BYT are celebrating the great news that they are recipients of yet another Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF) Grant as well as a Country Arts Support Program (CASP), Regional Arts NSW for 2 new productions in 2017.

"Here Today" will highlight the complex issues of youth suicide while providing information and awareness of how to prevent it.  Director Lisa Apostolides is extremely grateful to NRCF for continuing to recognise the importance of BYT's work in our local community.  " This grant will enable us to create a total new production as well as hold a panel discussion and community forum. Youth Suicide has become a major issue and is currently the number one killer of our young people.  BYT will connect with organisations to gain information, data, resources and tools to bring awareness to our young people and community members.  It will be very challenging for us to create a play on this but we're up for it" comments Lisa.  They will also receive some additional funds from the Southern Cross Credit Union as they made it to the top 5 in the Community Grants selection out of over 35 organisations.

CASP funding will go to create a new piece called "Sheltered".   This production will expose the issues faced by young people who become homeless. "It is something most people wouldn't think is an issue here in Byron region, but it exists and there are young people suffering. Having recently done our production on domestic and family violence we were made very aware that a parent and their children can easily become homeless while fleeing an unsafe environment or end up losing their home when their current income is affected. We intend to bring awareness to this and advocate for more accommodation to be provided. It will certainly address issues of affordable housing for local people" shares BYT member Brynn Davis Hay.

"Broken" their most recent production on DV has attracted much media attention and admiration from school students, staff and community members. BYT delivered 8 performances of this extremely powerful linear play written by Director Lisa Apostolides to stunned audiences. The project also engaged Myla Yeoman ( aged 19) as graphic designer of the dramatic flyer and back drop, Corinna Greenhill( 19) as part of the set design, Harry OMeara (18) sound and lighting technician, Sam Watson ( 23) sound designer and Sam Hemphill a local professional actor as the perpetrator playing opposite Lisa Apostolides as the victim. The couple's tragic DV story was heightened by the inclusion of the character "Daniel" played by Seth Freeman as Lisa's son and showed the devastating effects of how these issues can impact on so many other people. These characters were played by Serren Glenn, Kia Wasley, Brynn Davis Hay, Tilka Fosmale and new comer Lae-Ella Sinniah. BYT wish to express their deep gratitude to all who assisted them with this production and in particular Neroli Jager from the Women's Resource Centre.

BYT members Jess Lu and Georgia Conechado will be joining Lisa at Woodford Folk Fesitval this year doing childrens workshops titled "Try A Little BYT". Company members will also be invovled in a film project in January 2017 about what it's like to grow up as a teenager in Byron Bay. This has been made possible by a Small Change grant from Byron Council.