The aim of the White City Youth Theatre is to provide young people with access to drama and theatre practice, using the energy involved in creating theatre within their community to enhance their social and personal development. Through their personal connections and joint experience Melanie and Lucy aim to connect young people (who would not normally have any access to the dramatic arts) to contemporary theatre. To encourage them to value it, be part of it and be enriched in the process. Young people from all backgrounds are brought together by their love of drama and in the process find themselves getting to know people they would not have met otherwise. All ages, races, religions mix together and have formed 'a family' of like-minded souls. There is great acceptance, camaraderie and support amongst our young people. One of our aims is to help our members look beyond their immediate surroundings and our links to the Bush and the Lyric Theatre provide them with opportunities to gain work experience leading often to employment.