Youth Theatre Together is a movement to connect, support and advocate for youth theatre in England.

We are bringing the sector together to create a national development agency to drive a new strategy for youth theatre in England, with young people at its heart.

So far, we have:

  • Delivered a national survey of more than 415 youth theatres across England, helping us to map the sector in the first time in more than a decade.

  • Published a full independent research report on what we learnt from the survey, and a summary report identifying our key priorities. Read the summary report.

  • Gathered 150 youth theatre leaders, participants, trustees and others in Manchester for a two-day creative exploration of the future of youth theatre, generating six key priorities for our sector. Find out more about the event and our six priorities.

  • Created a steering group representing youth theatres of all shapes and sizes, from every region of England, to create an outline business plan that builds on the six priorities identified in Manchester. Scroll down to find out more.

Next, we will:

  • Publish a public database of youth theatres across the country, enabling everyone to identify and contact youth theatres in their local area and nationally.

  • Publish the outline business plan so that anyone working or participating in Youth Theatre can have their say on the aims and objectives of Youth Theatre Together.

  • Begin the process of setting up the new organisation.

December 2025:
Business Planning

In December, a steering group of 10 representatives from youth theatres across England came together in Birmingham to begin the process of creating a business plan for Youth Theatre Together. They were selected to represent every region of England, and the widest possible range of youth theatres and lived experience. They were advised and supported in the process by Ned Glasier (Lead Consultant), Gabi Spiro (Project Producer), Maisy Gordon (Access Consultant), Rosalyne Norford (Wellbeing and Equity Consultant) and Evan Byrne (Access Support Worker)

The steering group is made up of: Steve Ansell (Stage@Leeds Young Company), Selina Keedwell (Somerset Youth Theatre), Kiz Crosbie (Mortal Fools), Becky Deeks (Birmingham Rep Young Company), Lorrine Douglas (Curve Theatre), Leanne Jones (20 Stories High), Niquelle LaTouche (freelance producer), Mark Powell (Prime Theatre), Janise Sadik (Spotlight Youth Theatre) and Emma Thorpe (Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds).

We will be sharing an outline draft of the business plan for consultation with the entire youth theatre sector and other stakeholders in early 2026.