Thanks for supporting us in 2025 - see you in 2026 for a special year #NYT70
As 2025 draws to a close, we’re reflecting on an extraordinary year for National Youth Theatre and looking forward to our 70th anniversary celebrations in 2026. Here are some of the highlights that made this year so special:
Empowering Young Storymakers
This year, we’ve provided creative opportunities to over 10,000 young storymakers, collaborated with more than 500 freelance creatives, and reached millions of audience members both in person and online. Our young creatives have benefited from the wisdom and advice of leading industry talent throughout the year.
Unforgettable Moments
We kicked off the year with a spectacular screening and Q&A of Wicked featuring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande at our North London home. Later, young talent from our IGNITE programme, supported by Netflix, interviewed Kate Winslet on the red carpet and enjoyed a private Q&A with Academy Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro.
Recognition and Awards
Our work was acknowledged by the Department for Education in their Curriculum Review response, where we’ve been advocating for theatre and the arts to remain central in schools. Internationally, we were honoured with the Praemium Imperiale Grant for Young Artists from the Japan Art Association, and closer to home, we’ve been shortlisted for the Innovation Award at the Stage Awards for our Digital Accelerator project exploring new technologies in live storytelling with Microsoft.
Championing New Writing
We welcomed StudioCanal and Urban Myth Films as sponsors of our new writing festival StoryFest, commissioning 10 new plays, including six by current NYT members through StoryFirst, our open submission call for young writing talent.
Driving Inclusion
Our flagship inclusion programme Assemble received a landmark boost with a three-year grant from the National Lottery Community Fund. From 2026, Assemble will expand into six locations, creating over 810 opportunities for young disabled creatives and 270 jobs for young access workers.
IGNITE Your Creativity
Supported by Netflix, IGNITE inspired over 1,500 young people to explore stage and screen careers behind the scenes in the West Midlands, Sunderland, Dagenham, and Coventry. In early 2026, IGNITE continues in Glasgow and Weston-super-Mare, with graduates already gaining employment and winning awards at film festivals across the UK.
Breaking Down Barriers
Through auditions, intake courses, and free accredited training, we offered more free opportunities in more locations than ever before, continuing our mission to dismantle barriers to arts access. This year, our intake courses took place online and in Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, and Newcastle. Next year, we’ll work at over 120 venues nationwide.
What's Coming in 2026
We’re starting the year with three exciting productions in the first two months:
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Dracula by Tatty Henessy (Animal Farm) after Bram Stoker, directed by Atri Banerjee and performed by the award-winning NYT REP Company at our Workshop Theatre, 21 Feb – 13 March.
Fear makes us all monsters. -
Handel and Hendrix, a new work by BAFTA-winning alum Susan Wokoma, composed by Naomi Hammerton and directed by Paul Roseby. 4–7 Feb, St James’s Church Piccadilly.
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My Brother’s a Genius, Debris Stevenson’s play originally seed-commissioned as part of StoryFest, goes on a national tour in co-production with Theatre Centre and Sheffield Theatres. Catch it in London, Sheffield, Scarborough, Leeds, Crawley, and schools across the country
Help keep our culture alive by supporting these shows and being part of live theatre as an audience member. Your support changes lives, and together, we’ll make our 70th anniversary year unforgettable.
