National Youth Theatre anniversary
The National Youth Theatre in the UK is set to celebrate 60 years, marked with a special London gala at the West End's Shaftesbury Theatre on 18 September 2017. This one-off show will celebrate the achievements of the National Youth Theatre, which will continue its West End repertory programme in 2016. This is in addition to launching a new partnership with the west London fringe venue Finborough Theatre, where it will stage a season of new writing, and the announcement of many new patrons.
Alumni Rosamund Pike and Sarah Solemani will all become patrons of the company this year, joining existing patrons which include Ian McKellen and Hugh Bonneville. For many participants, being part of National Youth Theatre is a life-changing experience, and the introduction of the new patrons will work to further inspire those involved. More than 40 renowned alumni will also take part in the celebratory gala with National Youth Theatre in September.
The National Youth Theatre provides free opportunities for young people to engage with theatre across the country, involving talented individuals through National Youth Theatre’s passion for being a positive change for theatre in the UK. Its 60th anniversary year is therefore an opportunity to consider and celebrate the impact the company has made on thousands of young people, nourishing the future of the country's acting talent.
James Fritz's The Fall and Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist are part of the new writing season in August; a new music theatre adaptation of The Tempest by Rebecca Lenkiewicz will run in Northampton in June and July; Cheek By Jowl's Owen Horsley will adapt Romeo and Juliet, which also includes Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman and Dennis Kelly's DNA; and Luke Barnes' You Can and Karla Crome's If Chloe Can will also tour schools across the UK. Two new plays will also be performed in London as part of NYT's social inclusion course, Playing Up.