The Big Play

THE BIG PLAY - Start the Story

This is an opportunity for ALL young people

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 you 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

Scratch Nights

We are hosting 7 Scratch Nights across the UK. Tickets are FREE - Book your place now!

Glasgow
23 July – Impact Arts

Bristol
30 July – Bristol Grammar School

London
31 July (Epic Stages) - University of East London
4 August (Under 18s) - National Youth Theatre
8 August (Over 18s) - National Youth Theatre

Leeds
5 August - Leeds University

Birmingham
6 August - Birmingham Ormiston Academy

Manchester
7 August - Contact Theatre

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