By Gary Anderson

January 8 - Glasgow 2014 has announced that NYT will perform the Village Ceremonies at the Commonwealth Games ©Getty Images Glasgow 2014 has announced the Village Ceremonies at this year's Commonwealth Games will be created and performed by the National Youth Theatre (NYT).

A cast of 60 performers aged between 15 and 25-years-old from the NYT's Glasgow-based social inclusion programme, alongside performers from the rest of the country, will stage the Village Ceremonies, which include the Opening of the Athletes' Village, the Farewell Ceremony and Team Welcome Ceremonies.

The NYT has an outreach programme called Now Your Turn, based at Platform in Easterhouse, Glasgow, which offers free weekly workshops and intensive holiday courses to local disadvantaged youngsters looking to get into the performing arts.

The Village Opening and Farewell Ceremonies will be "inspired by a modern Glasgow with all its inspirational cultural references", according to NYT chief executive and artistic director Paul Roseby.

"It's fitting that the best of young British talent has been chosen to welcome athletes from around the world as they step off the plane and get their first impression of the Games," he added.

"We'll be staging youthful and inventive Ceremonies full of spectacle and style that capture the spirit of Glasgow and we'll get the party started."

The National Youth Theatre created and performed the Team Welcome Ceremonies at London 2012 ©Getty ImagesThe National Youth Theatre created and performed the Team Welcome Ceremonies at London 2012 ©Getty Images


























The NYT was founded in 1956 as the first youth theatre in the world and it now works with thousands of young people each year, staging shows in London's West End, across the United Kingdom and around the world.

Past members include Dame Helen Mirren and James Bond star Daniel Craig, while the National Theatre of Scotland's artistic director, Laurie Sampson, also trained with the NYT.

An NYT cast sang the National Anthem at the Beijing 2008 Closing Ceremony before the theatre company went on to create the Team Welcome Ceremonies for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"The Opening Ceremony of the Athletes' Village will be one of the first experiences for the competitors when they arrive in Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games," said Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme head and director of culture at Glasgow Life Jill Miller.

"The National Youth Theatre is working with young people from Easterhouse to deliver innovative and exciting ceremonies which will not only represent the spirit of Glasgow and the Commonwealth Games but will be an unforgettable experience for all those who take part."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related Stories
January 2014: This is our moment to shine claims Glasgow 2014 boss as Commonwealth Games year begins
August 2012: GB receive quintessentially British welcome to London 2012 Paralympic Village
October 2011: World's top athletes to be greeted at London 2012 by Britain's best young performers