Into the community: Castaway Theatre Group

Castaway Theatre Group, also known as Castaways, is a Community Theatre Group taking children from the age of 5-17 and has a real sense of family. Meeting on Saturdays at Westlands Entertainment Venue, the group frequently puts on a variety of shows for the public to enjoy, including musicals, plays and showcases.

Castaways began in Barwick village hall over 20 years ago, when they embarked on a fundraiser to raise some money for St Margaret's Hospice following the amazing care they gave Lynn’s cousin Philip when he battled his terminal diagnosis of a brain tumour. The group started with a cast of about 15 people, including only 2 children and 1 chaperone, Linda, who has since retired after 18 years. The Castaways journey continued from this whilst raising over £25,000 for the hospice.

Lynn and Tammie grew the company and joined forces with vocal coach Helen Geen. Castaways moved to a bigger stage for another fundraiser at the Octagon Theatre and began to run the group in the Johnson Studio. Kirsty began her journey as part of the company but then moved to the role of choreographer and Andrea joined to support the group as secretary when her son joined.

Following the success of their debut operetta Whistle Down the Wind, Castaways now regularly perform showcases, pantomimes and musicals, giving the children the opportunity to work with industry professionals such as director Jeremy Tustin and musical director Matt Holman-Holmes.

They continue to raise money for their own future shows, various charities including Yeovil Hospital and The Octagon Foyer Club, The Ukraine Appeal, Diabetes UK and supporttng our members in the next part of their performing journey whether that be locally or further afield. Castaways are a not for profit group who are all volunteers providing a service to local children and offer many skills to help build confidence, friendships and a sense of belonging as well as the opportunity to perform locally, in London and Disneyland Paris.

Castaways is now split into two groups of 6 to 11 year olds and 11 to 17 year olds, enabling the volunteers to teach age appropriate skills. As well as being part of their one night show cases, the younger members perform in their own annual musical giving them the experience as they grow to confidently perform on The Octagon stage in the seniors annual musical. This year however, the entire company will be performing together at Westlands in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a reimagining of the Biblical story of Joseph, his father Jacob, eleven brothers and the coat of many colours.

The musical is full of catchy songs in a variety of styles, from a parody of French ballads (Those Canaan Days), to country-western (One More Angel in Heaven) and calypso (Benjamin Calypso), along with classics Any Dream Will Do and Close Every Door.

See Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat here at Westlands Entertaimment Venue from Wednesday 31 May until Saturday 3 June. Tickets are available on our website or by calling the Box Office on 01935 422884.