BYP was formed from other local theatre groups, including Reading Scout & Guide 

Gang Show. 10 Founding Members raised the initial £3k working capital in 1999. They 

needed a traditional theatre to produce shows and hence BYP’s association with the 

Kenton Theatre @ Henley on Thames, a theatre that celebrated its 200th birthday 

in 2005. 

We have been helped and encouraged by the Kenton and now we perform two shows, one 

in Winter and the other in Summer. 

Our Mission is to make the theatre accessible to all. Although several theatre 

groups operate in and around Reading, these groups normally hand pick those who are 

to perform – we don’t, our aim is to encourage everyone to have a go, be they child, 

young person or adult and to back them in their aspirations, hence our name 

Behind You – we provide the opportunities, theatre and backstage expertise to enable 

those who wish to tread the boards, to do so. 

We fundraise the difference between our costs and income from Membership fee’s, 

Sponsorship & Donations and ticket sales. We hope in the next few years to apply for 

charity status, but we want to become established as one of the most professional 

amateur companies, in the meantime. 

BYP is affiliated to NODA – The National Operatic & Dramatic Association - established 

in 1899 to bring together members of amateur operatic & dramatic societies for their 

mutual assistance and benefit. Membership is now in excess of 2,000 Societies.  NODA 

is a registered charity who, until her recent death, had 'Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, 

the Queen Mother' as its Patron.