About Youth Theatre Together

We’re creating a new development agency to create radical change for young people and youth theatre in England and beyond.

The creation of Youth Theatre Together is being overseen by a steering group of youth theatre leaders, freelancers and young people representing youth theatres of different sizes, approaches and contexts, from every region of England. The process will involve hundreds of youth theatre leaders and young people through creative consultation, crowd-sourcing and in-person gatherings.

Steering Group

Steve Ansell (Stage@Leeds Young Company), Selina Keedwell (Somerset Youth Theatre), Kiz Crosbie (Mortal Fools), Becky Deeks (Birmingham Rep Young Company), Lorrine Douglas (Curve Theatre), Leanne Jones (20 Stories High), Niquelle LaTouche (freelance producer), Mark Powell (Prime Theatre), Janisé Sadik (Spotlight Youth Theatre) and Emma Thorpe (Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds).

Project Director Ned Glasier

Access, Equity and Wellbeing Consultants Maisy Gordon and Rosalyn Norford

Youth Theatre is an important national asset that offers opportunities that many young people struggle to find elsewhere:

  • Real-life connection with other young people

  • Safe, supportive places to go and be themselves

  • Relationships with supportive adults

  • Joy and happiness

  • Space for self-expression and advocacy

  • Pathways into creative careers

  • Transferable skills and cultural capital

Youth Theatre is in-depth, relational and long-term. It is rooted in place and identity and easy to do with just an empty space.

It is the great amalgamator of other art forms - everyone can participate in youth theatre, whether you’re interested in acting, writing, visual art, dance, poetry, music or sound.

Why Youth Theatre Together?

We’re called Youth Theatre Together, because:

  • Being together is a big part of what makes youth theatre special - especially in an increasingly isolated, disconnected and digital society.

  • The idea of 'together' encourages collaboration and inclusivity within the sector.

  • It allows the new organisation to work collaboratively outside of England, outside of youth theatre, with international partners, and in other sectors (like education or public health).