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The Big Play

Tuesday, May 19, 2026 - Wednesday, August 18, 2027

THE BIG PLAY - Start the Story

This is an opportunity for ALL NYT Members

Perform in National Open Mic Nights

Take part in Workshops & Masterclasses

Submit your ideas

Thousands of young voices. One Big Play.

The Big Play is a national creative conversation with young people celebrating the National Youth Theatre’s 70th anniversary. Our ambition is that the project sees more young voices contribute to the creation of a new play than ever before in the UK. Young people’s creative ideas will be gathered through video submissions and a series of scratch nights, workshops and masterclasses around the country, inspiring a new play, written by Chris Bush, presented in 2027.

Between now and October, we want all NYT Members to submit your ideas for the Big Play.

What’s the story you want to tell?

We want your insight, imagination, ideas, and perspectives.

You can perform it, read it, dance it, record it. However you like, just share it with us.

All submissions will be watched by our creative team, and fed into the creative conversation.

Highlights will be shared on our socials (with your permission), and your idea could be supercharged through developed with a professional team of creatives and platformed around the UK on stages, screens and in unusual places

Creators of stand out videos will receive skills development in storytelling, performance, directing, acting and writing

Submit your video now via the NYT Members' Board

If you're not a member and want to get involved

Join The Big Play Big Mailing List

Graphic Design by Feast Creative

Early Bird Deadline – 29th June 2026 12PM Midday

Summary – the steps

1. Submit a 60-second video idea: 'what's the story you would like to tell?'

2. Selection: members shortlisted on originality, urgency and perspective

3. Development: Ideas supersized into a full body of work

4. Collaboration: Work with industry professionals to realise your story

4. Amplification: stories commissioned into new works nationally across platforms (film / stage / exhibition)

6. Legacy: stories inspire and shape Chris Bush's new play