Youth Theatre Census report – available now.

This is the story of 414 youth theatres, working with more than 100,000 young people, employing more than 8,000 salaried staff, freelancers and volunteers and reaching a total audience of more than 470,000 people.
 
Youth Theatre in England is important, transformative, vibrant ... and fragile.
 
The Youth Theatre Census report is the first major survey of youth theatres in England since 2011; it shows that youth theatre is an essential part of our theatre eco-system, but groups across the country are struggling from a lack of investment and support.
 
The Youth Theatre Census, commissioned by a leading group of six youth theatres including Mortal Fools, surveyed more than 400 youth theatres in England in July 2024. If you care about youth and arts’ this is one of the most important things, you’ll read this year.

Download the Summary Youth Theatre Census Report here

Download the Full Youth Theatre Census Report here

Download the easy read version here

​We hope that this report is the start of real change for youth theatre in England. A catalyst for a national strategy to make this important national activity sustainable for perhaps the first time ever.
​
After the release of the report, Mortal Fools Artistic Director & CEO Kiz Crosbie said: "Quality Youth Theatre is a powerful and proven force for social change - for the individuals taking part in creating the work as well as the audiences who watch the results - and I am delighted that Mortal Fools has played a part in producing this research and report. 

My hope is that this report reignites the urgently needed conversation with policymakers and funders to address the funding disparities between Youth Theatre and the wider theatre sector. Our sub-sector is vital to the long-term health and sustainability of the theatre ecology but can only provide quality when it is appropriately resourced. When this occurs, we can fully realise its impact on lifelong learning, its role as a pipeline into creative careers and the contribution it can make to achieving the ambitions of ACE's 'Let's Create' strategy." 

In summary the findings show:
 

• Youth Theatre is big - supporting more than 100,000 young people a year and employing more than 4,000 salaried and freelance staff. 
• Youth Theatres are struggling financially, with 31% of youth theatres operating on less than £10,000 a year
• Youth Theatres are supporting more complex issues related to mental health, the cost-of-living crisis, academic pressures and pastoral needs. It's harder than ever before because youth services are on their knees, so youth theatres are filling in the gaps for their members
• Youth Theatres are not accessible enough - with only 20% offering all their places for free and a patchy approach across the sector to access, equity and data.
• Youth Theatre leaders are isolated and exhausted - with many youth theatres wholly or largely dependent on volunteer staff.
• Youth theatres provide an extraordinary range of activities - making shows, technical theatre training, writing workshops, residentials and digital workshops, as well as educational support, free meals, mentoring and mental health first aid.

​Despite the above, the total income for youth theatres in England (estimated at around £23m) represents the equivalent of just £200 per participant per year. The lack of funding means youth theatre is highly reliant on volunteer staff, while paid staff often work beyond their paid hours. Smaller youth theatres with the least funding are less likely to be able to provide free places or have policies and procedures to remove barriers to participation. 
 
Youth Theatre leaders report high levels of fatigue and feel isolated, with one leader saying, “we know we're doing important work but it's the hardest thing any of us have ever done.”

Another youth theatre leader, quoted in the report says:  
“The price of running youth theatre is ridiculously high and we are struggling to find sponsorship or funders and as such we are raising our fees which is driving members away.”
 
While another says: 
“Mental health issues are noticeably higher in recent years amongst our members and so our safeguarding and child support has to be a focus at all times.”

This Youth Theatre census was commissioned by National Portfolio Organisations 20 Stories High, Burnley Youth Theatre, Company Three, Mortal Fools, Prime Theatre, and Theatre Factory. It was funded by Arts Council England and supported by a coalition of national organisations including BarrowFull, Get Into Theatre, the National Association of Youth Theatres, National Theatre Connections, National Youth Theatre, National Youth Music Theatre, SOLT/UK Theatre and NODA (National Operatic and Dramatic Association).
 
The six commissioning companies call for the creation of a new national development agency for youth theatre. They say this new body is necessary to increase connectivity and income, support the least well-funded youth theatres and help others who are struggling to become more sustainable.
 
The director and consultant Ned Glasier, who led the Census project, says:
 
The youth theatre census shows how important youth theatre is in England - to young people, our communities, and the theatre industry. But it also tells us how hard and exhausting it is to run a youth theatre at the moment - and how precarious the sector is as a whole.
 
There are thousands of brilliant and dedicated youth theatre leaders who go above and beyond to support young people every week, often with little or no pay or recognition. We know that the less money and support that a youth theatre has, the harder it is to operate safely, support the complex needs of young people and make sure the work is accessible to all young people. 
 
We need more joined-up, strategic support for youth theatre everywhere, but particularly those companies struggling with very little money, and those for whom sustainability feels like a pipe dream. They deserve more resources, more support and more recognition.
 
That will only happen if we get everyone with a stake in youth theatre around the table to form a new national development agency to support and advocate for our work.

Leading theatre-makers and national organisations from across the country have spoken out in support of the report and its findings. Nathan Powell, Creative Director of Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Theatres, says:
 
“I have a career in theatre because of Youth Theatre. From participating in Youth Theatres, to leading Youth Theatres, learning and developing my craft, to being in a position where I witness every day the transformative effect of our Youth theatre here at the Everyman and Playhouse. I'm really glad that this work is being done to highlight the importance of Youth Theatres, as well as highlighting the support needed. I'm looking forward to the development of a strategy that can advocate for Youth Theatres across the country and look forward to engaging with it the best way I can.”
 
Hannah Essex, co-CEO of SOLT and UK Theatre says: 
 
“Giving young people the opportunity to engage in performing arts is not only essential to the future of our sector but has enormous benefits to those young people and their communities, building confidence, resilience and social cohesion.  
 
“This research demonstrates the incredible reach and role of youth theatres across England and the challenges many of these organisation’s face. 
 
“Teachers and parents have told us that children’s engagement in performing arts is declining. This report highlights the need for a cohesive national strategy to ensure young people can access culture wherever they live.” 

Sarah Brigham, Artistic Director of Derby Theatre, says: 
 
“Youth Theatre is the lifeblood of our industry. Relevant work by young people not only informs us of what young people are hoping and dreaming for, it also allows us to look at humanity through their lens and of course offers a vital training route. The youth theatre census clearly demonstrates how we need to galvanise around a national strategy for this area of our work. One which does sideline the work but puts it front and centre.”
 
Alex Duarte-Davies, Director of Get Into Theatre, says 
 
“Youth theatres offer a safe, empowering and fun space where many young people find not only friends but themselves. They are often a young person’s first introduction to what they are capable of and that their ideas matter. The Youth Theatre Census is the first step in understanding what youth provision looks like across the country: ensuring a united force, shared learning and best practice.”
 
It's time to invest in youth theatre!
 
You can read more about the Youth Theatre census via: www.bit.ly/youththeatrecensus