Long Cloud Youth Theatre

News

Success for Long Cloud Youth Theatre's first production of the year Spring Awakening came with nearly full houses every night.

"The ensemble work is excellent..." - John Smythe, Theatreview

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The Company

Long Cloud Youth Theatre, run by Wellington Performing Arts Centre, is a unique training and production company for young people aged 16-20 years. Now entering its third year, the Company gives young actors the means to enhance their theatrical skills through practical performance experience and the opportunity to work with Wellington’s foremost theatrical directors and tutors. The program is run by award winning teacher and director Willem Wassenaar. He coordinate the actors’ journey and directs the two productions throughout the year.

Wassenaar: “I feel excited to be working with a talented group of young theatre makers in the structure of this Company. In this program you have the opportunity to grow as an actor and at the same time make theatre with likeminded passionate people. I have big dreams for the Company and I am especially looking for anyone who wants to make a big commitment and investment in being part of Long Cloud Youth Theatre. The program is intense with two rehearsals/classes each week, on Monday and Friday evenings, and you need to be available in some weekends and holidays as well. It is like doing sports at a very high level.”

The members of the Company get intensive training in movement, voice and acting by various tutors as well as working on two productions throughout the year, one performed in June and one performed in September. The program is designed to equip the company with the necessary performance skills to create vibrant, dynamic, bold and relevant theatre. The Company will produce one devised and one text-based work. “Talented and hungry Wellington young actors need ongoing opportunities to work together on high quality theatre productions. Long Cloud Youth Theatre provides that opportunity,” says Willem.

Described as one of NZ most dynamic and daring theatre practitioners, Willem Wassenaar comes originally from the Netherlands, where he studied and worked as an actor, director and acting tutor. He is a 2006 graduate of the Master of Theatre Arts in Directing at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School and Victoria University of Wellington. Willem is co-founder of the multi-award winning Almost A Bird Theatre Collective. Recent directing credits include Delicates, Mirad, A Boy from Bosnia by Ad de Bont, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, Antigone by Jean Anouilh/Sophocles for Fringe 07 and Oerol in The Netherlands, Angels in America, Part I Millennium Approaches by Tony Kushner and A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. For directing Angels in America, Willem recently received the 2007 Chapman Tripp Award for the Most Promising New Director of the Year.