About Coventry Youth Operetta Group
The Coventry Youth Operetta Group (known fondly by its members as YOG) is a youth theatre group with members who ages range from anything from eight to mid-twenties.
The “Coventry Centre for the Performing Arts, Coventry School of Music Youth Operetta Group” as the group was originally called, was founded in 1972 by Joan Betts starting with small scale productions eventually building up to full scale musicals by staging “The Wizard of Oz” in 1977.
Over the years YOG has performed many well-known/popular musicals – Oklahoma!, 42nd Street, Annie, Oliver!, Grease, Guys and Dolls, Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, CATS, Starlight Express, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as well as not so well known musicals – Pippin, Good News!, Children of Eden, Goodnight Mister Tom, 13 and Loserville to list just a few!!
Many of our previous members have gone on to Performing Arts School to further their interest with the stage and some have even appeared on the West End!
In normal circumstances:
YOG aim to perform two musicals a year – usually one in May and one in November and the Group spends roughly six months a year on each musical/production.
YOG meets every Thursday between 6.30-9.30 pm at a venue in Coventry. Depending on the type of production rehearsals are also called between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm on Sundays as YOG gets nearer to the production.
There is a weekly fee to cover room hire costs etc.
YOG hold auditions for NEW MEMBERS twice a year after each of our productions in May and November.
As with many theatre groups around the country we have had to postponed the shows that had been planned for 2020/21 but YOG are very hopeful that the revised schedule will happen! So please look out for
Elf The Musical in November 2021 and Barnum in May 2022
During lockdown YOG is meeting weekly via zoom and are working on a Concert for May 2021. This concert as with the recent YOG Showcase will be dictated by the members on the content so that they are able to perform the songs from the musicals they love!
YOG is managed by Carol Howes and Jackie Gough together with the Production Team. While 2021 is still going to be a difficult year Carol is looking forward to YOG getting back to normal in 2022 it’s 50th Year!