Luton’s own Next Generation Youth Theatre (NGYT) had an epic night to remember when they were invited to perform at the Big Night of Musicals at the AO Arena in Manchester last November.
The incredible all ability Luton-based Musical Theatre group, aged 5-18 performed alongside the iconic singer Beverley Knight to over 12,000 people. How very exciting!
The BBC event, hosted by Jason Manford, has acts from smash hit musicals like Hamilton, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, and Les Misérables to name a few.
Against this backdrop of professionals, NGYT held their own with a “remarkably confident” rendition of “Seasons of Love”.
Their performance was said to be one of the highlights of the night, showing just how much talent and dedication Luton’s youth have.
“It was so amazing, the children did such a brilliant job. I pretty much sobbed all the way through…It means so much, for the children that took part and the ones who will see them on TV and know that they can do this too. It’s SO important. They represented our town with joy and love. Just incredible.”
You can catch NGYT’s performance on BBC One, Saturday 27 January 7:50pm, or catch it on BBC iPlayer after it airs.
For those unfamiliar with NGYT, they are a Luton-based youth theatre group that has provided opportunities in musical theatre, dance, writing, and more to local kids since 2012. Led by founders David and Laura Lloyd, NGYT emphasizes youth voice, wellbeing, and community in all of their programming.
This once-in-a-lifetime experience for NGYT shows just how talented and dedicated Luton’s youth are. As NGYT continues empowering young people through the arts, we can’t wait to see what they accomplish next!
About the Author
Laura Redmond
Laura is a passionate supporter of the Step Forward Luton campaign and a Place Activation and Marketing Coordinator. Armed with a journalism degree and unwavering love for her university town, she believes there's more to Luton that meets the eye. From charity work to market management, Laura's professional journey has explored every corner of Luton. When she's not busy being a marketing maven, she's lacing up her walking shoes to explore the town's green spaces or unearthing Luton's hidden foodie gems.