Nail Bar Opens StoryFest 2026

Paul Roseby calls for empty spaces to be unlocked for culture

This week we opened StoryFest 2026 with Nail Bar, a new site-specific immersive play taking over an empty shop in North London, and a call for vacant high street spaces across the UK to be opened up to culture, opportunity and story-making.

With nearly 1 in 7 shops in the UK currently standing empty, and 1 in 7 young people seeking work, the NYT is urging landlords, local authorities and property owners to unlock unused retail space for young creatives.

Paul Roseby OBE, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the National Youth Theatre, said: "We hope this inspires people to open up empty shops and fill them with culture, young people and popular stories for audiences."

Nail Bar transforms a disused shop into a fully immersive performance space, placing audiences at the heart of the action and demonstrating what's possible when empty high street units are handed over to emerging artists.

The production launches StoryFest, the National Youth Theatre's annual new writing festival, which this year features ten new plays showcasing bright new talent from across the UK.

The NYT would love to connect with other organisations and artists working to bring culture into empty spaces. To get in touch or find out more about Nail Bar, visit www.nyt.org.uk/nailbar.

StoryFest 2026 is supported by STUDIOCANAL, Urban Myth Films and the Cockayne Foundation. The National Youth Theatre is also grateful to its principal supporter Arts Council England, and to ODEON Cinemas Group for their support with the space.