Altru Youth Theatre presents Missing?

Altru Young Actors Company bring their latest production Missing? to Liverpool’s Bluecoat this week, following a successful premier at the National Festival of Youth Theatre in Fife. The company of young actors, aged 16 to 21, have all been members of Altru Youth Theatre groups, and have come together to create what they describe as "an innovative new piece of theatre which explores what happens when someone goes missing". The piece, which has been funded by the BBC Performing Arts Fund, was inspired by the sheer volume of missing people stories, pleas and postings on social media, and by the way in which social media such as Facebook connects us to people whether we want it to or not. The play asks questions about the world we now live in, and through a diverse range of characters, explores the key question: ‘Aren’t we all a little bit missing?’ Abby Middleton, who is a National Youth Theatre member as well as being part of Altru Young Actors Company, said: "Missing? has been a huge challenge to create, as the topic is so big and we knew we needed to do it justice. But the interconnected stories and the range of different characters in the play really do allow the audience to connect with the subject on lots of different levels.” Altru Young Actors Company was established in 2012 and their performances to date have included Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, which was performed at the RSC’s outside theatre space ‘The Dell’ in Stratford Upon Avon and Jonathan Harvey’s Tomorrow I’ll Be Happy (reviewed here),  performed both at Liverpool’s Bluecoat and The Lowry in Salford. Director Kate Cotterell says: “Missing? was so beautifully received in Scotland, there were times where you could hear a pin drop, moments of raucous laughter, some tears and a standing ovation from the audience of 300. It will  be hard to follow that, but we absolutely know our home shows will be really special. Liverpool has a great tradition of giving its support to talented young people who are aiming high – and we know this performance will be no different.” ‘Missing?’ plays at the Bluecoat from this Wednesday to Friday (October 8 to 10). Tickets, priced £5/£4 are available from the box office on 0151 702 5324 or on the Bluecoat website.