THOMAS Hardy's Far From the Madding Crowd is on stage in Aberystwyth later this month - brought to life by the youth theatre.
From Thursday, November 19, to Saturday 21, the Youth Theatre return to Aberystwyth Arts Centre’s main stage to present one of Thomas Hardy's most popular and enduring novels.
Aberystwyth Arts Centre Youth Theatre take their audience on a theatrical journey through Hardy country, following a passionate young girl propelled into womanhood by her experiences of love and loss.
Having inherited her uncle’s farm, the spirited and feisty young Bathsheba Everdene finds herself playing mistress in a man’s world.
She is pursued by three would-be lovers: the constant shepherd, Gabriel Oak; the obsessive landowner, William Boldwood and the reckless Sergeant Troy. But are any of them a match for the wilful Bathsheba?
Far From the Madding Crowd will be followed by the Youth Theatre’s annual Christmas production in December, in co-production with the community theatre.
This year’s Christmas production will be the childhood classic 'The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe'.
2009 has been an eventful year for the Arts Centre’s Youth Theatre. The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA) once again sent examiners to the Arts Centre to assess the Stage School and Youth Theatre pupils.
Youth Theatre director, Richard Hull said: "Once again, our candidates have surpassed all results in previous years - with many students taking top level LAMDA Gold Medal Acting exams and obtaining Distinction.
"In terms of percentages 66 per cent of our students obtained a Merit or Distinction.” Long term Stage School and Youth Theatre members, Gwyneth Keyworth and Taron Egerton have achieved outstanding results.
"Gwyneth Keyworth obtained the highest distinction ever awarded to an Arts Centre student in her Gold Medal exam. Taron Egerton, who most recently appeared in Richard Hull's production of ‘The Tempest’ has now taken his place at RADA - the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts."
Youth Theatre members are now rehearsing intensively in preparation for their busy autumn season.
Tickets for ‘Far From The Madding Crowd’ are £8 (£6) and can be booked by contacting the Arts Centre ticket office on 01970 623232 or online at www.aber.ac.uk/artscentre