Daisy Lewis and Jessica Hynes pay tribute to the National Youth Theatre for their careers
Downton Abbey actress Daisy Lewis and comedy star Jessica Hynes have paid tribute to the National Youth Theatre for their careers, as its bosses warned that funding remains a constant struggle.
Speaking as the Earl of Wessex hosted a dinner for supporters at Buckingham Palace, the two NYT alumni said its work was ever more crucial in offering opportunities to young people who would benefit enormously even if they did not follow in the footsteps of other future stars like Daniel Craig.
Lewis, 30, who played teacher Sarah Bunting in Downton Abbey, said in a world of smartphones and iPads the notion that “all the world’s a stage” had never been more true: “It means young people need to be given the skills to communicate. But I really do worry whether kids are getting the same opportunities today in a big way.”
W1A star Hynes, 42, who was in NYT with new Old Vic boss Matthew Warchus, said she had had no money for drama school so it was her big break: “It’s unique that way.”
But Dawn Airey, a Yahoo senior vice-president and NYT chair, said it was still extremely difficult to get support despite offering the winning combination of youth and creativity.
It has had no headline corporate sponsor for 20 years though receives individual backing from figures such as David Pearl of Pearl-Coutts property specialists.
She said: “It is an extraordinary organisation that facilitates the realisation of dreams and gets kids early on to understand their potential. But fundraising perplexes us. It’s constantly difficult.”
