Skip to main content

Young people

Whether you’re into writing or producing, lighting or sound, performing on stage or making it happen backstage – there’s something here for you.

We work with young people aged 13–25 to explore every aspect of theatre-making. Join in where you are, online or at the National Theatre on London’s South Bank.

Join our Young People’s mailing list 💌

Sign me up!

Upcoming workshops

Take a look at our Lifting the Lid and In Focus workshops, all suitable for those aged 16 – 25 at time of application

Two people standing in front of a wall with flipchart paper, both wearing purple Young People's Programme lanyards and speaking towards something or someone in front of them.

Photo © Belinda Lawley

Lifting the Lid: London Tide

 

Our next Lifting the Lid will look at our new production London Tide and explore how music can support storytelling in theatre. This free event on Friday 31 May includes a masterclass, a Q&A with the music team at the National Theatre and a ticket to see that evening’s performance of London Tide in the Lyttelton Theatre. Applications are now open.

Find out more about Lifting the Lid

In person

Find out what programmes you, or your school or youth group, can get involved with. At the National Theatre on London’s South Bank and across the UK.

'Is This Good Enough' by Avaes Mohammad, performed by Eastbury Drama Group. Four young people dress colourful in front of a graffiti wall set.

Photos © Jimmy Lee

Connections

Have you ever wanted to put on a play? Great news! Connections is here to help.

The National Theatre’s annual youth drama festival is open to schools and youth groups at all levels of experience. Now in its 29th year, over 100,000 young people have taken part. That’s the equivalent of selling out the Olivier 90 times over!

Find out more about Connections

Find out how to put on a play with Connections

A group of people sat in the Dorfman seats at the National Theatre with one person smiling and raising their hand in the centre

Photo © Belinda Lawley

In Focus: theatre-making workshops

The National Theatre’s In Focus workshops are open access to anyone aged 13-25 who wants to take part, meet new people and see theatre.

Each workshop is based around a current National Theatre production and will focus on different areas of theatre-making.

Find out more about In Focus

Young Producers

The National Theatre’s free How to be a Producer programme runs every February half-term at our building on the South Bank and is open to those aged 18–25.

Find out more about Young Producers here

In person and online

An Introduction to Stage Management

Learn all about the world of stage management with this free and hybrid course for those aged 16–21.

Find out more about our Stage Management course

A pair of hands marking up a floor with measuring tape.

Photo © Belinda Lawley

Young Technicians

The National Theatre’s Young Technicians programme provides free technical theatre training for young people aged 13–18.

You can apply to take part at the National Theatre in London or as part of the nationwide Young Technicians programme.

Get involved with Young Technicians

Play Video

Young Technicians at the River Stage Festival 2022

In partnership

We are currently working on multi-year creative project in collaboration with people and community organisations across North Kensington, alongside our production Grenfell: in the words of survivors.

As part of this, some of our young people’s programmes will be run in the area specifically for young people who live, work, study or socialise in North Kensington. This year, both Space to Create and Writing for Theatre both took place in person at Morley College, in North Kensington.

A handmade sign looking like an Underground station sign, with a red heart and blue rectangle with Community in white lettering, together with other signs, outside a brick building on which is a street sign for Ladbroke Grove W11 in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Photography by Avpics. Art by Sophie Lodge.
A young person lying down on the floor with their legs crossed

Space to Create

The National Theatre’s Space to Create programme brings together young people aged 16–21 to devise and create bold new theatre.

Find out more about Space to Create

A close-up image of a pile of papers with yellow and pink post-it notes attached

Writing for Theatre

Ever thought about writing a play but don’t know how to get started? Our free playwriting course for 16–25-year-olds can help.

Learn more about Writing for Theatre

Careers

Whatever stage you’re at in your career, find opportunities at the National Theatre.

 

The Linbury Prize for Stage Design in white font against a background of a design exhibition featuring drawings and white card designs flooded in orange light

Emerging stage designers

The Linbury Prize is for graduating stage designers. It’s open for applications every two years and designed to help support entry into the industry.

The Linbury Prize

Scenic art apprentice painting, wearing mask.

Work Placements

Take your first steps into the theatre industry – we have short-term placements available for over-18s.

Work placements for over 18s

Apprentice in hard hat with clipboard

Apprenticeships

The National Theatre runs an apprenticeship programme across all areas of the organisation.

Apprenticeships

Two people sorting through material in the National Theatre Archive

Archive Volunteers

Volunteer placements are available year-round for UK residents in our Archive.

Volunteering with the Archive

Our funders