Memorial for Bill Kenwright from The RYTC

The RYTC team was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our friend and patron Bill Kenwright CBE. 

Bill was a partner, father, grandfather, great friend and patron. He will be missed by many and this is testament to his giving nature and impact on the theatre and creative arts space. The team wanted to honour his legacy and influence with this memorial page.

The RYTC’s Artistic Director started her career in Bill Kenwright’s work family. Bill told her to go and open her own youth theatre, because ‘being creative is so important for our kids!’ His mantra… “go and do it”!! And if “it” is right – then you can’t fail.”

To name only a fraction of the awards and achievements Bill received are the notable honour of a CBE in 2002, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Theatrical Management Association in 2008, and an honourary BBC Radio 2 special episode of Friday Night in 2017 broadcast from the London Palladium itself. Bill was nominated for a London Theatre Critics’ Award for West Side Story and a Tony Award for Blood Brothers.

This multi-award winning career saw Bill’s West End productions constantly in notable venues such as the RSC, Dominion, Palladium, Apollo and many others. Ensuring his legacy as one of the UK’s most successful theatre producers.

Bill embodied the spirit of empowering young people through creative opportunities. His legacy will be felt and continued through the many groups and communities he supported with the mission of providing opportunities to local young people. Bill made his community and generations of people richer through experiences such as finding like minds, getting creative and fostering confidence in young people.

The RYTC in memory of Bill will continue to “go and do it” as his legacy will continue to empower our team, kids and encourage everyone to be creative.

Our thoughts are with Bill’s family at this difficult time and also with the many people we know he impacted for the better.

RYTC

CHANGING LIVES CREATIVELY

Patron

Bill Kenwright CBE

The RYTC’s Artistic Director started her career in the late Bill Kenwright’s work family.

Bill (one of the UK’s most successful theatre producers) told her to go and open her own youth theatre, because ‘being creative is so important for our kids!’

His mantra… “go and do it”!! And if “it” is right – then you can’t fail.”

The RYTC continues to “go and do it” and empowers everyone who joins in to be creative, young and old, to do the same.

RYTC Director

Who Are We

The RYTC is the home of inspiring, award-winning performing arts and creative drama therapy for children and adults in Warwickshire, the West Midlands and online globally. We change lives creatively every day with our inclusive, innovative acting workshops, drama clubs, theatre training and team building.

Our talented team are passionate about helping people grow in confidence and happiness, developing activities that meet their specific needs, building emotional resilience as well as practical life skills. And we have a lot of fun too!

RYTC works with a range of partners to help deliver an expanding programme of drama for everyone. All work is led by our expert staff with guest directors and creative professionals from all disciplines and backgrounds.

The RYTC Team

Our talented team are passionate about helping people grow in confidence and happiness, developing activities that meet their specific needs, building emotional resilience as well as practical life skills. And we have a lot of fun, too! RYTC works with a range of partners to help deliver an expanding programme of drama for creatives of all ages.

Each member of our world-class artistic team holds a multitude of skills, including flexibility, adaptability, and emotional intelligence, in addition to their vast knowledge of creative training techniques. The RYTC is a rare organisation that combines the creative arts with a supportive team of mentors who prepare and guide participants in life, further education, and work.

To recognize the abilities of the RYTC team, our first award arrived in 2008 when English National Youth Arts Network named RYTC ‘Youth Arts Champion’. The team making the awards included world renowned Arts Council of England and the BBC.

RYTC Team
RYTC Team

Our Mission

With our motto, “changing lives creatively” at the heart of our programme, we support our participants holistically, prioritising their wellbeing and safety. We provide a comfortable environment with a strong sense of purpose and belonging, where participants can freely explore themes relevant to their lives. Each course, project, or event, is tailored to their personal needs, to ensure their level of understanding is matched while challenging them to expand their skills and mind.

RYTC’s Achievements

  • ENYAN Regional Youth Arts Champion Warwickshire & The West Midlands
  • Finalist
  • Finalist
  • West Midlands Grass Roots Theatre Arts Organization of the Year 2020
  • West Midlands Performing Arts Organization of the Year 2021
  • Most Innovative Performing Arts Theatre  2021