YARD YOUNG ARTISTS
At The Yard Theatre, artist development starts at age 9.
We work with young people from East London aged 9-21 to explore the possibilities of theatre, through free workshops that prioritise playful experimentation and partnerships with professional artists. We call it Yard Young Artists.
Each year, 50 Yard Young Artists engage in a year-long programme leading to a showcase on The Yard's stage. Sometimes they develop shows with professional artists that we celebrate in our public programme, like The Egg Show or Really Real Teenz!
Many of our Yard Young Artists stay with us for many years, but each Summer we open up some new spaces.
YARD YOUNG ARTISTS: 9-11
We partner with local Hackney Primary Schools to offer children aged 9-11 the opportunity to discover the world of theatre and performance. Through a year of free weekly workshops, they build their muscles in devising and rehearsing - ending the year by performing their stories on our stage.
YARD YOUNG ARTISTS: 11-15
We match 11-15-year-olds with professional artists to explore storytelling through a year of free weekly sessions. They, read, write, act, interpret scripts, and learn how to create their own theatre shows for our stage.
YARD YOUNG ARTISTS: 16-21
This group of young creatives meet weekly to learn how to create theatre from professional artists, gaining work experience along the way. Over a year, the group learns how to create live stories for the stage, honing the invaluable skills from performance to project management. At the end of the year, they showcase their work at The Yard.
“The Yard has demonstrated a deep commitment to the local area. Programmes such as Yard Young Artists are essential for local children to explore their creativity.”
Nicholas Sharman, Councillor at London Borough of Hackney
