The Heat&Light Young Company
Theatre that Makes a Difference

Heat&Light, Hampstead Theatre's Young Company, is made up of budding performers, writers, directors, stage managers and technicians aged 10 to 18.

Each term two groups come together to explore the power and potential of theatre in ways which reflect the artistic practice at Hampstead. The young companies are grouped by age, 10-14 year olds (Years 6 – 9) and 14-18 year olds (Years 10-13), and meet weekly throughout the term to rehearse.  Each term focuses respectively on writing, devising and commissioning original work created by the dialogue between the participants and professional writers.

In the past our groups have worked with writers including: Nick Grosso, Amy Rosenthal, Evan Placey, Penelope Skinner, Tom Wells and James Graham.

Heat&Light costs £30 per term but is free to those who are eligible for free school meals, the education maintenance allowance and the 16-19 bursary. If you would like to find out more please email creativelearning@hampsteadtheatre.com or call us on 0207 449 4200 opt 4.

AUDITIONS

Audition for Heat&Light Spring 2012

To view previous Heat&Light productions, please go to Production Archive link.

CREATIVE DIRECTION TEAM

The artistic direction of each Heat&Light project is led by the Creative Direction Team, (CDT) which consists of members of the Heat&Light company. Their responsibilities mirror the roles in Hampstead Theatre's artistic, production and administration teams.

The CDT is supported by a group of Heat&Light alumni, current or past Heat&Light members who act as positive mentors and ambassadors to the Heat&Light company, with a view to becoming workshop leaders in their own right.

THE SPARK

The Spark is a quarterly newsletter produced by the Heat&Light company.

Spark Newsletter Autumn 2010

TESTIMONIES

'Heat&Light gave me the opportunity to write. It helped me develop my skills, and gave me the chance to work with Roy Williams and Tanika Gupta. Having graduated from Heat&Light to having my first play produced on the main stage at Hampstead, I feel very proud and grateful to have been part of this company.'
- Atiha Sen Gupta, writer, What Fatima Did... (2009)

'This first full-length work from the 21-year-old graduate of Hampstead's youth theatre company proves entertaining, thought-provoking and topical, giving a vivid impression of what it is like to be young and living in multi-cultural Britain'

- Daily Telegraph on Atiha Sen Gupta’s What Fatima Did…(Nov 2009)
‘The first Heat&Light term was really good because it felt like there were no rules and you could write, act or do anything you wanted, with the freedom to perform and produce fresh and new ideas... It gives you a taste for acting in the professional field and what it takes to put on a successful show.’
- Daniel Kaluuya, young company member 2003-08, performer in E4’s Skins and Royal Court’s Oxford Street.

'Heat&Light is unique among youth groups. I was commissioned by the young actors themselves after they had enjoyed reading my and invited me in for a meeting.  I knew immediately that this was unlike any other youth group I had worked with. Heat&Light isn’t just an acting club, its members receive a full understanding of how theatre works from programming and commissioning to directing and performance.’
- Joel Horwood, writer (2008)

'Heat&Light is a unique resource that provides the opportunity for talented young people to build their theatre skills and become part of a strong community provision. In particular, in targeting young people who are harder to engage, and who would not have been given these kinds of opportunities before. It brings together a range of ages, abilities, skills and potential. Each participating young person has an equally significant role to play, whether it is as an actor, as a writer or in production.'
- Sue Morris, School Improvement Service Consultant, Camden Council