Honoring Bill Kenwright

The RYTC team was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our friend and patron Bill Kenwright CBE. 

Bill was a partner, father, grandfather, great friend and patron. He will be missed by many and this is testament to his giving nature and impact on the theatre and creative arts space. The team wanted to honour his legacy and influence with this memorial page.

The RYTC’s Artistic Director started her career in Bill Kenwright’s work family. Bill told her to go and open her own youth theatre, because ‘being creative is so important for our kids!’ His mantra… “go and do it”!! And if “it” is right – then you can’t fail.”

To name only a fraction of the awards and achievements Bill received are the notable honour of a CBE in 2002, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Theatrical Management Association in 2008, and an honourary BBC Radio 2 special episode of Friday Night in 2017 broadcast from the London Palladium itself. Bill was nominated for a London Theatre Critics’ Award for West Side Story and a Tony Award for Blood Brothers.

This multi-award winning career saw Bill’s West End productions constantly in notable venues such as the RSC, Dominion, Palladium, Apollo and many others. Ensuring his legacy as one of the UK’s most successful theatre producers.

Bill embodied the spirit of empowering young people through creative opportunities. His legacy will be felt and continued through the many groups and communities he supported with the mission of providing opportunities to local young people. Bill made his community and generations of people richer through experiences such as finding like minds, getting creative and fostering confidence in young people.

The RYTC in memory of Bill will continue to “go and do it” as his legacy will continue to empower our team, kids and encourage everyone to be creative.

Our thoughts are with Bill’s family at this difficult time and also with the many people we know he impacted for the better.

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Nurturing Creativity: 5 Ways RYTC Inspires Young Minds

by | Sep 4, 2024 | Creative Arts Therapy | 0 comments

Have you ever seen a child’s face light up as they delve into a world of make-believe? At RYTC, we delight in nurturing that natural creativity, giving young minds a place to explore, express, and flourish.

Curious about how we achieve this? Let’s explore the 5 ways RYTC inspires young minds:

  1. Spark Imagination: We set aside traditional methods in favour of playful exploration! Through drama games, storytelling, and imaginative exercises, we fuel children’s curiosity and creativity. As they explore characters and scenarios, their imaginations take flight.
  2. Build Confidence: Stepping onto the stage can be daunting, but our supportive environment helps children blossom. Our workshops and performances impart valuable communication skills, public speaking techniques, and self-expression. This newfound confidence shines not just on stage, but in all areas of life.
  3. Foster Teamwork: Our programmes are collaborative playgrounds. Children work together to create stories, develop characters, and bring their theatrical visions to life. This teamwork fosters empathy, listening skills, and respect for diverse ideas.
  4. Develop Critical Thinking: Drama is far more than memorising lines. We encourage critical thinking and problem-solving. Children analyse situations, make creative choices, and adapt to unexpected scenarios through improvisation and role-playing. These skills are invaluable on and off stage.
  5. Cultivate Lifelong Learning: At RYTC, learning is an adventure! We make it engaging and interactive, fostering a lifelong love of learning. Children develop curiosity, a willingness to experiment, and a passion for exploring new ideas, setting them on a path of continuous growth and discovery.

To conclude, I’d like to share a heartfelt message from a parent, which beautifully captures the impact RYTC has on our young learners:

“Dear Helen,

Thank you for taking the time to really get to know *******. He loves every session with you. I can’t wait to see what you’ve been creating together!

Thank you for rekindling his love of learning.

With endless gratitude,

************”

Come and join us at RYTC, where creativity knows no bounds!

 

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