Take a peek behind the scenes of the Wolverhampton theatre group still helping kids after 40 years

It has helped to produce stage stars, including Beverley Knight who name-checked the youth group when receiving her Olivier Award for Sylvia earlier this year.

Now, it is celebrating 40 years of nurturing talent and supporting young people, with former attendee Holly Parry at the helm.

CEO Holly Parry fledged her creative wings after she began attending Wolverhampton's Central Youth Theatre (CYT) aged 13,going on to forge a path for herself in community theatre.

Even after going to drama school, Holly still directed products back in her home town. Despite freelancing for an array of dramatic companies, she says: "My heart was always with CYT."

Over the last eight years, the 34-year-old has taken on more responsibility at the youth theatre, beginning her journey as an assistant director, before becoming co-director.

When the founder of CYT, Jane Ward MBE, decided to step back from running the organisation during the pandemic, Holly took over as CEO.

Now, her role has come full circle as she helps young people on the journey that she started more than two decades ago.

Speaking about the impact CYT had on her as a teenager, Holly, who grew up in Whitmore Reans, said: "It gave me a sense of belonging, it gave me a creative home where I made friends for life.

"It was a safe space to develop and learn those skills, whilst also being a teenager and making all the mistakes that teenagers make.

"When I was a young member, we went abroad to Latvia, Austria, and Germany to do theatre productions and work with other international groups from other European countries.

"It's one thing to do a show in Wolverhampton but it's another thing taking that show out into another country and understanding the global sector of what is theatre outside of our small home town.

"But also, you're representing your home town and your country on a big stage in Latvia, when you're just a 14-year-old kid from Whitmore Reans in Wolverhampton.

"It gave me perspective and it's given me lifelong friendships. A lot of them work in the theatre industry in London, but we all have those foundation stones of being in a Wolverhampton youth theatre."

While many members have grown up and spread their wings to work in the theatre industry full-time, alumni have an intrinsic sense of loyalty which keeps them coming back to support the youth theatre.

Tim Routledge, who also grew up in Whitmore Reans, is a multi-award-winning and world renowned lighting designer, and another former member of CYT.

Most recently, he was responsible for lighting the Eurovision Song Contest which was held in Liverpool last month.

His credits also include Stormzy’s 2019 Glastonbury Festival set, the Spice Girls ‘Spice World’ UK Stadium Tour, and Beyonce’s ‘Formation’ World Tour.

And his work for TV includes the X Factor, the Concert for Ukraine, the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in 2014, I Can See Your Voice, and Big Night of Musicals.