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Backstage

Last year, the National Youth Theatre ran courses in Costume Design and Stage Management at our home in North London.

Led by industry professionals, these five-day courses saw participants exploring the fundamentals of their chosen discipline, developing new skills, and immersing themselves in the world of backstage.

Stay tuned for more information about our Backstage Courses 2026!

'Looking back to when I was a technical member of NYT it was one of the best experiences of my life. The training was outstanding and it gave me opportunities I never could have imagined at the time. Some of my closest friendships started there too. I genuinely couldn’t recommend it more. Best experience and organisation ever.'

Alistair Wilson, NYT alum and Managing Director at Imgaination

FAQs

Am I eligible to apply for a Backstage Course?

All applicants to a Backstage Course should be:

  • UK residents
  • Age 16 by 26th August 2025
  • Aged 25 or under on 30th August 2025*

*If you have experienced physical, systemic or attitudinal barriers to accessing the arts, you can extend your membership to take part in NYT opportunities including auditions, courses, productions and other membership opportunities, up to the age of 30. Examples of people who may have faced barriers to accessing the arts include disabled people, care leavers, young carers, asylum seekers/refugees, people with experience of homelessness, people with experience of the criminal justice system. If you believe you are eligible for an extended membership please complete this form before continuing the sign-up process.

If you are successful in your application, identification to verify your age may be required before the course start date. If you are unsure about your eligibility to apply, please email info@nyt.org.uk.

How do I apply?

All applicants to a Backstage Course must attend an interview either online via Zoom or in-person at the National Youth Theatre.

All applicants will be considered equally, regardless of their application method and neither option is more likely to gain you a place; it is simply a choice of which method suits you best.

What happens at a Backstage Interview?

An interview runs for around 20 minutes and consists of:

  1. Presenting your response to an interview task

    Prior to the interview, you will be asked to prepare a response to a task relating to your specific discipline (Stage Management or Costume Design). You can bring a presentation, portfolio, mood-board or simply chat through your ideas! Whatever works best to share your vision. Specific information on the interview task will be added to this page on the 2nd June.

  2. A short chat with your interviewer about your experience

    This portion is intended to be informal and relaxed, you do not need to have anything prepared. The interviewer is keen to get to know you as a person, so during the chat you can tell them about your hobbies and interests outside of theatre as well as any theatre experience you may have. They will also want to know why you want to take part in this course, and become an NYT Backstage Member.

  3. A chance to ask any questions you might have about the course


A Backstage Interview Guide will be available on this page on the 2nd June.

Are there bursaries available?

We offer bursaries to help those facing financial hardship take part in our interviews, courses, and productions. Bursaries may include a partial or full coverage of course fees, travel, accommodation where relevant, and subsistence.

Please be aware that NYT receives a very large number of applications, and demand for our bursary always outstrips the supply we have. Our Development Team work very hard each year to increase the available funds for bursaries, but we are not able to support everyone who applies to the bursary fund and give priority those most in need.

If you are successful in your interview, you will receive more information on how to apply for a bursary.