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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.

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What’s on for Young People

Archive Unboxed Tours
A row of labeled poster tubes is stacked on a red filing cabinet.

Archive Unboxed Tours

The Archive Unboxed Tours give you a chance to get hands-on with history and include an overview of what the Archive collects and what it does. There is also a chance to see our public research spaces and basement stores.
Currently booking to 12 March
Info & Tickets for Archive Unboxed Tours
In Focus: Alterations
Three people stand among colorful clothes on hangers. The person in the middle, eyes wide, reaches outward while the others, on either side, hold onto them. The scene is vibrant with red, yellow, and orange hues.

In Focus: Alterations

Whether you have a keen interest in theatre, or you’ve never been to the National Theatre before, our In Focus workshops offer a welcoming environment for an in-depth look at our shows.
Applications are now closed
Info & Tickets for In Focus: Alterations
Skills Centre: Scenic Art Course
A young person dressed in a black top paints a piece of scenery using a roller. A tub of paint is next to them with more scenery in the background of the workshop.

Skills Centre: Scenic Art Course

Find out more about our in-person Scenic Art course, led by artists from the National Theatre’s Scenic Art team. The course is suitable for anyone aged 16-19 with an interest in developing their skills as a painter, scenic artist or with an interest in set design.
Applications now closed
Info & Tickets for Skills Centre: Scenic Art Course

More from the Young People’s Programme

A group of diverse people sitting in a room, engaged in conversation. Three women in the foreground are sitting and talking, holding notebooks and pens. Others in the background are talking and writing, suggesting an interactive workshop setting.

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

Young Producers
A group of diverse young people seated and attentively watching a presentation or performance. They are indoors in a theatre auditorium and appear engaged, with some wearing colorful lanyards or accessories.

Young People's workshops

Whether you have a keen interest in theatre, or you’ve never been to the National Theatre before, our Young People’s workshops offer a welcoming environment for an in-depth look at our shows.

Find out more

Young People's workshops
A person with braided hair sits on a chair, writing in a notebook. They wear a white shirt and jeans. Behind them, a poster on the wall lists handwritten themes like

Space to Create

Do you have bold ideas that you want to bring to life onstage? Space to Create is a free programme for young theatre makers aged 18-25 to work collaboratively with some of the UK’s most exciting theatre artists.

Find out more

Space to Create
A group of performers wearing eclectic, rugged outfits stand in a line on stage, holding hands and singing energetically. The background is dark with a set piece piled with clothes and a traffic cone. The scene exudes a theatrical and dramatic ambiance.

Connections

Connections is the National Theatre’s annual, nationwide youth theatre festival. The programme is 30 years old and has a history of championing the talent of young people from across the UK.

Find out more

Connections
A person is sitting down, holding a notebook open with multiple written pages. They are writing or drawing in the notebook using a pen held in their right hand. The scene is indoors with an out-of-focus background. The person is wearing a dark-coloured sleeve.

Writing for Theatre

Ever thought about writing a play but don’t know how to get started? Our free playwriting course for 16–20-year-olds can help.

Find out more

Writing for Theatre
A young person wearing a green helmet and hi-vis vest operates a large spotlight.

Young Technicians

The National Theatre’s Young Technicians programme provides free technical theatre training for young people aged 14–18.

Find out more

Young Technicians
A young person wearing a plaid shirt sits at a desk in front of a control panel with colourful buttons. They are looking at a screen.

Stage Management course

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

Find out more

Introduction to Stage Management

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 in a brightly lit workshop, 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

A person wearing gloves and a beige sweatshirt is focused on painting a wooden piece in a workshop. They hold a brush in one hand. The background features shelves, colorful flowers, and various workshop tools.

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

In partnership

We are currently working on a 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 programmes will be run in the area, specifically for young people who live, work, study or socialise 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.

Our funders

Young People’s Programmes are supported by Bank of America, The Maurice Hatter Foundation and the Richard Radcliffe Trust. With thanks to the MAP Fund.

The Mohn Westlake Foundation supports nationwide Learning programmes for young people.

Nationwide learning is supported by Buffini Chao Foundation, Clore Duffield Foundation, Tim & Sarah Bunting, MFPA Trust Fund for the Training of Disabled Children in the Arts, Behrens Foundation, Cleopatra Trust, and The Andor Charitable Trust.

Creative Careers enabled by TikTok.

Find out more about supporting our work