the roger cunnington award, 2025

We would like to say a huge congratulations to James for being the first ever recipient of the Roger Cunnington Award! For more information about Roger Cunnington and the Award itself, please click the following link:  Roger Cunnington Award – bfame.co.uk 

Keep reading to see why James was such a deserving winner:

"In December 2024, James Berryman lit up the stage as Buttons in Cinderella, performed by Youth Onstage at Solihull’s Dovehouse Theatre. This playful reimagining of the traditional pantomime took audiences on a fun-filled journey to the magical “Fairytale Academy,” where the story unfolded under the watchful gaze of a fictional school inspection team—the delightfully named National Observers of Dramatic Absurdities.

James brought both heart and humour to the role of Buttons. His animated expressions and natural stage presence made him a favourite with the audience, especially during moments of audience interaction as he bounded up and down the aisles. His comic instincts shone brightest in group numbers like The 12 Days of Christmas, where his timing and chemistry with fellow cast members added flair and laughter to the scene.

James’s performance didn’t go unnoticed. In recognition of his exceptional talent, he was named the first-ever recipient of the Roger Cunnington Award. This new accolade honours the legacy of Roger Cunnington, a beloved figure in amateur theatre, and celebrates outstanding contributions to youth performance. James’s energy, charm, and professionalism on stage made him a perfect choice for this meaningful award.

Youth Onstage continues to be a vibrant and supportive platform for young performers in Birmingham and Solihull. Known for their high-quality, youth-led productions, the company offers young people the chance to grow in confidence, develop stagecraft, and shine under the spotlight. With an experienced creative team and a commitment to nurturing local talent, Youth Onstage remains a key part of the region’s thriving theatre scene.

Looking ahead, Youth Onstage will be back this year with what’s sure to be another must-see show filled with rising stars and spirited storytelling.  Many, many congratulations to James and the whole Youth Onstage organisation."

Well done, James, we couldn't be more proud. 

Tickets will soon be on sale for our show, being performed from 5th to 7th December 2024 at the Dovehouse Theatre in Solihull. Evening (7:30pm) performances on Thursday 5th, Friday 6th and Saturday 7th, and a matinee (2:30pm) on Saturday 7th. 

Adult tickets cost £15 and concessions (OAPs and children under 16) are £13. 

To purchase tickets, please contact Becky on 07903238109. Alternatively, if you know one of the cast members, ask for a booking form to order your tickets and ask the cast member to hand this in at their next rehearsal. Payments can be made by cheque and cash (if ordering via a member) or via bank transfer. 

We look forward to seeing you there! 

We are very sad to be losing our current Musical Director, Joe, who is moving to another area of the country after our production of Summer Holiday.

If you are interested in taking up this role (please see the info in the image to the right) then we would love to hear from you. 

Please contact deb-brook@outlook.com or 07824 552431

Do you know (or are you) a budding star aged 9-25 years? If so, we want to hear from you!! 

We are recruiting for our next production. We are performing Summer Holiday in May 2023, at the Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham. 

For more details and to get involved please email youthonstagebirmingham@outlook.com or send us a message via the 'contact us' tab. 

Rehearsals start on the 4th January 2023 at 7:15pm... don't miss out! 

We are so excited to introduce our new logo. Change can be good, and here at YOS we decided that our YOS logo needed a bit of an update. Luckily for us, talented YOS alumni member Ellie-May Burley offered to help us out and we are really pleased with the results. 

Let us know what you think! 

One of our talented members, Gracie, has uploaded the first ever YOS vlog! This documents the fun we have at rehearsals and gives you a behind the scenes look in at what it takes to put a show together. 

Please follow our page for exclusive behind the scenes content and to get to know our YOS family. You can find the video here: https://youtu.be/KAZkKhunSjA