Gloucestershire Youth Players is a group of serious young performers dedicated to creating invigorating versions of great dramatic texts to audiences in and around Gloucestershire. Founded and directed by visionary schoolteacher and musician, Edward Derbyshire, the group’s aims are both educational and artistic. As one critic remarked in 2008: “GYP offers genuine opportunities to young actors and actresses to expand their knowledge of, and confidence in drama.”

These aims encompass the promotion of great drama among young people, the development of young Gloucestershire actors and musicians and the enrichment of the local cultural landscape.

This is a remarkable group of players led by a remarkable man. Under the inspiring guidance of Edward, all operations of the company are organised and executed by the young and spirited cooperative based troupe. Their industry and enterprise is marked; last year they raised over £1,000 for a local children’s charity headed by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Following an acclaimed production of Twelfth Night, the group returns to local stages this summer to perform a new production of Hamlet. They revisit the theatre of Longborough Festival Opera and The RSC Dell Theatre in Stratford upon Avon, as well as playing at The Space, Stroud and in the gardens of Wadham College, Oxford. We will also be making a special trip to London for a one-off performance at The Nave in Islington.

Besides performing Hamlet, the group is developing workshops on the text which they will perform in local schools in order to engage the imaginations of the next generation of young actors.