Y Touring Theatre Company
Y Touring Theatre Company is an operation of Central YMCA, the UK's leading activity for health charity and the world's first YMCA. It is an ITC/Equity registered, award winning professional theatre company, established in 1989. Its audiences are young people and adults. Its mission is to produce quality theatre, new media, drama workshops and educational resources that enable audiences to explore and debate difficult and sensitive health based issues.
In 1995 Y Touring introduced the Theatre of Debate® concept. Each Theatre of Debate® project consists of a play created to engage the target audience in an informed debate about a specific subject. The play is followed by a live debate between the actors in character and the audience supported by the use of electronic voting. The play and debate are supported by extensive online resources. The development of each Theatre of Debate® project begins with a workshop bringing playwrights, experts and members of the target audience together to creatively explore the chosen subject. This exploration is the start of the company’s journey to producing a new Theatre of Debate® product.
Between 1995 and 2008 Y Touring Theatre Company commissioned, developed and produced UK tours of eight Theatre of Debate® projects and one Theatre of Debate® podcast.
2008
'The Projectionist' by Laura Fitzgerald, explores the social and moral dilemmas around privacy and surveillance. This production was developed in partnership with, and supported by, the Royal Academy of Engineering.
2007
‘Nobody Lives Forever’ by Judith Johnson, explores the social, moral, scientific and political questions raised by stem cell research. This production has been developed in partnership with the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and is supported by the Medical Research Council (UK) (MRC), the Department of Health, Action Medical Research, Central YMCA and the Royal Albert Hall.
2006
’Every Breath’ by Judith Johnson, explores the social, moral, scientific and political questions raised by the use of animals in medical research. this production was developed in partnership with Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and supported by a Society Award from the Wellcome Trust, Central YMCA and a contribution from the Association of Medical Research Charities
2004
‘Mind the Gap’ by Abi Bown, explores the social, moral, scientific and political questions raised by advances in neuroscience. This project was developed in partnership with The European DANA Alliance for the Brain and supported by a Society Award from the Wellcome Trust, Central YMCA
2000
‘Learning to Love the Grey’ by Jonathan Hall, explores the social, moral, scientific and political questions raised by advances in Cloning and stem cell therapy. Developed in partnership with, and supported by, the Wellcome Trust and Central YMCA.
1999
‘Sweet As You Are’ by Jonathan Hall, explores the social, moral, scientific and political questions raised by the Genetic Modification of crops. Developed in partnership with, and supported by, the John Innes Centre, the Teachers Scientist network and Central YMCA
1997
‘Pig in the Middle’ by Judy Upton, explores the social, moral, scientific and political questions raised by advances in Xenotransplantation (animal to human transplants). Developed in partnership with the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and supported by, the Nuffiled Council on Bioethics, the Wellcome Trust and Central YMCA.
1996
‘Cracked’ by Nicola Baldwin, explores the biological basis of mental illness and depression in particular. Developed in partnership with The Mental Health Foundation, supported by the Wellcome Trust and Central YMCA.
1995
‘The Gift’ by Nicola Baldwin, explores the social, moral, scientific and political questions raised by advances in Genetic selection. Developed with Prof Bernadette Modell supported by the Wellcome Trust and Central YMCA.
Photographs by Robert Workman
