Apply to be part of Youth Theatre Together

Important information

Please read this information carefully before filling in the relevant form.

Youth Theatre Together is for youth theatre organisations and projects in England - and the people who run them. This is because the new development agency’s primary role will be to support organisations. We also have some spaces for guests who can offer different insights - see below for more information.

We are asking youth theatres to apply so that we can ensure the event is broadly representative of the sector and country (based on geography, size, funding and activity). We particularly want those youth theatres who aren’t heard as much to have the biggest voice at this event.

Our budget and space constraints mean we have a limited capacity. We will confirm your place by Wednesday 21st May at the latest, at which point you can formally register your attendees for the event (this will involve a very simple form).

We’d like each youth theatre who comes to bring up to TWO people:

1. A leader of the organisation or project (whatever that means to you)

2. Someone else who offers a different perspective to that leader - either through their lived experience, or their role (or, ideally, both). This might be a freelance artist, a stage manager, a trustee, former member - or whoever you think is best to bring a different viewpoint.

All attendees must be adults (this time). We want young people to be at the heart of the new development agency, but we know that this can only happen within safe structures and careful, long-term planning - something we want to start to put in place with this event.

We want the event to be accessible to everyone. 20 Stories High will lead on accessibility for the event, and are available to chat through any plans and requirements ahead and during the day. We will be drawing learning and recommendations from the Access Manifesto, an accessibility guide created by 20SH and Graeae. Click here or scroll down for more detailed information about access.

There will be opportunities to engage online. We’re working on ways that those who aren’t able to attend, for whatever reason, can be part of the event.

We will provide free, single room accommodation for everyone who needs it. If you live within commuting distance of Manchester, please do not claim this. If you are happy to share with a colleague in a twin room, please tell us - this frees up a room to allow more people to come.

We can pay travel costs for everyone who needs it. We have a dedicated fund for smaller and less well resourced youth theatres who wouldn’t otherwise be able to come otherwise. Our preference is to reimburse travel receipts after the event, but we can also book travel directly if required.

We will do everything we can to remove any other barriers to attendance. If there is something that might prevent you from coming (finances, childcare, work clashes, mental health - anything, really), please contact us and we’ll do our best to support you. We have a specific budget for this purpose.

We want the event to be comfortable for everyone. We are planning the event with equity, inclusion and wellbeing consultants to make this a reality. In particular, this means making it a space where Disabled, Working Class, Global Majority and LGBTQ artists, and artists of all faiths, feel happy, comfortable and safe. Contact Theatre is a trans-friendly space with gender-neutral toilets. There will be a quiet space/prayer room and appropriate food options. If you have specific requirements, questions, or concerns, please let us know.

If you are not connected to a youth theatre, you can apply to come as a guest. Please note we will probably not be able to cover your travel and accommodation expenses, except in exceptional circumstances - please let us know when applying if you require these.