Fehinti Balogun's letter to his younger self

'I’ve written to you at one of many moments in your life where your perspective is about to change. It’s 2010. You’re 14 years old, at your first National Youth Theatre course. Everyone is very nice but, more importantly, they’re weird. Weird in the same way you are. They’re loud, and singing. They say how they feel but, more importantly, feel what they say.'

'You were allowed to play. You were around other people who played. You could be big. You could be weird. You won’t know this yet , but most people in the world don’t feel like you. Like that room. You feel the need to play deeply. In fact, you feel everything deeply. Whereas most of the world has in some way been hardened. They won’t feel as deeply full stop'

BAFTA nominee Fehinti Balogun's letter to his younger self in the Big Issue ahead of Sunday's special 70th anniversary event at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall. Read more.

Final tickets on sale from £26 at www.nyt.org.uk/letters

Supported by Netflix and Eon Productions
VIP Afterparty hospitality partner Sky
Supporting champions Sue Vertue and Steven Moffat
Young talent champion Timebased
Corporate partners: OMEGA & Imagination
PR Support from WDM Entertainment & Bread and Butter PR
Marketing support from Mobius Industries