Children and young people's theatre

News

Halo to History Month

1 October 2022

To mark Black History Month 2022, Manchester Contact artistic director Keisha Thompson is to direct Contact Young Company.

First Encounters for RSC cast in Twelfth Night

9 September 2022

The Royal Shakespeare Company has revealed the cast for its First Encounters with Shakespeare production of Twelfth Night which will tour England in autumn 2022.

Grandad Anansi debuts

30 August 2022

Grandad Anansi is a new co-production from Z-arts and Half Moon Theatre.

Breaking Bard!

22 August 2022

As You Write It is a collaboration between Shakespeare North Playhouse and BBC’s The One Show that showcases the work of talented young playwrights.

Peppa Pig pops back

15 August 2022

Peppa Pig is back at The Lowry in Salford.

“Perfect introduction to live theatre”: Jack and the Magic Beanstalk

Two Christmas shows at Birmingham Rep

12 August 2022

Birmingham Rep is to stage a new production for three- to six-year-olds at Christmas 2022, Jack and the Magic Beanstalk.

Behind the scenes at Epstein

4 August 2022

Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre is introducing theatre tours and workshops.

New Vic Borderlines young people’s theatre company who undertook a performance for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

New Vic gets grant for community outreach

3 August 2022

Staffordshire’s New Vic Theatre is to receive up to £480,000 over four years for its Borderlines programmes from the Denise Coates Foundation.

“Interesting and important process”: Robin Belfield, director of Twelfth Night

RSC production to focus on climate change

29 July 2022

The Royal Shakespeare Company’s 'First Encounters with Shakespeare' Twelfth Night in schools and theatres across the country will focus on “the climate crisis”.

£2.3m Theatre Porto for Cheshire

29 July 2022

On August 10, the doors of the new theatre and cultural centre in Whitby Park, Ellesmere Port open after a £2.8m development.

A workshop for young people organised by The Play House

Vacancy for Birmingham executive director

28 July 2022

A Birmingham theatre-in-education company wants to appoint a “dynamic and visionary” executive director to steer it through its “ambitious” plans for growth.

Octagon role in summer fun

20 July 2022

Bolton Octagon Theatre and the town’s Libraries and Museums are to give young people aged 11–16 who receive free school meals the opportunity to get creative.

Sarah & Duck for Salford

20 July 2022

The BAFTA-winning CBeebies series Sarah & Duck’s Big Top Birthday comes to The Lowry, Salford.

A young person performing with Hubbub Theatre in Derby city centre as part of a This Is Derby celebration event which inspired the Reimagine Festival

“Important” issues highlighted in Derby festival

16 July 2022

Young people will “reimagine” Derby in a two-day festival that highlights well-being and sustainability through theatre, dance and more.

Guided Gob walk in Manchester

10 July 2022

Contact Young Company has teamed up with Gob Squad to create outdoor show While We Were Waiting… Something Changed.

Truck full of summer fun

10 July 2022

Hull Truck Theatre is presenting a summer programme of holiday activities for all ages.

Sadiq Khan, Ghetts, directors and board members of UD and East London Dance

Mayor of London opens Talent House

6 July 2022

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has opened the Talent House, a new creative hub from East London Dance and national youth music organisation UD.

Hey Duggee out on tour

3 July 2022

Children’s show Hey Duggee is to tour the UK for the first time.

Gruffalo back in Salford

26 June 2022

The Gruffalo returns to The Lowry in Salford.

Sadler's Wells East topping out

24 June 2022

London’s Deputy Mayor for Culture announced a participation opportunity for young east Londoners at the Sadler’s Wells East topping out ceremony.

Climate Home & Festival of Action and Resistance

24 June 2022

Lewisham is putting the voices of young people at the centre of climate justice, with a new creative space designed, built and led by young people from South London.

Youth gets to Speak Up

23 June 2022

Young people across Greater Manchester are to take part in National Theatre’s Speak Up Programme.

Borrowed opportunity for youngsters

10 June 2022

Theatre by the Lake in Keswick is looking for performers aged 11–14 to take part in The Borrowers.

1,000 young people demand climate action through music and dance

27 May 2022

Trinity Laban's Hope 4 Justice is part of We Are Lewisham, the Mayor’s London Borough of Culture 2022.

Rogueplay which will be staging workshops at the No Outsiders festival

Birmingham festival aims to have no outsiders

21 May 2022

An “inclusive festival of creative chaos for 2- to 11-year-olds and their grown-ups”, No Outsiders, an LGBTQ+ festival, is to be held in Birmingham.

Octagon hunting for book thieves

13 May 2022

The Octagon in Bolton will be casting four young people to share the roles of Liesel and Rudy in the upcoming production of The Book Thief.

Peaceful return to Grand

1 May 2022

Epic drama Private Peaceful marches back to The Grand in Blackpool.

Animal life for students

21 April 2022

Blackpool’s Grand Theatre has been commissioned by Children’s Theatre Partnership to develop and lead a national creative learning programme linked to George Orwell’s Animal Farm.

Production shot from previous production

Monkey's Merseyside tour

20 April 2022

Dance towards your future

17 April 2022

The Lowry Centre for Advanced Training in Dance has announced dates for its next two open days.

“Magical stories”: Mog the Forgetful Cat

Northampton to adapt Judith Kerr’s Mog stories

9 April 2022

Northampton Royal and Derngate’s resident company The Wardrobe Ensemble is to adapt Judith Kerr’s stories of Mog the Forgetful Cat.

Online show inspired by real life Sea Girl

9 April 2022

East Midlands-based Carbon Theatre has produced “interactive, choose-your-own-adventure experience”, Sea Girl.

G&S Harrogate youth auditions

7 April 2022

Gilbert & Sullivan Festival Youth Productions 2022 in Harrogate is auditioning for Iolanthe.

Features

Meet the new boss…

25 June 2022

Keisha Thompson celebrates her appointment as Artistic Director/ Chief Executive of Manchester’s Contact in rare style with Cocktails and Cinquains.

Reviews

Rapunzel

Carol Ann Duffy

BalletLORENT

Northern Stage

29 September–2 October 2022

Heather Gourdie (Alice) and feline friend

The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland

Christopher Brookes after Lewis Carroll

Wise Owl Theatre Company

Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham

12–13 August 2022

Isabel Ford and Justin Davis as Granny and Ben

Gangsta Granny

David Walliams, adapted by Neal Foster

Birmingham Stage Company

The Lyric, Theatre Royal Plymouth

9–13 August 2022

Splinters

Judy Seal

Dolphin Youth Theatre

theSpace @ Surgeons Hall

8–13 August 2022

The Trial

Tim Norton

Young Pleasance

Pleasance Courtyard

5–14 August 2022

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

Based on the novel by C S Lewis

Catherine Schreiber, Elliott and Harper Productions

Gillian Lynne Theatre

18 July 2022–8 January 2023

Paisley Reid as Pip and Alex Nowak as Stig

Stig of the Dump

Clive King, adapted by Jessica Swale

Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre

Grosvenor Park, Chester

1 July–29 August 2022

Anne of Green Gables

Jenna Lee

London Children's Ballet

Peacock Theatre

26–29 May 2022

The Paper Dolls

Julia Donaldson and Rebecca Cobb

Polka Theatre and the Little Angel Puppet Theatre

Polka Theatre

21 May–7 August 2022