Founded in 1982, NAYT works with over 1,000 groups and individuals to support the development of youth theatre activity through information and support services, advocacy, training, participation and partnerships. Registration is free and open to any group or individual using theatre techniques in their work with young people, outside of formal education.
NAYT’s vision is to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to take part – as a right – in safe, empowering, challenging youth theatre of excellence.
NAYT’s mission is to make a positive difference to young people’s lives by supporting their participation in, and access to excellent youth theatre.
Improving access to youth theatre
NAYT works to improve access to youth theatre activity by supporting youth theatres in diversifying their membership. It believes young people should be able to develop their full potential through access to a wide range of quality youth theatre experiences.
Improving the quality of youth theatre provision
NAYT coordinates a national, professional development programme; offering leadership, support and setting standards of excellence and inclusion. It identifies need and delivers training at a range of levels, working in partnership with other organisations to help the sector become more skilled, self-reliant and confident.
Increasing the number of young people participating in youth theatre
NAYT provides information and support for those looking to join youth theatres and hosts inspirational, celebratory events that give young people the opportunity to express themselves, develop a passion and make the most of their talent.
Raising the profile and status of youth theatre
NAYT lobbies with key strategic organisations for greater recognition and improved funding of youth theatre work and to promote the sector’s role in engaging young people in positive activities.
Supporting young people into adulthood
Engagement in youth theatre makes a vital and positive contribution to young people’s personal development; building confidence, enhancing life skills and improving young people’s chances of achieving economic wellbeing. NAYT supports young people into careers in the theatre industry and beyond; raising aspirations for them to enter into education, employment or training and encouraging a continued involvement with the arts.
Young people in control
NAYT places young people at the heart of its planning and decision-making and encourages the youth theatre sector to do likewise. NAYT ensures young people’s voices are heard and responded to at a national, strategic level.
"Young people all over the country should have access to quality theatre experiences which is why NAYT is so successful and important. The long term benefits are obvious, the more we engage young people in theatre now the more we invest in the future of our country as a whole."
Kevin Spacey
Artistic Director, The Old Vic
"With education mostly focusing on results and not process, young people are being deprived the luxury of experiment, failure, and creative self-expression. One organisation that is working hard to redress this imbalance is NAYT. I believe their work is now more vital than ever. I'm proud to be associated with their activities."
Jeremy Stockwell
BBC Two's "The Speaker"
RADA Tutor
NAYT's principles
All young people have a right to participate in high quality, engaging, challenging and meaningful theatre experiences.
Young people and those who work with them have the right to work in safe environments.
Youth theatre and all of its practitioners have the right to platforms of equal value and importance as other forms of theatre.
Youth theatre has the power to influence, inform, challenge and change theatre practice.
Youth theatre has the right to the same resources as other forms of theatre.
Youth theatre has the right to work with high quality artists and theatre practitioners.
Youth theatre is at its best when it provides opportunities for young people to take risks in safe contexts.
Youth theatre is vital to the personal, social, political, aesthetic and educational development of young people. The theatre art is a universal expression of human kind and helps young people to find their place and voice in society.
Youth theatre practitioners have the right to high quality professional development.
Youth theatre recognises young people as artists in their own right.
Youth theatre should access a diverse range of cultures, genres, art forms and approaches.
Youth theatre should reflect and represent the diversity of all young people taking part.
