CYTO has issued a call to all its former members to contact South Norwood’s Shoestring Theatre to mark a special anniversary
Croydon Youth Theatre Organisation will be celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, and it is seeking former performers, stage-hands and participants going back to its earliest days to come forward and join in the celebrations in September.
New stagers: CYTO is asking all former participants to get in touch ahead of their 60th anniversary show
Formed in 1965, 60 years is quite an achievement for a local voluntary organisation – especially for one that has carried on for the past 10 years without any annual grant from the local council.
CYTO is keen to make contact with as many ex-members as possible so they can take part in planned events.
The first of these will be Diamonds, triple bill play, which has been specially written for the members by CYTO’s go-to professional playwright, Richard Vincent.
And this will be followed by what CYTO’s current chair, David Page, calls “a gi-normous after-show party”.
CYTO is also looking for alumni to be interviewed in a video that is being made as a permanent record of the theatre group’s storied history. “So if you know of anyone who used to belong, please could you ask them to get in touch?” Page asks.
Following the Community Asset Transfer by Croydon Council of the Shoestring Theatre premises in Oakley Road, South Norwood in 2023, CYTO is embarking on an ambitious redevelopment plan.
New doors have recently been installed to provide greater security for the young people and a new fire alarm system has gone in to increase the building’s safety, both paid for by the Greater London Authority from the Good Growth Fund.
“If there are any corporate or charitable funders who would like to assist in this project to improve the quality of the experience that the young people and other users of the building, please contact CYTO’s artistic director, Andrew McPherson,” Page said.
- Diamonds, CYTO’s anniversary show, will run at The Shoestring Theatre from September 18 to 20. Visit CYTO’s website by clicking here
- Old, and relatively new, stagers, and all others with enquiries about CYTO, should email admin@cyto.org.uk or phone 020 8655 1098 (during usual office hours)
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