Youth Theatre Autumn Term 2026 (Theatre Making Skills)

York Theatre Royal is opening its doors to a new term of youth theatre this autumn, with the Theatre Making Skills course running from the week commencing 21 September. It's part of their wider youth programme, which takes in young people aged 5 to 19 for weekly drama sessions. The whole thing is about building confidence, working on performance skills, and getting used to working in a team — the kind of stuff that sticks around long after the term is over. It's also a bit of a local success story: the programme has won Little Viking's Best Drama Class for five years running, from 2018 to 2022.

Sessions aren't all in one place; they're spread across York St John University, York College, and the York Theatre Royal Studio, so you'll be moving around the city rather than staying in one room. There's a break for half-term during the week commencing 26 October, so the term stretches a bit longer than a straight ten weeks. And for the older ones, there's a big milestone on the horizon: the Youth Theatre company is returning to the Main House stage for an adaptation of Wendy & Peter Pan, their first time back on the big stage since 2019.

There's also a separate side to the programme called 'Access All Areas', a referral-only strand for young people who might face economic, social, or emotional barriers to joining in. Within that is 'AAA Explore', a small-group session for those with additional needs or learning disabilities, focusing on movement, voice, and drama in a supportive environment. The theatre backs this up with in-session mentors, transport support, and free memberships for anyone facing financial hurdles.

As for the cost, the full term is £110, but there are sliding rates: £70 if your household income is £25,000 or less, £35 if you're on benefits, and free memberships available for those who need them. If you've got more than one child taking part, there's a sibling discount of £5 off with the code YOUTHSIB5.