our history
Celebrating 40 Years of Youth Theatre Magic
Lichfield Musical Youth Theatre has been bringing young performers together to create unforgettable theatre since 1985. In the summer of 1985, a group of passionate volunteers led by Pat Gibson, came together with a shared vision: to give young people in Lichfield the chance to perform theatre. With support from the Lichfield District Arts Association, they staged a production of Grease at the Lichfield Arts Centre.
Over the next decade, the group staged 30 productions, from classics like The Wizard of Oz and Guys and Dolls to the acclaimed Harrowing of Hell for the 1994 Lichfield Mysteries.
In 1995, disaster struck when the Arts Centre was closed due to structural issues, forcing the group to move their production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat into a tiny church hall. With 50 cast members and a band in the kitchen, the show quite literally burst at the seams but the determination and creativity it took to make it happen sparked a new chapter in the group’s evolution.
Finding New Spaces
Over the next few years, the Youth Theatre scaled up its ambitions, performing large-scale musicals such as Annie, 42nd Street, and West Side Story at Lichfield Civic Hall. But just as things settled, that venue too was marked for closure. Once again, the group adapted. In 2002, they staged a spectacular revival of Joseph, this time at Lichfield Cathedral.
When the Lichfield Garrick opened in 2003, the Youth Theatre found a new permanent home and became Lichfield Garrick Youth Theatre, launching with a triumphant production of Oliver! and going on to stage Little Shop of Horrors, Les Misérables, Rent, West Side Story, and more.
In 2006, the company marked its 20th anniversary with a sold-out concert featuring past and present members — a joyful celebration dedicated to Pat Gibson, who had sadly passed away just weeks before.
A New Era Begins
The group’s reputation for quality and professionalism grew, winning awards and even securing special permission to stage Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera in 2014.
In 2015, the company celebrated its 30th anniversary with a concert and a renewed energy that has carried it into a new era.
In 2018, the group embraced a new chapter and a new name, becoming Lichfield Musical Youth Theatre. This transition was marked with a spectacular cathedral production of Les Misérables, which brought the company full circle: a return to the grandeur of Lichfield Cathedral and a reaffirmation of the Youth Theatre’s passion for staging powerful, large-scale musicals in extraordinary spaces.
Returning to the Stage
In early 2020, rehearsals were well underway for Cats when the global pandemic struck. Like so many others, LMYT was forced to down tools — with no idea it would be more than two years before they returned to the stage.
That return came in 2022, as live performance resumed with a small scale production of 13 at The Hub at St Mary’s.
By 2023, LMYT had finally made it back to the Lichfield Garrick Theatre, delighting audiences with a high-energy production of Grease, a nod to the very first show ever performed by the company in 1985.
In 2024, the company brought Les Misérables to the Cathedral for a fourth time, reaffirming its reputation for staging grand, emotive productions in exceptional venues.
Now, in 2025, LMYT celebrates its 40th anniversary with a jam-packed year of performances, including Six, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and a much-anticipated anniversary concert. With five productions scheduled throughout the year, the Youth Theatre is as dynamic and passionate as ever — a true testament to four decades of creativity, resilience, and community spirit.
Meet our committee
vision and values
