We Are 70
In 2026 National Youth Theatre is celebrating 70 years of supporting young storytellers.
We want to hear your memories, see your National Youth Theatre photos, print and videos and reconnect as we celebrate 70 years of putting young talent centre stage.
Whether you’ve connected with the company as a young person, an artist, an audience member or a partner we want to hear from you.
Send us your memories and archive material by filling in this short form
Scroll down to find out where you can find us in 2016 and read our latest news
Work with us as we celebrate turning 70 by applying for our latest roles
Storytellers Start Here is a project bringing our archive of 70 years to life for a new generation and celebrating the impact of National Youth Theatre on the thousands of young lives it has supported.
We’re grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for their support of Storytellers Start Here.
Josh's Story
Samira's Story
Matt Smith's NYT Journey
Joshua Aketse-Entsie is currently in the NYT REP Company, the charity's free industry-based alternative to formal training.
Fresh off the back of playing Foreman and Eli in our recent five star production of Dracula, he's currently in rehearsal for the NYT REP's upcoming adaptation of Let The Right One In adapted for stage by Jack Thorne at the Underbelly Boulevard Soho he plays Mr Ávila.
He said:
'Being part of the National Youth Theatre REP Company has been another defining moment. REP is intense, challenging and inspiring all at once. Being surrounded by my amazing peers who care about the craft as much as me, pushes me to raise my standards and reminds me why I started in the first place.'
“Storytelling has the power to bring people together, and I want to be part of building platforms that allow more people to tell their stories.”
Growing up Samira didn't often see people like her represented on stage or screen and wasn't sure if a creative career was for her.
Joining the National Youth Theatre changed that and now she's working as a Creative Access Worker on our Assemble programme.
Samira said: ‘It’s so important that disabled people have access to theatre, because how can we have a truly representative society if we’re not hearing from them? Joining Assemble made me realise how powerful inclusion can be. For the first time, I walked into a space and didn’t have to hide who I was. For me, being a disabled young person in a leadership role shows our participants that if I can do it, so can they. Assemble made me realise how vital it is to create spaces where access isn’t an afterthought, it’s built in from the start. That’s how we make theatre, and society truly inclusive.”
Watch Samira talk about Assemble, our flagship national programme for young disabled creatives
“It completely transformed my life and is the reason I am an actor. I got my first agent at NYT, which led to my first job at the Royal Court.”
From his stage performances with NYT, Matt Smith was signed by an agent and landed his first professional stage role, leaving university early to take a part at the Royal Court Theatre.
