Batley & Spen Youth Theatre Company
Amongst the many tributes to the MP for Batley & Spen, Jo Cox, who was murdered just over a year ago outside her office, none will be more appropriate and memorable than HEAR THE PEOPLE SING.
Jo loved the theatre and her favourite show was LES MISÉRABLES. In her Yorkshire constituency town, the musical will be performed by the newly formed Batley & Spen Youth Theatre Company in a pop-up theatre space donated by Oxfam. Jo Cox worked for Oxfam for 8 years, so nothing could be more fitting than the generous donation of a local Oxfam warehouse for these performances.
Newly formed Batley & Spen Youth Theatre Company has held auditions for LES MISÉRABLES, in which over 100 young people aged 13-19 from the immediate area will perform and work backstage. The creative team includes West End superstars in their own right: Nick Evans (Director); Donna Munday (Producer); Steve Moss (Musical Director). In addition the team includes Julie Hobday (Choreographer) and Vivienne Buckley, Artistic Director of West Glamorgan Youth Theatre Company.
Alongside LES MISÉRABLES, the company is devising a companion piece called MORE IN COMMON (directed by Vivienne Buckley) which celebrates the values Jo Cox stood for: togetherness, collaboration, comradeship, equality. And for both shows, members of the young company’s production team will be able to shadow the experienced West End creative team in an intensive learning process during the three week rehearsal period.
Former actress Tracy Brabin, a friend of Jo’s who is carrying on her campaigning work as the new MP for Batley & Spen, has offered huge support and encouragement to this project, saying: “This is a phenomenal opportunity for Batley & Spen and I know our young people are going to grab it with both hands. It’s no secret that I am passionate about the arts and the career opportunities they bring. Culture can be a powerful force for change. I have complete faith in our local organisations and Nick Evans’s professional team and I am working hand in hand with them to enable the project to happen.” Tracy is the Patron of Batley & Spen Youth Theatre Company and HEAR THE PEOPLE SING.
Kim Leadbeater, Jo Cox’s sister, said: “The performance of LES MIS at the heart of Jo’s constituency using local school children will be something of which she would have been very proud. It is very touching and well thought out and our family would like to thank all involved.”
Fee Gilfeather, head of retail brand for Oxfam, said: “We are delighted to be hosting these performances in Oxfam Wastesaver, our textile sorting house in Batley. Not only did Jo Cox work for Oxfam in her early career, but many of the team here met Jo when she visited the site as their MP. Indeed there are still many colleagues across the Oxfam family who will always remember Jo with love and admiration. This is a wonderful tribute to her memory and a great opportunity to bring together the local community to celebrate all that Jo stood for.”
Batley & Spen Youth Theatre Company is a registered charity and a limited company. It has five highly experienced Trustees whose experience spans theatre producing and management, finance, legal, charity and community work and creative industries. The company has already received significant local backing and support.
Thanks also to Sir Cameron Mackintosh, who has generously granted the rights to perform LES MISÉRABLES School Edition along with practical and financial support and to Oxfam for the pop-up venue.
BOOKING INFORMATION:
Dates and Times of Performances
Les Misérables
Weds 9 August at 7.30 pm
Thurs 10 August at 7.30 pm
Friday 11 August at 2.30 pm
Friday 11 August at 7.30pm
Saturday 12 August at 7.30 pm
More in Common
Sat 12 August at 2.30 pm
Venue
The Jo Cox Theatre, Oxfam Wastesaver, Mill Forest Way, Grange Road, Batley, Leeds WF17 6RA
Ticket Prices and How to Book Tickets
Tickets will be available in the week of 10 July. Details can be found at www.wyp.org.uk
West Yorkshire Playhouse is generously providing Box Office services for the performances. Tickets can be booked online, by phone or in person at:
West Yorkshire Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7UP
0113 213 7700 (Box Office)
Tickets from £8. There is a £2.50 transaction fee per booking (not per ticket). The fee applies to all phone and internet sales, but not face-to-face bookings.
For more information about the project please visit: www.hearthepeoplesing.com
To donate please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/bsyct/hearthepeoplesing