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Youth Theatre

Young person doing a handstand on stage

What is the stage@leeds young company?

stage@leeds young company is a youth theatre for young people from 7-18yrs. We are based in stage@leeds, a public licensed theatre complex in the heart of the University of Leeds campus. stage@leeds artistic director Steve Ansell founded the young Company in 2018. Steve has over forty years of experience as a director, teacher and theatre practitioner working with young people across the UK, North America and China. in 2026 the stage@leeds young Company was shortlisted for a Child Friendly Leeds Award.

The Ethos of the stage@leeds young company is very simple as Steve explains:

‘We want to create an affordable youth theatre that offers participants all the benefits of working in a well-resourced professional theatre complex on a University Campus (professional theatre lighting and sound equipment, quality rehearsal rooms, multiple theatre spaces, access to emergent technologies, world class libraries, galleries and research materials) with no barriers to that access. Everyone is welcome at our youth theatre. You don’t need any prior experience to join, all we ask is that you are enthusiastic’

Weekly workshop sessions take place on Saturday mornings. Each term we focus on a particular theme, technique or project. These have included New Writing, Clowning, Improvisation, Site Specific Theatre, Virtual Reality, 360 filming, immersive theatre, working with scripts and character and creating radio plays. Each session starts with a physical and vocal warm up and ends with theatre games. At stage@leeds young company we try to create a support and inclusive environment that nurtures and champions individuality. In addition to weekly session we also host an annual summer production.

stage@leeds young company rehearse and perform in a state of the art theatre complex which allows us to work with full lighting, sound and video equipment. We have participated in the National Theatre connections festival since 2023 we also work with colleagues across the University departments. If you would like to become a member of the stage@leeds young company please go to our 'Joining the Youth Theatre' page.

Try before you buy

If you would like to join a session you can do so at no cost. If our youth theatre isn't for you then you have noting to pay.

 

Aims of the youth theatre

  • Offer participants the opportunity to learn about and experience the theatre industry including performing, directing, technical ad backstage roles, writing and other creative roles.
  • Inspire a lasting interest in the arts, encouraging young people to continue their engagement with drama and other creative activities beyond the Youth Theatre program, for example, the University of Leeds Skill Up in Theatre & Performance programme and the stage@leeds Summer Show.
  • Foster the development of the participants’ communication, collaboration, and performance skills, enhancing their confidence and self-esteem through drama activities.
  • Create a sense of belonging by providing participants with an opportunity to use drama as a tool to bridge social divides, creating an inclusive environment where students from various backgrounds can connect and collaborate.
  • Allow participants the chance to learn and use equipment such as lighting, sound, VR and video skills in  a professional theatre setting and become more aware of roles/careers available for theatre graduates.
  • Increase participation of young people from diverse backgrounds, particularly those from across the region where they are least likely to attend Higher Education (IMD 1 and/or POLAR4 Q1) and to provide equitable access to high-quality drama opportunities.

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