Young People's Theatre Newcastle

What Does Commitment Really Mean?

Over the years my admiration for students and parents who really understand what commitment is, has grown considerably.  When a student commits to the rehearsal and production times for a show it means that they may miss out on birthday parties or camps with friends or outings with family.  It means they become a part of a team where they develop responsibility, a sense of belonging and team spirit, loyalty, self discipline, self worth and self confidence that will be with them for life.

Parents make the commitment to support their child by ensuring that he/she arrives at rehearsal on time and is picked up on time; helping with the production by building or painting scenery or props or working in the canteen; making their costume or arranging for it to be made, and helping at the Theatre once the production opens.

Unfortunately there have been examples where parents and students have not really thought through the meaning of commitment when auditioning for a show. A sense of commitment is something that will stand anybody in good stead for life and is something that is important to learn from a very early age. This is a quality that children can learn from their parents.

YPT keeps their rehearsal times to a minimum and every child chosen to be in a show is chosen because they are needed and the show wouldn’t be the same without them. This also applies to those students who commit to the technical production jobs. Being in a show is a big commitment and can take up to 4 months of your life but the rewards are many.

Some people have also taken the view that there are two or more casts anyway and someone else can perform their show. I believe that this is a very poor attitude and a very unfair one. Students and parents organise themselves and their family commitments to coincide with rehearsals and performances well ahead of time. Yes, it is a matter of being organised and planning ahead.

I would appreciate your support in this matter and ask that you and your child discuss what you both believe is meant by commitment and how it may affect them in the future if they wish to be in shows.

As with classes, parents are not permitted to observe rehearsals.  We give students the freedom to develop without the pressure of observation by adults.

Wendy Leis,  Artistic Director