Following the success of The Addams Family in 2016, The City Varieties Youth Theatre (CVYT) brings Loserville – ‘thegeeklovingcrowdbuzzinggamechangingmusical’ – to the City Varieties on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th July 2017.
In what will be the company’s sixth full-scale musical at the UK’s most famous music hall, the 40-strong cast, plus live pit band, will have audiences reaching for their air guitars and ‘rocking-out’ to an electric pop-rock score worthy of the seventies.
Originally created by Elliot Davies and James Bourne for Youth Music Theatre UK, Loserville is based on the album, Welcome to Loserville from Bourne’s second band, Son of Dork. It tells the tale of misfit computer geek, Michael Dork, and his sci-fi obsessed, social-misfit friends, who, in 1971, are all set to change the course of history, fashion and dating – it’s just that no one knows it yet. Michael’s also discovered a girl, Holly, a prospect (almost) as exciting as his love of computers. If only he had the courage to talk to her! CVYT Artistic Director of six years, Lizi Patch said: “I am delighted to be directing the sixth full-scale musical with the City Varieties Youth Theatre. Each year the challenge is to find a musical that both suits the large and very capable cast, and that will work on the beautiful but bijou City Varieties Stage. From the initial idea to the first performance, the cast, creative team, learning team, band and technical crew make my job a pleasure.
“After Oliver! and The Addams Family it was time to bring it up-to-date and work on something with a whole different flavour and Loserville ticked all the boxes. I guarantee a few earworms after people leave the theatre!”
Founded in 2012, CVYT continues to wow audiences with their take on classic shows, including Oliver! Return to the Forbidden Planet and Peter Pan – the British Musical.
A platform from which to introduce young people to the world of professional theatre, the CVYT has produced many talented young actors, including those who have gone on to perform with Opera North, train with Pineapple Dance Studios, London, gain a scholarship at Phoenix Dance Theatre, Leeds and even land a role in the new series of Game of Thrones.
Lizi said: “The City Varieties Youth Theatre explores the notion of theatre as a tool for social change and personal development for a new generation of theatre-makers and theatre goers. We give young people the skills, the time and the support to take creative and personal risks, enabling them to express themselves physically, verbally and through the written word.”
One Youth Theatre member added: “I feel very proud to be a part of the City Varieties Youth Theatre Company because of its professionalism and the amazing shows it puts on. I have enjoyed working with the professional directors and meeting lots of new friends with the same interests and ambitions as me. I think joining the Youth Theatre is the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m learning so much and I’m having the best time ever.”
CVYT will be holding an informal intro-session later this year at Leeds Grand Theatre. For more information contact the Learning Team at [email protected] or call 0113 297 7042.
Loserville is at City Varieties Music Hall from Friday 28th to Saturday 29th July
Tickets are priced from £12 adults and £8 child
(prices include a £1 booking fee and 60p restoration levy. Postage charge £1 where applicable)
Book online at cityvarietiesmusichall.co.uk or call box office on 0113 243 0808
