Ravara Productions is an amateur dramatic youth group working with young people aged 5-25 from all across the province.
Unlike any other theatre groups in Northern Ireland, Ravara is run entirely by young people, for young people. Vice-Chairman and Musical Director, Adam Darcy (20), explains, “A youth management committee and production team have a unique approach to producing theatre. The relationships between young directors and cast members allows for greater levels of collaboration, creativity and understanding throughout the artistic process”.
Only five years ago, a group of ten teenage theatre enthusiasts were amidst preparations for their first musical drama in the back garden of now Chairman, Jamie McClelland. Word quickly spread about the opportunities that were being provided to young people in this exclusive set-up, leading to continual growth in both membership and audiences. Ravara Productions swiftly moved from garden, to school hall, to the Waterfront Studio in 2013, for their critically acclaimed and sold out run of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’.
This year, Ravara Productions has decided to expand further with not one, but two ambitious productions in the pipeline. This decision will create more opportunities for all 200 volunteers to utilise their skills in a number of theatrical disciplines including music, acting, stage management, sound & lighting and set design.
For their junior members, aged 5-13, the Disney classic ‘Aladdin’ will be performed in Belvoir Players Studio from the 14th-16th of August.
The older members, aged 14-25, will stage the weird and wonderful ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ which includes classic songs such as ‘Skid Row’, ‘Dentist!’ (as performed by Steve Martin in the 1986 film version) and ‘Suddenly Seymour.’ The show, which tells the story of Seymour Krelborn and killer plant Audrey 2, will be suitable for all the family. Actor Ross White explains “Young kids love seeing the phenomenon that is a massive killer plant, and the zany comedy is brilliant for the older audiences. It is a light hearted show that promises to entertain.”
Indeed, describing Ravara Productions Audrey 2 as ‘massive’ is no exaggeration, as Local artist Jaymie Elliot (QUB graduate) has designed an Audrey 2 to rival any other. The 8x8ft monster can be seen at the Stranmillis College Theatre between 27th-31st of August.
(Tickets: http://www.ravaraproductions.com/tickets.html)