About BITESIZE
Mostly, we are about FUN, GETTING FIT AND HEALTHY, VOCATIONAL LEARNING, BUILDING A FAMILY COMMUNITY AND DIVERSITY.
The Bitesize Youth Theatre is a not-for-profit community theatre group offering classes in drama, singing, musical theatre and dance. We are inclusive of young people aged 3 – 21. Our qualified professionals are all DBS checked and provide a high level of tuition and fun classes building the skills, confidence and self esteem of our participants. We are able to offer short courses; opportunities to showcase skills and work learnt; we offer work experience trips to the wider arts community and an opportunity to gain certification through London College of Music and Pearson BTEC Our members give back to the community supporting children with additional needs, the elderly in our community and raising funds for various charities. We are all inclusive of young people with additional needs including those with physical (visually impaired, physically impaired, hearing impaired) difficulties; learning difficulties (Down’s syndrome, Irlan’s syndrome, autism including Asperger’s syndrome); emotional and behavioural difficulties ( youngsters referred from CAHM’s including those having suffered abuse and self harming). Our work has been supported by AVOW and we have received a number of awards for mentoring and volunteering. Unlike other arts organisations where performing is the main aim we are more concerned with the development of the physical and mental well being of our young people and restrictions are not put on participation by requirement of being a certain standard.
Linda Griffiths – PRINCIPAL
BA (hons) Creative arts PGCE(Dance/Drama) Post graduate certificate in Directing.
Linda has been lucky enough to have worked in the theatre for over 40 years. For 10 years she was Director of Children’s Theatre for Theatr Clwyd. She has choreographed and directed about 80 musicals and over 130 plays at Theatr Clwyd, Gateway, Action Transport, Newcastle Vic, Stoke Rep, Edinburgh Festival, West End and for the Bitesize Theatre Company where she has was Artistic Director for 28 years.
A qualified teacher of dance and drama for 40 years she teaches a range of classes at Youth Theatre and directs and choreographs the main shows and the Musical Theatre Festival groups. She was recognised for her work with Reactivate with Scottish Power/Manweb’s Community Person of the Year in 2001.
Megan-Hollie Robertson – HEAD of PERFORMING ARTS
Megan-Hollie began as a member of Bitesize Youth Theatre and is a professional Musical Theatre graduate from GSA after training at the Hammond School for 3 years. She is also an Associate of the London College of Music (LCM). Megan-Hollie is a professional stage performer having appeared in Gypsy for Paul Kerryson at the Buxton Opera House; A Little Night Music, The Crucible and the Wizard of Oz at the Storeyhouse (Chester); Aladdin at the Cambridge Arts Theatre; among others.