Guest Blog Post – Current Member Zak Douglas

The CYT Effect

Every moment I have spent at CYT so far has flown by at 100 miles per hour, so not until this very moment right now have I really had the chance to reflect on what Central Youth Theatre has done for me.

I joined CYT not so long ago, in September 2013 after receiving a glowing recommendation from my friend who has been involved with the company for many years. I was at a point in life where my football career finished quite early and I was looking for new things to try. Acting or performing never crossed my mind until I was persuaded to trial performing arts as a taster subject in sixth form with the option of dropping it if I didn’t enjoy the class and well as you can see I in fact caught the drama bug. However school just gave me a taste of drama, it wasn’t until I joined CYT that I actually realised performing is what I want to pursue.

Since walking through the door there hasn’t been a single moment where I have not felt like a part of the CYT family, that’s why despite me being a recent addition to the company it feels like I have been here for years. It wasn’t till I joined CYT that I realised that acting is not just a hobby, it is the thing that I want to do.

Central Youth Theatre has done me the world of good in such a short amount of time. After finishing sixth form I knew I wanted to give acting a shot but I had no idea how to go about pursuing a career in the arts. As a young lad fresh out of school, looking for little part time jobs to do until I felt I was ready to give applying for drama school a crack, probably destined to work in a pub or bar until I was approached by Jane Ward (Founder of CYT) who offered me the chance to work and learn at CYT as an Apprentice Drama Leader. I can’t put into words how much it means to me that my first experience of paid work is in something that I genuinely love to do while at the same time receiving a qualification in Arts Management.

As cliché as it sounds CYT has actually changed my life for the better. A year ago I could have never pictured myself directing my own junior show, running workshops all around the Black Country whilst also still performing in loads of different productions including like a million different pantomimes (tiring but amazing) and working with amazing people every day. CYT has opened my eyes to so many incredible things that I didn’t even know were out there within the arts.

Central Youth Theatre is a company that means so much to me and so many people not just here but all around the world and we will stand by CYT as it has stood by us for the last 32 Years.

Zak Douglas