Last week, I had the privilege of attending one of Youth Theatre Together’s Get-Togethers at Sheffield Theatres, alongside our brilliant Youth Theatre Leader, Chloe, and one of our youth theatre members, Zoe (pictured here on the left, with some of the Thursday Intermediate Group). The Get-Togethers are running across the UK, bringing together youth theatre leaders, practitioners and young people to share ideas, explore challenges, celebrate what makes youth theatre so special, and shape its future together. It was a day full of conversation, collaboration, creativity and connection.
From the moment we arrived, there was a real sense of openness and generosity. Yashoda from Youth Theatre Together and Beth Siddall and the team at Sheffield Theatres created such a welcoming space and it made a huge difference to how the day felt. The day was led by, Youth Theatre Together’s Project Director, Ned Glasier, guided us through a mix of creative activities, thoughtful discussion and playful games. His facilitation struck a lovely balance — fun, supportive and open — and it meant everyone felt able to contribute.
One of the real highlights was seeing Zoe represent Growtheatre. At just 12 years old, she was the youngest person in the room by quite some margin, but you would never have known it. She approached every discussion with confidence, curiosity and kindness, and made thoughtful contributions throughout. The games section was another real joy and Zoe did an incredible job of leading her favourite game, Ninja!, which brought a lot of energy and laughter into the room. As a Youth Theatre Leader, moments like that stay with you. Watching Zoe engage so naturally with practitioners and young people from across the region was incredibly proud-making. She listened carefully, spoke with confidence, and offered thoughtful ideas. Ned was clearly impressed too. At the end of the session, he asked Zoe to share her age with the group. When she said she was 12, there was a moment of surprise before the room broke into a huge round of applause — a lovely recognition of what she had brought to the day.
Reflecting on the experience, Zoe said, “It was great to see people so interested in helping youth theatres improve. Everyone there was really friendly and welcoming and listened to everything you had to say. It was useful to hear lots of different perspectives. We played some games as well, which made it a nice mix.” Her words sum the day up well. It wasn’t just about workshops or discussion — it was about connection, listening, and being reminded why youth theatre matters.
For Chloe and I, it was also a valuable opportunity to connect with other youth theatre leaders, exchange ideas and reflect on how we can continue to develop the work we do at Growtheatre. We left with fresh inspiration, practical ideas and a renewed sense of purpose.
Most of all, we came away feeling hopeful. At a time when the arts continue to face real challenges, being in a room with so many committed and generous people was a powerful reminder of the strength of this community. There’s a genuine sense that, by working together, youth theatre can continue to grow and thrive across the UK and beyond. A huge thank you to Youth Theatre Together, Ned, Yashoda, Beth and the team at Sheffield Theatres, and everyone who helped make the day so welcoming, inspiring and thought-provoking. Here’s to more conversations, more collaboration, and a bright future for youth theatre.