OUR HISTORY
Sydney Youth Musical Theatre Company (SYMT) is a local community theatre musical society founded by Jan Thomas (previously Knight) OAM on 15th September 1979. SYMT began life as the Normanhurst Uniting Church Junior Musical Society. It grew out of a schoolboy enterprise that, very briefly, called itself the Greenwood Players.
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For one school term in 1979, a group of Year 8 boys from Normanhurst Boys’ High School (Glenn Turner, Darren Agnew, David Schroder, and Malcolm Knight) gave community service at Greenwood Nursing Home in Hinemoa Avenue, Normanhurst. The boys put on a show for the nursing home residents at the end of their tenure. The show, consisting of a play and a series of supporting acts, assisted by younger siblings and a few friends, was presented at the Uniting Church’s Hinemoa Avenue Hall.
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Jan Knight (now Thomas), Malcolm’s mother, realized the group needed leadership and direction. Jan was an existing member of the Normanhurst Uniting Church Musical Society, and she proposed a junior group, to work independently of the Society, developing the young members’ skills until they were old enough and practiced enough to audition for Society shows or take part as child cast members if required.
The committee of the Society subsequently agreed, and on 15 September 1979, The Normanhurst Uniting Church Junior Musical Society was born. ​Jan said that in the 1970s, there were no local opportunities for children to develop musical and dramatic talent unless they attended professional theatre schools.
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NUCMS Juniors was created to give every child a chance to grow, whether they had talent “by the bucket-load or a thimbleful.”
Their performances, attended by family and nursing home residents, showcased children at different stages of development. As long as each performer improved year after year, the group had achieved its goal.​In 1981, Robert Forgacs joined as accompanist, allowing the group to take on more challenging productions.
By 1982, it became independent, forming a committee and renaming itself Hornsby Youth Musical Group. Rehearsals moved to Normanhurst Primary School for better facilities. Seeking support, the group gained Hornsby Shire Council’s backing, with Shire Clerk Keith Woodward as a loyal supporter.
In 1983, it rebranded as Hornsby Youth Musical Theatre (HYMT), reflecting its growing professionalism.​In 1983, Robert Forgacs became Musical Director, and Carolyn Crisp joined as Artistic Director, leading HYMT’s successful performance of Happy Prince. As parents saw the benefits, dedicated volunteers, including Margaret Stewart and Margaret Lemon, took on key roles.
By 1987, HYMT moved to Pennant Hills Community Centre, staging Annie, The Sentimental Bloke (1988), and Oliver (1989). Key figures in HYMT’s growth included Lance Smith, Pat Dunch, Peter Moore, and Bill Hands.
 Inserts from the program1995 |  "Whisky con a Sunday"1979, Hinemoa Ave Hall |  "Th Wiz"SYMT's youth group’s performance at NPS, 1996 |
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 "Joesph and the Technicolored Dreamcoat"1985 |  "The Wizard of Oz"1982, Hinemoa Ave Hall – handwritten program! |
​HYMT expanded with a second show at Normanhurst Public School, led by a Youth Production Team, and introduced theatre workshops. They collaborated with Merry Makers and Clark Road Special School while continuing performances for Bowden Brae and Greenwood Nursing Homes.
In 1993, HYMT became Sydney Youth Musical Theatre (SYMT) and moved to larger venues like the Hills Entertainment Centre and Zenith Theatre. Rehearsals relocated to Normanhurst West Public School.​n 2004, SYMT made Hornsby RSL its permanent venue and later moved rehearsals to West Pennant Hills Valley Scout Hall in 2021. After 42 years, it now has a dedicated rehearsal and storage facility, far from its humble beginnings. Today, SYMT produces high-quality shows for 3,000 patrons annually.
​Its postal address, however, is still P.O. Box 2145, Normanhurst.