Y Touring Theatre Company was a national touring theatre company which produced original plays and debates exploring contemporary issues. It was founded in 1989 by Nigel Townsend. The company was based in Kings Cross, London, England and was a former operation of Central YMCA.
In 2014 Y Touring Theatre Company was closed.
The company is now extending the work through digital media.
Y Touring Theatre Company history
Y Touring produced 54 regional, national and international tours of plays by professional playwrights including Judith Johnson, Judy Upton, Jonathan Hall, Nicola Baldwin and Rhiannon Tise, reportedly reaching over 2 million young people in schools, youth clubs, community venues, studio theatres, prisons and young offenders centres.
Y Touring's first production was 'The Inner Circle' by Patricia Loughrey, originally commissioned by The New Conservatory Theatre Centre in San Francisco, adapting it for British young people's audiences. This play told the story of a group of four friends, one of whom had been infected by HIV and went on to develop AIDS and die.
Theatre of Debate
Y Touring's projects generally followed a 'Theatre of Debate' model. Each project consists of a play aiming to engage its audience in an informed debate about a specific subject. The play is followed by a live debate between the actors (who remain in character) and the audience.
Y Touring / Theatre of Debate Productions
2014
Y Touring Theatre Company was closed in 2014.
2011
Dayglo by Abi Bown which explored the ethical and scientific issues around Pharmacogenetics.
2011
Mind the Gap * by Abi Bown(Revival of 2004 production) Was performed at Royal Albert Hall as part of National Science & Engineering Week Mind the Gap was filmed and broadcast in 8 cinemas nationwide, click here for details. This production won the Runner-Up of the National Science and Engineering Week 2011 Best Science Event category
2009 'Breathing Country' by Ben Musgrave is a play which explores the issues raised by the use of electronic patient records in medical research. The production was developed in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) and was supported by the Wellcome Trust and Central YMCA. The play was shortlisted for the Brian Way Award 2010 for best play for young people. The project's advisory panel included the following: Professor Simon Wessely MD FMedSci, professor of epidemiological and liaison psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, and honorary consultant psychiatrist at King's and Maudsley Hospitals Dr Trevor Yellon, general practitioner, The Killick Street Community Health Centre, Kings Cross Marlene Winfield OBE, director for patients and public at NHS Connecting for Health Martyn Thomas FREng, director and principal consultant, Martyn Thomas Associates. Gus Hosein, visiting fellow, London School of Economics
2009 'Starfish' by Judith Johnson is a play which explores the issues raised by clinical trials. The project was funded by the Wellcome Trust. The Daily Telegraph article about 'Starfish' commented on that the play that, 'The heartfelt response to this tear-jerking story of love, romance and grief was all the more surprising given that the play was also an attempt to explore the issues surrounding clinical trials in medicine.'
The project's Advisory Panel included the following: Sir Iain Chalmers, Editor, James Lind Library Dr David Tovey, Editorial Director, BMJ Knowledge Professor Simon Wessely, MD FMedSci, Professor of Epidemiological and Liaison Psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, and Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist at King's and Maudsley Hospitals Lester Firkins, Employed by the Department of Health and the Medical Research Council as a lay representative for various areas of concern David Kaskel, CEO and Managing Director, Languagelab.com Professor Max Parmar, Joint Director of the UK Clinical Research Network, Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, Associate Director of the National Cancer Research Network Professor Janet Darbyshire, Joint Director of the UK Clinical Research Network Dr Sophie Petit-Zeman, Head of External Relations, Association of Medical Research Charities