Performance dates are Wednesday 8th – Friday 10th October 2014 / 7:30pm
The creation and performance of Missing? has been made possible by B.B.C. Performing Arts Funding and the support of Knowsley Leisure and Culture Service.