STEVEN COOK
PORTER / DOOR MAN & CURRENT BOARD MEMBER
"The youth theatre means a lot to me because it has made me a lot of good mates, and it has made a good difference because it shows that all sorts of people can work together."

LILY COOPER
ARTS WORKER, LONDON
"Growing up, being a member of Burnley youth theatre gave me a sense of belonging and identity, and a forum to explore and express myself. The leaders and the projects inspired me to question my world and explore new ideas and experiences with an open mind. In addition, my confidence and theatrical skills were not only constantly tested, but continually nurtured and developed.

Since leaving Burnley Youth Theatre and entering the world of Community Arts as a practitioner, I continue to look to BYT (and the staff I met there) as a bench mark not only for quality of work and as evidence of the potential and scope for exciting and innovative experience for young people but also in regards to good practice policies when working with young people."

MARTIN O'BRIEN
PhD STUDENT IN PERFORMANCE BASED PRACTICE
"I was a member of BYT for roughly ten years, it is here that I fell in love! That sounds dramatic but it's true, I spent my entire childhood in the small theatre, I devoted my time to it and based my life around it, failed in summer job interviews so I could attend, spent my nights learning lines and my days at school thinking about the performances. Looking back, not only did it help me find my passion but facilitated my development in many areas- performing, workshop leading and importantly gave me the chance and time to experiment. Now I am deep into the Live Art scene in Britain, which is considerably different to the work at BYT, but I can certainly say that I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't for my time at the youth theatre."

COLIN HARDACRE
ENVIRONMENT WORKER
"My various BYT experiences gave me confidence, social skills, understanding, appreciation and patience. Without those experiences I have no doubt I would be a very different and lesser person."

ABDUL SALEK
CREATIVE PRACTITIONER, ACTOR & PERCUSSIONIST
"Burnley Youth Theatre has given many people like myself the opportunity to realise that the ARTS is not just a pastime but a passion. Opportunities like this have given us the motivation to progress and enhance our skills, develop our styles, and perfect our craft.

I had the opportunity to work with some fantastic people who are now my friends. I still share a working relationship with them and wish to continue working in the ARTS for longer... A friend said the other day -

"Theatre is life. Cinema is art. Television is furniture"...
I said who is the Author of the quote...
He said "Unknown"....
Just the way I like it.... "

DANIEL ARMITAGE
FINANCIAL ADVISER
"Without the Youth Theatre I would not have had the confidence to get me where I am today. The Youth theatre gives confidence and brings out passion, not only for the arts but for essential life skills needed to conquer life changing events. Now as a highly successful financial adviser I have a lot to thank Burnley Youth Theatre for."

ANNA MARSLAND
TRAINEE THEATRE DIRECTOR
"I cannot thank BYT enough for the opportunities it provided for me: the exciting workshops and plays; the creative and social outlet in an encouraging environment; the chance to meet people from other backgrounds; the experience of going on tour; and my first directing opportunity. BYT allowed me to meet some of my closest friends, but it also gave me access to theatrical resources and workshops that were not available in school. I think it is largely thanks to the opportunities given by BYT that I was granted a place to study theatre directing at Birkbeck College this year. "

PHILIP J. HINDLE
TEACHER AND ACTOR IN RESIDENCE, UNITY SCHOOL
"Youth theatre changed my life. It introduced me to a wonderful group of people from various backgrounds who were committed to the organisation and the friendships formed there. We produced a variety of drama, from scripted to devised, I learnt basic sound, lighting and stage management. I was proudly elected on to the management committee which gave me a unique insight as to how the organisation was run. The Burnley Youth Theatre was an exciting, challenging haven in an all too dour world. To many it was a second home...to some home.

The importance of the Youth Theatre has permeated through my life. Through its influence I got my first Artistic paid job which gave me the confidence to turn away from any 'proper' job and launch into the Arts fully. Through schools workshops I decided that drama in education was good career path.
Since my teens through to my forties I have always enjoyed going to the Youth Theatre as it is very liberating. In a world of destruction l feel I can express myself creatively and with the groups construct Art, Theatre and Friendships."

KRIS SCHOLES
ACTOR & NEWSPAPER EMPLOYEE
"Burnley Youth Theatre literally shaped my life. Every single person has artistic flair within them and for me BYT manifested and nurtured my inner artistic, creative self. Not only did BYT teach me all about Acting but the value of respect and compassion for other people.

The Youth Theatre gave me the option to be creative and kept me off the streets and out of trouble. My mates used to take the mick out of me as I chose acting instead of playing football and smashing windows. Now who's laughing?"

ALICIA FOLEY
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ADVISER, CALICO HOUSING
"Being a part of BYT as a young person helped to take me from being a shy, bullied girl to confident young woman. BYT developed my sense of belonging to something, my ability to speak out and helped me to establish life-long friendships.
Today I still use the skills I learned at BYT when I communicate with the people of the town to build communities and also when I speak publicly to share good practice in community development."

RHIANNON GARTH JONES
STUDENT AT OXFORD UNIVERISTY
"My time at Burnley Youth Theatre made a massive impact upon my life. It gave me an appreciation of Burnley, as well as the impetus to think of life beyond my town, and the skills to pursue that life. Most of my closest friends were made there, and some of the best experiences of my life were either at, or in connection with, BYT. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunities that came because of my connection with the organisation-many of which were utterly outside the realm of the Arts- as well as for the people I met, worked alongside and explored life's possibilities with. I remain a member of the board and a passionate supporter. Without a doubt, I would be a very different person were it not for my time at BYT."

LAURA CRYMBLE
BUSINESS-IN-COMPANY STUDENT
NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY
"Youth Theatre was my escapism! It gave me the opportunity and confidence to get involved in a variety of different activities whilst mixing and making friends with people I would never normally meet. As a young person it was one of the only places I felt I had a voice, and was encouraged to share my opinions whilst creatively exploring a range of topical issues and themes. It really was a place I felt (and still feel) proud to be a part of. "