Take to the Stage!

At the heart of the UYTF is the opportunity to perform, and we want to invite youth theatre companies from across the UK to bring their productions to our stage. UYTF offers participating youth theatre companies the opportunity to showcase their work in a professional theatre environment, sharing their creativity, talent and hard work with an audience made up of fellow young performers, youth theatre groups, teachers and industry professionals. Whether your company has developed an original piece of theatre, produced a contemporary play, explored a classic text or created an exciting musical theatre production, we want to give you the opportunity to share it.

Performance opportunities

We recognise that every youth theatre company is different. Productions vary in scale, style and running time, and we want to make the festival accessible to companies with a wide range of performance experience. Performance opportunities will be available in dedicated festival slots ranging from 25 minutes to one hour, allowing companies to present work that reflects their own creative identity and ambitions.

We welcome a diverse range of theatrical productions, including:

• Original plays and devised theatre.
• Contemporary and classical drama.
• Musical theatre and musical showcases.
• Comedy and physical theatre.
• Shakespeare and other classical interpretations.
• New writing and experimental performance.
• Adaptations and ensemble productions.

We encourage companies to bring a production they are proud of, whether it has already been performed elsewhere or has been created specifically for the festival.

Professional theatre facilities and technical support

We want every participating company to experience the excitement of presenting their work in a professional theatre setting. Each company will be allocated a designated get-in and rehearsal period ahead of their performance. This will provide an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the performance space, organise their staging and undertake essential technical preparation.

Every participating company will also be provided with the support of a professional theatre technician, who will assist with the technical requirements of their performance and help bring their production to the stage. 

Please note that get-in, technical preparation and rehearsal time will be limited and allocated in accordance with the festival schedule. Companies will be expected to work within their designated timings and provide any necessary technical information in advance.

Performance bookings and availability

Performance opportunities are limited and are subject to available programming space and the overall festival schedule. Performance places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, with early registration strongly encouraged. Registering your interest does not automatically guarantee a performance slot. All bookings will be subject to confirmation by the festival programming team.

We recommend that companies register as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

An audience of your peers

Imagine presenting your production to performers from across the country, watching their work in return and discovering the incredible variety of creativity happening within youth theatre. We believe there is enormous value in young performers experiencing one another’s work. It encourages new ideas, builds confidence, creates conversations and celebrates the achievements of young people both on and off the stage.

Every company attending has something unique to offer, and every performance contributes to the collective festival experience.

Bringing youth theatre together

We don’t see the performance programme as a competition. UYTF is about participation, collaboration and celebration.

Every company brings a different perspective, creative approach and theatrical voice. We want to create an environment in which groups support one another, celebrate each other’s achievements and leave feeling inspired by what they have experienced.

Our ambition is to make UYTF a place where youth theatre companies don’t just come to perform, but come to discover one another.

Bring your production. Share your story. Take your place on the UYTF stage.