On this page
Your Theatre Journey Starts Here
York Theatre Royal Youth Theatre exists to provide opportunities for young people aged 5 – 19 yrs from our community to participate in weekly drama sessions with the aim of improving confidence, developing performance skills, working as part of a team and enabling participants to live creative lives. Our programme works across the week at the theatre and across community settings and we’d love for you to come join us.
Winner of the Little Viking’s Best Drama Class for five years running (2018 – 2022), it’s no surprise that our Youth Theatre is hugely popular with York families.
Our Youth Theatre takes place in venues across our beautiful city, including:
How Much Will It Cost?
You can select any of the following fee bands online when you making your booking:
Sibling discount: If you have more than one child in Youth Theatre, there is a sibling discount of £5 off each young person, which can be applied to any of the 3 fee bands. Use discount code: YOUTHSIB5
If you have selected the lower priced bands we will ask to see some evidence of your situation after you have made your booking, to ensure the system is fair for everyone.
Spring 2025 Sessions
Week commencing 06 Jan to week commencing 17 Mar (excluding the week commencing 17 Feb for half term)
5 – 8 YEARS
8 – 11 YEARS
11 - 14 YEARS
Technical and Backstage (12+)
Ever wondered what goes into making the productions you see on our stages? Love theatre and making but performing’s not for you? This term, enter our backstage world and learn from our production team!
Through this highly practical course, led by industry experts, you will have the opportunity to learn performance making skills, get hands on experience and work with our professional theatre equipment
Throughout the course we will introduce you to a variety of production skills and areas, give you expert tuition, tips of the trade and support you to have a go yourself.
So, if you want to use a follow spot, find out what a Fresnel is, create a digital soundscape, make a prop or design a set – this is the course for you!
Public Booking opens on 27 Nov 2024
14 - 19 YEARS
Access Policy
York Theatre Royal is dedicated to making sure that every young person can take part in our activities. We have a systems in place that will take into consideration financial barriers, social and emotional barriers and access needs.
Support we can offer includes:
In session mentors
In session mentors are available to provide additional support in sessions for those who need it. The mentors work with the practitioners to adjust resources and activities, keep in touch with parents or carers to let them know how they are doing and adapt to any changes in behaviour or needs.
Smaller, more supportive youth theatre session
Access All Areas is our referral only strand of Youth Theatre, we have 3 wonderful groups running this Autumn term. The groups are smaller and suitable for young people who for different reasons may not feel comfortable accessing mainstream Youth Theatre. In these sessions, the focus is on building self-esteem, confidence and aspirations. We provide a positive place to come to each week during term time to make new friends, leave school and home life at the door and have fun!
Support with transport
We have a limited budget available to cover the cost of transport, and organise taxis to and from sessions if needed.
Access to the required support will automatically apply to:
If you feel your young person meets the criteria above or would benefit from any of the support available for a different reason. Please complete the referral form here.
We ask that you only select support that you need, to ensure we are able to provide the support to as many young people as possible. We also ask that you let us know if your circumstances change and you no longer require the support.
If you have any questions or would like to talk through anything please get in touch with Maeve Brannen:
Email: youththeatre@yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
Phone: 01904 658162
Access All Areas
We are really proud of our Access All Areas provision which supports young people who might face barriers accessing our activities. We support participants to thrive in a way that suits them and meet each young person where they are. Young people come to Access All Areas for lots of reasons, for example they might face economic barriers, experience anxiety or other circumstances that mean a more relaxed workshop space suit them best. Access All Areas began with our 12-16s group which takes place at the Studio theatre at York Theatre Royal. We have expanded Access All Areas through introducing an 8-11s group out in the community and look forward to beginning our new group Access All Areas Explore which supports young people with additional needs and learning disabilities. The Creative Engagement team at York Theatre Royal look forward to the joy of Access All Areas every week and can’t wait to meet more wonderful young people as the provision expands!
The groups are free and referral only. Check out our Access Policy above to complete a referral form, or to find out more get in touch with Maeve Brannen, maeve.brannen@yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
ACCESS ALL AREAS (8-11 YEARS)
The Place – Mondays 4.30pm – 6.00pm
Access All Areas 8-11s works with younger participants to develop their social skills and build confidence through playing lots of games and exploring themes in a creative way. This group runs in a community venue at York High School so we can build young people’s confidence before they move to secondary and offer activity directly in participants’ communities. The young people in this group are signposted to us through schools in the local area. All activities are about working with the young people to give them a supportive space to express their creativity in a way that suits them.
Generously supported by the Ed De Nunzio Charitable Trust.
ACCESS ALL AREAS (12-16 YEARS)
York Theatre Royal, Studio – Wednesdays 5pm – 6.30pm
In Access All Areas we aim to explore drama and theatre in an accessible way that builds confidence, self-esteem and aspirations. The sessions are fun and relaxed. The focus is on using drama and theatre as a skill for exploring the world we live in within a safe and supportive environment. Participants can learn to express themselves and discover who they are through creative and engaging activities. This session is deliberately kept small and is suitable for young people who for different circumstances may not feel comfortable accessing mainstream Youth Theatre. This is a free provision and transport costs can be supported.
In these sessions, the focus is on building self-esteem, confidence and aspirations. We provide a positive place to come to each week during term time to make new friends, leave school/home life at the door and have fun!
Generously supported by the Ed De Nunzio Charitable Trust.
ACCESS ALL AREAS: EXPLORE
York Theatre Royal is excited to launch our brand new Youth Theatre group for children and young people aged 11 – 17 with additional needs and/or learning disabilities.
At AAA Explore we will use movement, voice and drama to learn theatre making skills through play, creative activities and structured support. We encourage confidence, communication and independence skills, within a creative, safe, stimulating and joyful environment.
In session, we will provide additional staff to support additional physical needs, keeping our group numbers small, so that we can provide as much support to our participants as they need. Each week we will follow a similar structure, so participants know what to expect and grow in confidence.
Tang Hall Explore – Thursdays 5pm – 6.30pm
About our space
Our sessions will take place at Tang Hall Explore – The Centre @ Burnholme
The Centre has plenty of parking space, is within 150 metres of a bus stop and in walking distance from Applefields School.
It has a step free entrance and the doors are wide and automatic, and they are close to the blue parking bays.
There is a lift to the upper floors and you do not need to notify staff to use the lift.
The lift has a visual and audible floor indicator, the controls are wheelchair accessible and the buttons have tactile and braille markings.
There are changing places and a baby change, accessible toilets, and access dogs are welcome in the building.
Generously supported by the Ed De Nunzio Charitable Trust.
Get In Touch
“I like coming to youth theatre because you can just be yourself”
Amelia - aged 8
Youth Theatre has shaped me as an artist
“Youth Theatre taught me extremely valuable skills and training in the arts. I got to learn from different practitioners, styles, plays and characters. Youth Theatre has shaped me as an artist”
Fiona, former Youth Theatre member and practitioner for a 5 to 8’s group
