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Free Course

Stepping Up

Applications are now closed
Application Deadline Monday 11th August at 13:00 PM
Audition Dates Sunday 10th August, Tuesday 9th September & Wednesday 10th September 2025
Course Schedule 2 days/evenings a week on a Monday, & Tuesday or Tuesday & Wednesday on bank holiday weeks.

Into acting, drama or supporting others to learn? Stepping Up is a 3-month acting and leadership programme for young people aged 19–25* in London who are unemployed or underemployed, and not in education, and do not have a foundation/degree in performing arts

Stepping Up is a Level 2, 3-month drama and leadership training programme, run by National Youth Theatre in partnership with UCG (United Colleges Group). Participants choose from either an Acting or Leadership pathway and work to gain an OCN London Region Level 2 Extended Certificate in Performing Arts.

Places are available to both NYT members and non-members.

*Or up to 30 if learning disabled.

This course is limited to those who do not hold a GCSE, A Level or Degree in Drama/Performing Arts & are currently underemployed or unemployed.

Acting Pathway (2 days/evenings a week on a Monday, & Tuesday or Tuesday and Wednesday if Bank Holiday week)
For young people who are new to performing and/or want to increase their confidence and performing skills. You will participate in units that include acting skills, improvisation, and physical theatre and you will perform in a final show at the end of the course.

Leadership Pathway (2 days/evenings a week on a Monday, & Tuesday or Tuesday and Wednesday if Bank Holiday week.)
For young people who have an interest in performing and becoming facilitators in the future. The Leadership strand combines practical acting training alongside learning directing and facilitation skills, including increasing your knowledge of planning and delivering drama workshop and rehearsals. Units include Improvisation, Physical Theatre, Devising and Rehearsal Planning.

The first half of the course will run from the week commencing 20th October 2025 until the week ending 12th December 2025. There will then be a break for Christmas from the 15th December 2025- 2nd January 2026. The second half of the course will run from 5th January 2026- 27th January 2026.

To Apply

Applications for Stepping Up are now closed

Special Thanks

National Youth Theatre would like to thank the following people and organisations for their support of Stepping Up 2024: The United Colleges Group (UCG) and Greater London Authority’s New Deal for Young People, supported by the Mayor of London through the Propel collaboration.

We would also like to thank our principal supporters Arts Council England

Course Information

Audition Details

Auditions will be held at the National Youth Theatre building on Holloway Road. The auditions are on three days which are:

Sunday 10th August 2025

Tuesday 9th September 2026

Wednesday 10th September 2026.

The audition will consist of a two hour workshop in the morning and then a one on one interview with a member of the Stepping Up staff. This will be an informal interview where we will ask you what intrests you about Stepping Up and why you would like to do the course. We will also ask some questions around eligibility for the course.

Is this the right course for me? 

Places are available to both NYT members and non-members between the ages of 19 - 25 years old (or up to 30 if learning disabled).

Priority for places is given to those who are not in education, secure employment or training.

If you already hold a degree (not in a performing arts subject) you will be considered for the leadership strand only.

We welcome applications from care leavers and those whose challenging circumstances may have prevented them from completing Secondary School or FE education. We welcome applications from those with access and support needs, those who are refugees or asylum seekers with the right to study in the UK and those who are underrepresented in our industry including those who identify as neurodivergent, disabled or from the Global Majority.

Am I eligible for a free place?

AM I ELIGIBLE FOR A FREE PLACE?

Places are available to NYT members and non-members.

You are eligible for a place if you meet the following criteria:

  • 19* – 25 years old or up to 30 if learning disabled
  • Live in London
  • You are unemployed and in receipt of benefits or earning under the London living wage.
  • You are not in education or training
  • You do not have, or are studying for, a foundation/degree, A Level, or GCSE/Level 2 in drama or performing arts
  • You have the right to study in the UK

*you must have turned 19 before the 31st of August 2025

What is the audition process?

Auditions for SU Autumn 2025 are now open

The audition process takes place in three steps:

Initial application

This will be an online form gathering your details, along with a section to allow us to hear why you are applying for the course. If an online application is inaccessible to you, please contact Hamish Macdougall at Hamish.macdougall@nyt.org.uk and arrangements can be made for you to receive support with this form. Please note, the deadline for initial application is

AUDITION PROCESS

There will be a low stakes, informal workshop in the morning. This will comprise of simple exercises that involve group work and introductory performance games.

Then in the afternoon you will have a one on one chat with one of the course leaders. This will involve talking about why you are interested in the course and to find out a bit about you. This is also a good opportunity for you to ask any questions that you have about Stepping Up.

Please note-

Auditions will be on either:

SUNDAY 10th AUGUST 2025.

TUESDAY 9th SEPTEMBER 2025

WEDNESDAY 10th SEPTEMBER 2025.

Results

We will take time to review the applications after your audition. You will receive an email by the 15th September 2025 to let you know if you have been offered a place. We will also let you know if you have made the reserve list for the course.

For those that have not been offered a place, we will direct you to alternative programmes for you to participate in at NYT that we feel would benefit you.

We are aiming to bring together young people from a range of backgrounds and create a balanced cohort that will successfully learn and grow together during their time on the course.

Contact

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the manager Hamish Macdougall on Hamish.macdougall@nyt.org.uk

What to expect from NYT Stepping Up

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National Youth Theatre Accredited Courses are part funded by Adult Education and delivered in partnership with Registered Training Providers. The care and support and creative outputs enabled through these programmes cannot be achieved only through these funding routes and philanthropic donations and trusts and foundations are essential supporters of our work in this area.

National Youth Theatre would like to thank the following people and organisations for their support of Stepping Up: United Colleges Group, The Portal Trust, The Clothworkers’ Foundation, Jacqueline Worswick and Jack Petchey Foundation

We would also like to thank our principal supporters Arts Council England