OUR PATRONs
NGYT's Patrons play a vital role in supporting our charity’s mission, helping to champion creativity, opportunity and access within the arts.
Their involvement raises awareness, inspires young people and champions our work as hearts of the industry across theatre, film and television.
Colin Salmon - actor
“Some say I went to the wrong school and grew up in a wrong town, I just happen to feel it was the right time. I am proud to be a patron of NGYT. The work being done with our youth is crucial and drama and dance are a powerful form of understanding and exploration. Come and stand on stage strip off the mask and walk that mile. Some say our young people just want to be famous I believe they just want to be seen and heard. Support the young and you will be surprised"
Colin Salmon is a British actor best known for playing Charles Robinson in the James Bond films Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day.
His extensive film and television credits include Resident Evil, Alien vs. Predator, Nobody, Punisher: War Zone, Arrow, Limitless, Doctor Who, Krypton, 24: Live Another Day, BBC comedy-drama Some Girls, and more recently EastEnders, where he plays George Knight. He has also appeared in acclaimed stage productions across the UK and remains one of Britain’s most recognisable screen actors.
Jack Thorne - Writer
"Passionate and committed teaching……I think Next Generation Youth Theatre will be a great addition to Luton life”.
Jack Thorne is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter whose stage work includes When You Cure Me, Stacy, Fanny and Faggot, Burying Your Brother In The Pavement, 2nd May 1997 and Bunny, which won a Fringe First Award in 2010.
His television credits include Skins, Shameless, Cast-Offs, The Fades, Glue, Kiri, Netflix’s Adolescence, and Shane Meadows’ acclaimed This Is England trilogy (’86, ’88 and ’90), for which he won the Royal Television Society Award for Best Writer (Drama). He is also adapting Lord of the Flies for the BBC.
For radio, he has written Left At The Angel, People Snogging In Public Places (Sony Radio Academy Award winner), A Summer Night and an adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. His debut feature film, The Scouting Book For Boys, earned him the Best Newcomer Award at the London Film Festival.
Jack also wrote the acclaimed stage adaptation of Let The Right One In, co-created Harry Potter and the Cursed Child with J.K. Rowling, and was involved in the development of Stranger Things: The First Shadow.
Originally from Luton, Jack has won four BAFTA awards.
The modest one time Lutonian has also won four BAFTA awards.
Neil Jackson - Actor
I think it’s vitally important to support the arts at a grass roots level. The future of the entertainment industry is very much in the hands of students such as those in NGYT. Having been born in Luton myself, I wish there was something like this for me when I was growing up.”
Neil Jackson is a British actor and writer whose film credits include Alexander directed by Oliver Stone, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger directed by Woody Allen, Quantum of Solace, Push, Nocturnal Animals and Welcome to Marwen.
His television work includes Sleepy Hollow, Upstairs Downstairs, Lightfields, Blade: The Series, Make It or Break It, Absentia, Westworld and DC’s Stargirl, in which he played the villain Icicle.
Originally from Luton, Neil is also a screenwriter, having written the feature film The Passage.
Sally Abbott - Writer
“I am delighted to be a patron of NGYT. When I met NGYT I was blown away by their energy, commitment and, crucially, their listening; essential to creating bold and brave theatre. Their training is as much about a positive way of being as about creating spine tingling theatre. NGYT are special. You can see it in the confidence and openness of the youth theatre and the quality of their leadership. Luton should be very VERY proud. I know I am.”
Sally Abbott is a playwright and television screenwriter whose credits include EastEnders, Call the Midwife, Casualty, Doctors, The Coroner and Death in Paradise. She has also worked extensively in theatre and new writing, including collaborations with Frantic Assembly, and has a strong background in community and youth theatre.
Alongside her television work, Sally is passionate about developing emerging voices and creating accessible opportunities for young people in the arts.
Helen Parlor - Dancer / Choreographer / teacher
It is with great sadness that we share with you the passing of Helen Parlor BA.
28/5/1975 - 30/5/2023
“I have always been left inspired by the work of NGYT; the intelligent simplicity and effectiveness of their work is to be applauded. Their work is original, thoughtful and of fantastic standard-it is of absolute pleasure that I am dance patron and look forward to future involvement with the company.”
Helen Parlor was a professional contemporary dancer, choreographer, Artistic Director and rehearsal director since 1998. Helen has performed professionally with Dansconnect (1998-99), dancing works by Jonathon Lunn, Scott Ambler, Yael Flexor and Nikky Smedley. Motionhouse Dance Theatre (2000-06) creating and performing ‘Atomic’, ‘Fearless’, ‘Volatile’ and ‘Perfect’.
Helen then moved to Oslo to work with Panta Rei Danseteater, (2006-2007), working with choreographers Jamie Watton and Anne Ekenes. Returning, Helen performed for Mobius Dance Theatre touring ‘Such Is Life(2008-10). As a director and choreographer Helen collaborates regularly with various organisations. She was the movement director with Theatre Is working on their productions Tightrope and Epiphany and has regular links with other organisations including Cirque Bijou leading to collaborations with the Original Spinners for the Bristol Harbourside festival 2012 and for future collaborations in Bristol for the summer of 2013 with Parlor Dance.
Helen was the Assistant Choreographer for the London 2012 Opening of the Paralympic Games working with thousands of volunteers and the Paralympic creative team since March 2012.
Throughout her career Helen has held a dedication to teaching people of all ages and abilities as well as creating work on various groups both in theatrical contexts and through site specific works.
Helen's main work was created through MOTUS for which she was a founder and artistic director.
Jonno Davies - Actor
"Laura, David and everyone involved in NGYT are doing everything they can to make the arts as accessible as possible, something which our society is desperately crying out for. The company has a fantastic passion in what they do and will do whatever they can for their students. As a patron, I hope to promote their work and help encourage other companies to support their community like NGYT has.”
Jonno Davies is a British actor trained at Italia Conti, nominated for the Spotlight Prize in 2013 and later shortlisted for Best Actor at the Edinburgh Fringe.
His screen work includes a breakout role in Kingsman: The Secret Service, alongside appearances in Casualty, Doctors, Hollyoaks, Spotless, Silent Witness and Amazon’s Hunters. He gained international recognition for his performance as Robbie Williams in the feature film Better Man (2024), for which he won the AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
More recently, Jonno appears in the upcoming feature film Mother’s Pride (2026), alongside Martin Clunes, James Buckley and Mark Addy, and continues to work across film, television and voice performance, including projects such as The Sandman, Battlefield 6 and Young Washington.
On stage, he is widely known for his acclaimed performance as Alex DeLarge in A Clockwork Orange, performed in London, Europe and on Broadway.
Adeyinka Akinrinade - Actor / Creative Producer
Adeyinka is an Actor and Creative Producer and NGYT Alumna.
Since being a member of NGYT Theatre Company and graduating from Bath Spa University Addie has worked on a range of projects in film, tv and theatre. In 2016, she was the Festival Director of The British Urban Film Festival, where she programmed short films and feature films from the UK & internationally. Addie has produced short films including Naca, and The Lost Land Girl, which was funded by BFI.
As an actor, Addie has performed at Riverside Studios, The National Theatre, Orange Tree Theatre, Theatre 503 & Paines Plough Roundabout to name a few. Her TV & film credits include ITV & Prime's Riches, BBC's Champion, Grantchester, Top Boy, Temple and BBC Film Sicker.
Adeyinka has also previously been a Young Trustee for Tangled Feet Theatre.
Addie recently founded Veritas Productions, a multi-disciplinary production company creating bold, socially conscious work across film, theatre and creative events.
Addie's work centres on powerful, character-driven storytelling that explores identity, community and the human experiences that shape the world around us. Blending emotional honesty with creativity and collaboration, she develops projects that amplify under-represented voices and create meaningful opportunities for emerging artists.
Alongside building Veritas Productions, Addie has worked extensively with a variety of communities and is passionate about supporting the next generation of creatives to tell their own stories.
She is driven to improve access to the arts for those who have traditionally been excluded from the industry.
Through Veritas Productions, Addie is committed to creating work that feels authentic, grounded in truth, and capable of sparking conversation and lasting impact.
Julia cheng - creative director / Choreographer / artist
Julia Cheng is a British born Chinese artist renowned for her extensive work in the dance theatre sector spanning over 15 years.
As a creative director and choreographer, Julia draws from her international training in Hip Hop, Waacking/ Punking, contemporary dance, theatre studies, martial arts and eastern philosophy. Her technique continues to evolve as she seeks to break boundaries in her works, as seen in her most recent double-bill Brecht & Weill Seven Deadly Sins/Mahoganny Songspiel at Royal Opera House and in her choreography for Cabaret in the West End which premiers in Nov 2021.
Her work has been presented at distinguished venues such as The Institute of Contemporary Art, London Jazz Festival, Roundhouse, Sadler’s Wells, V&A museum, Southbank Centre, British Council Cairo amongst many more.
Throughout her career, Julia has developed cross-collaborative works & commissions with artists spanning contemporary dance, music, visual art and poetry to critical acclaim. This in turn led Julia to establish House of Absolute in 2014, a celebrated multidisciplinary performance company who are Philharmonia Orchestra Artist in Residence 2021/2022.
Julia has a passion to give back to the next generation of artists with her work as a mentor for the biggest UK Hip Hop Festival, Breakin’ Convention & BBC Young Dancer and as a patron of Next Generation Youth Theatre in her hometown Luton.
Photography by Dan Jose
Georgina onuorah - Actor
During her time at NGYT Georgina performed with Theatre Company in shows such as 'The Butterfly Catcher' and 'In Doing Nothing I Found Me' before continuing her professional training at ArtsEd and is currently playing Cinderella (Alternate & Ensemble) in ALW's Cinderella on the West End.
“I am incredibly honoured and excited to have been asked to become a patron of NGYT. This company was at the very beginnings of my journey in acting and an integral part of my career to date. I learnt an immense amount from my time at NGYT which went far beyond acting. Wednesdays were the most exciting part of my week because I knew I’d get to learn and play with a room full of kind, talented and generous people. NGYT is a haven for young people in Luton and watching the company grow and still remain aligned with their ethos is a joy to see. It is truly an honour.”
