The Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond has appointed former youth theatre member Lucy Booton as its new youth theatre officer.
Lucy recently appeared in the theatre’s pantomime production of Cinderella and now returns to the historic playhouse to help inspire the next generation of young performers.
Her appointment marks a full-circle moment, as her love of theatre began at the Georgian when she first stepped onto the stage as part of the pantomime young company in Jack and the Beanstalk. She later joined the Georgian Youth Theatre and was part of the first group to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2018.
After training at the University of Northampton, graduating in 2022, Lucy went on to perform in a range of productions including Mary in It’s a Wonderful Life and Caliban in The Tempest. During her studies she also explored directing, writing and stage photography, developing an interest in all aspects of theatre-making.
Since graduating, Lucy has worked with Black Sheep Collective and returned to Northampton as an assistant director, further building her professional experience in theatre.
Alongside her performance work, she also brings a strong background in teaching. Lucy has worked as a Poppets Teacher for children aged four to six at the Pauline Quirke Academy, supported learning in primary schools as a teaching assistant and led after-school drama clubs where she wrote and directed plays with young people. She has also provided one-to-one support for children with special educational needs.
Last Christmas, Lucy fulfilled a long-held ambition by returning to the Georgian stage to play the title role in Cinderella. Now she takes on a new role helping to develop young talent at the theatre.
Lucy said: “The Georgian Theatre Royal is where my love of performing truly began. Being part of the Youth Theatre and Pantomime Young Company gave me confidence, skills and friendships that shaped who I am today.
“To now return as Youth Theatre Officer feels incredibly special. I’m so excited to support young people as they discover their own creativity and confidence on this amazing stage.”
Lucy takes over from her former teacher Aimee Shields and will work with members aged six to 18 across the theatre’s Youth Theatre programme.
The Georgian Youth Theatre offers acting and musical theatre classes in three age groups – Juniors (6–11), Middles (11–14) and Seniors (14–18). Sessions take place on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and on Saturdays during term time.
No previous experience is necessary, but pre-enrolment is required.
