HYT HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
History of Hills Youth Theatre1986 to 2021
Based on the book “Downstairs Upstairs –The Story of The Stirling Institute” by Author/Director, the late Tom Dyster, published May 2000.
The inspiration for Hills Youth Theatre was born in the winter of 1985, when The Stirling Players Inc presented the childrens’ play The Terribly Noisy Giant. The success of this production generated many requests from children and parents for a place for young people to learn about theatre.
Mrs Sanchia Fitzhardinge (Scott) and Mrs Didy Pederick, both actively involved in The Hills Musical Company, approached the Stirling Community Theatre and asked to set up a childrens’ drama group. A Public Meeting was called and more than fifty parents showed up on 2nd December, 1985. Mrs. Fitzhardinge was elected as Chairman of the committee of the newly formed Hills Youth Theatre (HYT).
The first committee members were Laurel Brady (ballet teacher), Doug McNie (Treasurer), Jo Coventry, Didy Pederick, Di King and Rose Milton-Head. Professional drama instructors were engaged. The first classes commenced in 1986 with Tutors Julia Reichman, Joan Leslie (who later became our Patron), Paul Skrebels and Rae Eldridge, teaching sixty students. By the time the constitution was adopted on 2nd April 1986 there were 120 students enrolled in drama classes.
With two other theatre groups using The Stirling Community Theatre, space was limited so classes were also held at other venues. The resignation of two tutors and no replacements found, produced a turbulent first year but the drama school continued, and a selection of dramatic pieces were presented by the students at the end of the year.
The following year saw another tutor resign, and the late Jan Colquhoun (nee Warren) joined the team and became responsible for the senior drama classes and productions.
1989 saw HYT’s first public production The Two Alices. The show encompassed the majority of the drama students and embraced children of all ages. Since that time, there have been more than 80 productions, including 13 pantomimes.
2004 saw the retirement of Ms Joan Leslie, a well-loved and treasured tutor of 18 years, who constantly gave her creative energy to all her many hundreds of students that enjoyed her drama classes. Joan was renowned for her amusingly funny pantomimes which the kids performed each January to sell out audiences. Joan wrote all of her own scripts, taught weekly classes and directed the 120 students on stage, all with a smile. Joan was now a most loved Patron of HYT, enjoying being part of the audience and watching the HYT productions.
Judy Sampson took over the role of Tutor and Director at HYT in 2004 from Joan Leslie. Judy’s first script was the lovable The Magic Faraway Tree and was well received to full houses. Judy continued to write and adapt scripts for productions, teaching the Junior Youth, Youth, Senior Youth. In 2008 Di Mason became Tutor to the Junior students and Assistant Director of the large-scale productions.
Long-time respected tutor, Jan Colquhoun, was awarded Life Membership in 2009 when she decided that it was time to retire from teaching the senior students. Sadly in 2012 she quietly passed away, with no fanfare or fuss, but her legacy to hundreds of children that she lovingly taught will live on forever. Jan demanded the very best of herself and of her students so that every show was of the highest dramatic standard. Her students acquired much in terms of confidence and poise, developed good speech and learnt how to move with precision; all invaluable lessons for them in life skills.
In 2009 Judy Sampson became the Tutor for the Senior students.
Enthusiasm continued at HYT with many past students returning to The Stirling stage to perform in HYT’s Silver Jubilee Gala Shows in 2011, to celebrate 25 years of wonderful drama classes and performances.
Trinity classes began at HYT in 2012 with Di Mason as Tutor providing a class for drama students to intensively learn drama skills, leading up to an exam in October/November. The first students undertook the exam as a group and received a ‘Distinction.’ Trinity Classes continue to be a valued, complimentary drama program to the weekly classes that work towards the full-scale productions.
An HYT highlight was the wedding of former student Georgia Dodd on the actual stage where she had performed as a young actress. Georgia said that her time at HYT was the happiest time of her life and she will always treasure her performing memories.
In 2015 the HYT Young Adult Group was formed for students 18 to 25 years old, taught by Tutor Judy Sampson. The work of the group culminated in the Adelaide Festival Fringe show Arellond, which was written by talented HYT students Ella Hayward–Smith and Zanny Edhouse and was performed by the students under the direction of Zanny and Judy. Sadly, the Young Adults Group folded after only 2 years of existence due to a lack of numbers in this age bracket, but HYT is delighted that many of these enthusiastic students continue their dramatic journey in other artistic fields, many of them performing with amateur theatre companies in Adelaide.
In 2016 HYT celebrated its 30th Anniversary with a special VIP Supper Celebration following the opening performance of the January show Cinderella – A Pantomime. The choice of a pantomime to open the 2016 anniversary season acknowledged the many years of January pantomimes written and directed by Joan Leslie from 1992 to 2004. As a pantomime hadn’t been performed since 2004, this was a different genre of drama for the students to learn and perform for the celebration. Special 3-page photographic collages were created for each of the programmes for the January, June and Seniors shows and showcased 30 years of memories.As part of the 30th Anniversary Celebrations, HYT also welcomed a new Tutor, Nick Stagg, into the teaching team, as well as awarding Life Membership to the founding parents of HYT, Didy and Leith Pederick and Sanchia Scott, and asking them to become our current Patrons, along with Joan Leslie. To our delight they accepted this new role and have continued to support HYT through their attendance to productions, support of HYT in the broader community and advice and wisdom in all matters concerning the continuing success of HYT.
Plays are lovingly chosen for the students to perform by the parent committee who manage the running of Hills Youth Theatre. The greatest delight is to support past students as they pursue their careers in theatre. Josh Sanders, a past HYT student and tutor, has a passion for script writing and has written several scripts for the HYT June productions. His first was A Little Princess in 2012, followed by the classic story Wind in the Willows in 2013. Ebenezer Scrooge, based on the story A Christmas Carol was Josh’s script for 2014 and he went on to write our 2017 script of Blinky Bill, adapted from the stories of Dorothy Wall.
Scores of talented students have achieved a great deal following their time at HYT over the years. Many have gone on to be successful with other adult amateur theatre groups including The Stirling Players, Hills Musical Company, St. Judes, Burnside Players and The Therry Dramatic Society. A number have studied drama at a tertiary level and made a career in the field of drama, either on stage or behind the scenes.
HYT continues its traditions, teaching drama and stage craft to enthusiastic students aged from 5 to 18 years old. Professional tutors, parents and community members provide input and support for the drama classes and its three major productions during the year. In 2017, HYT undertook a restructuring of Tutors, with the appointment of Carole Mallett to the Seniors classes, Sonja Zodrow to the Juniors and Di Mason moving onto the Youth and Senior Youth. We were also excited to create new positions of Assistant Tutors, welcoming 2 past HYT senior students, Ella Heyward-Smith and Carina Crowhurst, into these roles, along with Jessica Corrie. HYT embraced their youth and energy, their current knowledge and experience from their Tertiary studies along with their creative talents in all areas of the arts and looks forward to a wonderful future of collaborative teaching with Assistant Tutors for the benefit of our students.
In 2018, HYT once again underwent a change of Tutors due to personal and work commitments, as well as a welcomed expansion of our committee. Karen Sierp began teaching the Seniors while Hayley Horton, herself an ex HYT students of many years, became the new Tutor for the Juniors and Junior Youth students. Hayley was assisted by 2 past HYT students in the shared role of Assistant Tutors, Imogen Deller-Evans and Yolanda Tree, who both brought a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to the role, including singing experience and costume design skills.Di Mason continued as the Tutor for the Youth and Senior Youth classes along with her avid interest in the HYT Archives and a particular love of ‘attention to detail on costumes.’ HYT always looks to develop a strong creative team of Tutors, all dedicated to their craft and willing and able to inspire our young students to greater heights.
2019 welcomed another change in the Tutor structure - Hayley Horton, along with her Assistant Tutor, Yolanda Tree moved up to the Seniors while Sonja Zodrow returned to delight and inspire the Juniors and Junior Youth Classes. Di remained the Tutor for Youth and Senior Youth and HYT welcomed 3 recently ‘graduated’ HYT students as Assistant Tutors, Zoe Muller, working with Di, and Ben Proeve and Rory Miller-Frost with Sonja. As HYT, along with the rest of the world, faced up to the reality of the COVID 19 pandemic, the 2020 shows were put on hold. There was a change of Tutors and Assistant Tutors with Jethro Pidd taking over the reins of the Junior and Junior Youth students as well as Zoe leaving her role as Assistant Tutor and being replaced by Chloe Bradfield. In 2021, the tutor line up was shaken up with the departure of Jethro and Hayley and the subsequent introduction of Imogen Deller-Evans, a previous HYT student to the role of Junior and Junior Youth tutor and Ben Proeve into the role of Seniors Tutor.
HYT is not a ‘teaching school.’ There are no evaluations or assessments but rather it is a place that provides the opportunity for ALL students to be involved in productions, giving a balanced approach of learning the craft of acting and stage craft along with having lots of fun. Some kids are here for the connections and friendships that they make and to enjoy the experience of participating in drama activities rather than aspiring to be leading actors.HYT is inclusive to ALL children and families, providing an outlet for creative expression, to promote and foster arts education by immersing and involving students in a variety of artistic experiences ( acting, singing & dancing).
Above all else, our greater aim is to engage the students in variety of positive experiences to enhance life-long personal skills such as respect, confidence, clarity of thought & ideas, social awareness, theatre & public speaking skills and their own personal growth as a positive member of society.
Hills Youth Theatre is a wonderful place to nurture your child in their dramatic aspirations, supporting them as they find their confidence and enjoy the joyful satisfaction of performing on stage.
Based on the book “Downstairs Upstairs –The Story of The Stirling Institute” by Author/Director, the late Tom Dyster, published May 2000.
The inspiration for Hills Youth Theatre was born in the winter of 1985, when The Stirling Players Inc presented the childrens’ play The Terribly Noisy Giant. The success of this production generated many requests from children and parents for a place for young people to learn about theatre.
Mrs Sanchia Fitzhardinge (Scott) and Mrs Didy Pederick, both actively involved in The Hills Musical Company, approached the Stirling Community Theatre and asked to set up a childrens’ drama group. A Public Meeting was called and more than fifty parents showed up on 2nd December, 1985. Mrs. Fitzhardinge was elected as Chairman of the committee of the newly formed Hills Youth Theatre (HYT).
The first committee members were Laurel Brady (ballet teacher), Doug McNie (Treasurer), Jo Coventry, Didy Pederick, Di King and Rose Milton-Head. Professional drama instructors were engaged. The first classes commenced in 1986 with Tutors Julia Reichman, Joan Leslie (who later became our Patron), Paul Skrebels and Rae Eldridge, teaching sixty students. By the time the constitution was adopted on 2nd April 1986 there were 120 students enrolled in drama classes.
With two other theatre groups using The Stirling Community Theatre, space was limited so classes were also held at other venues. The resignation of two tutors and no replacements found, produced a turbulent first year but the drama school continued, and a selection of dramatic pieces were presented by the students at the end of the year.
The following year saw another tutor resign, and the late Jan Colquhoun (nee Warren) joined the team and became responsible for the senior drama classes and productions.
1989 saw HYT’s first public production The Two Alices. The show encompassed the majority of the drama students and embraced children of all ages. Since that time, there have been more than 80 productions, including 13 pantomimes.
2004 saw the retirement of Ms Joan Leslie, a well-loved and treasured tutor of 18 years, who constantly gave her creative energy to all her many hundreds of students that enjoyed her drama classes. Joan was renowned for her amusingly funny pantomimes which the kids performed each January to sell out audiences. Joan wrote all of her own scripts, taught weekly classes and directed the 120 students on stage, all with a smile. Joan was now a most loved Patron of HYT, enjoying being part of the audience and watching the HYT productions.
Judy Sampson took over the role of Tutor and Director at HYT in 2004 from Joan Leslie. Judy’s first script was the lovable The Magic Faraway Tree and was well received to full houses. Judy continued to write and adapt scripts for productions, teaching the Junior Youth, Youth, Senior Youth. In 2008 Di Mason became Tutor to the Junior students and Assistant Director of the large-scale productions.
Long-time respected tutor, Jan Colquhoun, was awarded Life Membership in 2009 when she decided that it was time to retire from teaching the senior students. Sadly in 2012 she quietly passed away, with no fanfare or fuss, but her legacy to hundreds of children that she lovingly taught will live on forever. Jan demanded the very best of herself and of her students so that every show was of the highest dramatic standard. Her students acquired much in terms of confidence and poise, developed good speech and learnt how to move with precision; all invaluable lessons for them in life skills.
In 2009 Judy Sampson became the Tutor for the Senior students.
Enthusiasm continued at HYT with many past students returning to The Stirling stage to perform in HYT’s Silver Jubilee Gala Shows in 2011, to celebrate 25 years of wonderful drama classes and performances.
Trinity classes began at HYT in 2012 with Di Mason as Tutor providing a class for drama students to intensively learn drama skills, leading up to an exam in October/November. The first students undertook the exam as a group and received a ‘Distinction.’ Trinity Classes continue to be a valued, complimentary drama program to the weekly classes that work towards the full-scale productions.
An HYT highlight was the wedding of former student Georgia Dodd on the actual stage where she had performed as a young actress. Georgia said that her time at HYT was the happiest time of her life and she will always treasure her performing memories.
In 2015 the HYT Young Adult Group was formed for students 18 to 25 years old, taught by Tutor Judy Sampson. The work of the group culminated in the Adelaide Festival Fringe show Arellond, which was written by talented HYT students Ella Hayward–Smith and Zanny Edhouse and was performed by the students under the direction of Zanny and Judy. Sadly, the Young Adults Group folded after only 2 years of existence due to a lack of numbers in this age bracket, but HYT is delighted that many of these enthusiastic students continue their dramatic journey in other artistic fields, many of them performing with amateur theatre companies in Adelaide.
In 2016 HYT celebrated its 30th Anniversary with a special VIP Supper Celebration following the opening performance of the January show Cinderella – A Pantomime. The choice of a pantomime to open the 2016 anniversary season acknowledged the many years of January pantomimes written and directed by Joan Leslie from 1992 to 2004. As a pantomime hadn’t been performed since 2004, this was a different genre of drama for the students to learn and perform for the celebration. Special 3-page photographic collages were created for each of the programmes for the January, June and Seniors shows and showcased 30 years of memories.As part of the 30th Anniversary Celebrations, HYT also welcomed a new Tutor, Nick Stagg, into the teaching team, as well as awarding Life Membership to the founding parents of HYT, Didy and Leith Pederick and Sanchia Scott, and asking them to become our current Patrons, along with Joan Leslie. To our delight they accepted this new role and have continued to support HYT through their attendance to productions, support of HYT in the broader community and advice and wisdom in all matters concerning the continuing success of HYT.
Plays are lovingly chosen for the students to perform by the parent committee who manage the running of Hills Youth Theatre. The greatest delight is to support past students as they pursue their careers in theatre. Josh Sanders, a past HYT student and tutor, has a passion for script writing and has written several scripts for the HYT June productions. His first was A Little Princess in 2012, followed by the classic story Wind in the Willows in 2013. Ebenezer Scrooge, based on the story A Christmas Carol was Josh’s script for 2014 and he went on to write our 2017 script of Blinky Bill, adapted from the stories of Dorothy Wall.
Scores of talented students have achieved a great deal following their time at HYT over the years. Many have gone on to be successful with other adult amateur theatre groups including The Stirling Players, Hills Musical Company, St. Judes, Burnside Players and The Therry Dramatic Society. A number have studied drama at a tertiary level and made a career in the field of drama, either on stage or behind the scenes.
HYT continues its traditions, teaching drama and stage craft to enthusiastic students aged from 5 to 18 years old. Professional tutors, parents and community members provide input and support for the drama classes and its three major productions during the year. In 2017, HYT undertook a restructuring of Tutors, with the appointment of Carole Mallett to the Seniors classes, Sonja Zodrow to the Juniors and Di Mason moving onto the Youth and Senior Youth. We were also excited to create new positions of Assistant Tutors, welcoming 2 past HYT senior students, Ella Heyward-Smith and Carina Crowhurst, into these roles, along with Jessica Corrie. HYT embraced their youth and energy, their current knowledge and experience from their Tertiary studies along with their creative talents in all areas of the arts and looks forward to a wonderful future of collaborative teaching with Assistant Tutors for the benefit of our students.
In 2018, HYT once again underwent a change of Tutors due to personal and work commitments, as well as a welcomed expansion of our committee. Karen Sierp began teaching the Seniors while Hayley Horton, herself an ex HYT students of many years, became the new Tutor for the Juniors and Junior Youth students. Hayley was assisted by 2 past HYT students in the shared role of Assistant Tutors, Imogen Deller-Evans and Yolanda Tree, who both brought a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to the role, including singing experience and costume design skills.Di Mason continued as the Tutor for the Youth and Senior Youth classes along with her avid interest in the HYT Archives and a particular love of ‘attention to detail on costumes.’ HYT always looks to develop a strong creative team of Tutors, all dedicated to their craft and willing and able to inspire our young students to greater heights.
2019 welcomed another change in the Tutor structure - Hayley Horton, along with her Assistant Tutor, Yolanda Tree moved up to the Seniors while Sonja Zodrow returned to delight and inspire the Juniors and Junior Youth Classes. Di remained the Tutor for Youth and Senior Youth and HYT welcomed 3 recently ‘graduated’ HYT students as Assistant Tutors, Zoe Muller, working with Di, and Ben Proeve and Rory Miller-Frost with Sonja. As HYT, along with the rest of the world, faced up to the reality of the COVID 19 pandemic, the 2020 shows were put on hold. There was a change of Tutors and Assistant Tutors with Jethro Pidd taking over the reins of the Junior and Junior Youth students as well as Zoe leaving her role as Assistant Tutor and being replaced by Chloe Bradfield. In 2021, the tutor line up was shaken up with the departure of Jethro and Hayley and the subsequent introduction of Imogen Deller-Evans, a previous HYT student to the role of Junior and Junior Youth tutor and Ben Proeve into the role of Seniors Tutor.
HYT is not a ‘teaching school.’ There are no evaluations or assessments but rather it is a place that provides the opportunity for ALL students to be involved in productions, giving a balanced approach of learning the craft of acting and stage craft along with having lots of fun. Some kids are here for the connections and friendships that they make and to enjoy the experience of participating in drama activities rather than aspiring to be leading actors.HYT is inclusive to ALL children and families, providing an outlet for creative expression, to promote and foster arts education by immersing and involving students in a variety of artistic experiences ( acting, singing & dancing).
Above all else, our greater aim is to engage the students in variety of positive experiences to enhance life-long personal skills such as respect, confidence, clarity of thought & ideas, social awareness, theatre & public speaking skills and their own personal growth as a positive member of society.
Hills Youth Theatre is a wonderful place to nurture your child in their dramatic aspirations, supporting them as they find their confidence and enjoy the joyful satisfaction of performing on stage.