Zenith Youth Theatre Company


Zenith Youth Theatre Company is an entirely voluntarily run amateur theater company based in Bath, England.
It was founded in 1963 as Bodlets, and changed to its current name in 2003.
The company currently perform two musicals a year at the Kingswood Theatre, Lansdown, Bath.
It is one of the longest running youth theatre companies in the United Kingdom, only eight years younger than the National Youth Theatre.
In 2013 the company gained the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.

History

The amateur company was formed in May 1963. The Company was first known as Bodlets and changed its name to Zenith Youth Theatre Company in 2003. Its first major production was in 1964 at the Grand Pump Room, Bath.
The company was formed by Charles Davies and Victor Smith, members of Bath Operatic and Dramatic Society, in 1963 to encourage a younger generation to participate in amateur dramatics. Members were then encouraged to move on to the senior society once old enough. Its profile grew and by the late 1970s had a strong reputation for presenting musical theatre.
It changed its name to Zenith Youth Theatre Company in 2003.
The first production under the new name was Some Like It Hot.
In November 2013 Lady Gass, the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, presented the group with the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service at the Guildhall, Bath. Zenith received a certificate signed by The Queen and an exclusive commemorative engraved crystal. The chair of Bath and North East Somerset Council hosted the event in the chair’s chamber and it was attended by volunteers, members, supporters and special guests of Zenith Youth Theatre.
In 2014, Zenith launched its Golden Anniversary year, culminating with an Anniversary Gala, uniting past and present members of the company on the stage of the Theatre Royal, Bath.

Previous shows

1964–1974 Cabarets in various venues around Bath

1974 – Salad Days

1975 – The Boy Friend

1976 – Oliver!

1977 – Half a Sixpence

1978 – The Wizard of Oz & Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

1979 – Gypsy

1980 – Finians rainbow

1981 – Red Riding Hood & Viva Mexico

1982 – Tin Pan Alley

1983 – Return to Oz& Anne of Green Gables

1984 – Pinocchio & Dazzle

1985 – The Wizard of Oz &

1986 – Alice & Blondel

1987 – Oliver! & Grease

1988 – The Boy Friend & West Side Story

1989 – Babes in Arms & How to Succeed in Business without really trying

1990 – Godspell & Viva Mexico

1991 – Oliver! & Sweet Charity

1992 – Bugsy Malone & Godspell

1993 – Grease & Jesus Christ Superstar

1994 – Cabaret, The Wizard of Oz & Rochdale Pioneers

1995 – & West Side Story

1996 – My Fair Lady & Into the Woods

1997 – Fiddler on the Roof & Joseph

1998 – Barnum & Jesus Christ Superstar

1999 – Return to the Forbidden Planet & Billy

2000 – Hot Mikado & Chess

2001 – West Side Story & South Pacific

2002 – City of Angels & Fame

2003 – Some Like It Hot & A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum

2004 – Jesus Christ Superstar & Les Misérables

2005 – Crazy For You, Some Enchanted Evening & Barnum

2006 – The Mystery of Edwin Drood &

2007 – Joseph & Grand Hotel

2008 – The Wizard of Oz & Titanic the musical

2009 – Hot Mikado & Chess

2010 – Godspell & Dracula

2012 – 42nd Street & Evita

2013 – Animal Farm & Miss Saigon

2014 – Les Misérables & Anniversary Gala

2015 - Phantom Of The Opera & A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum

2016 - Cats, Ghetto & Return to the Forbidden Planet

2017 - Jekyll & Hyde & Summer Holiday

2018 - City of Angels, Fame & Edinburgh Festival Fringe : Charlotte's Web, Female Transport, Lift & The Frogs

2019 - West Side Story & Titanic

2020 -

Achievements

The group has had many achievements, these include: