From the Trybe to the Olivier Stage

For five young men from Trybe House Theatre, August 2023 was the month everything changed. They stood on the stage of the Olivier Theatre at the National Theatre, one of the most prestigious stages in the world, performing in The Odyssey Episode Five: The Underworld as part of the Public Acts programme.

“I’d never even been to the National Theatre before,” says Jaylen, 19. “And then suddenly I was performing on the main stage. My mum was in the audience crying.”

The journey to the Olivier began months earlier, when THT was invited to participate in Public Acts, the National Theatre’s programme that creates world-class productions with communities at their heart. For the THT ensemble, it meant intensive rehearsals alongside hundreds of community performers, working with professional directors, designers and musicians.

“It wasn’t like being the community group who got a walk-on part,” says Darnell, 21. “We were in the thick of it. We had proper roles, proper rehearsal time, proper respect.”

The experience has had lasting impact. Two participants have since auditioned for drama school. One is now working as a freelance stage manager after making connections during the production. And for the wider Trybe community, the Olivier moment became proof of what’s possible.

“When the younger lot saw us on that stage, it changed what they thought they could do,” says Jaylen. “That’s the thing about THT. It’s not just about you, it’s about showing the next man what’s possible.”