Shakespeare North Playhouse Youth Nights
Thu 9 Jul, 2026
by Steph Green, Head of Learning and Engagement
The work we do with and for young people is ultimately about building well rounded citizens, warm & confident members of the world who feel able to be and become independent theatre-goers. That they see cultural venues like ours as a place they are welcome to be. So, we have created Youth Nights as an invitation.
We want teenagers to see our shows and our building as something that belongs to them too. A place where they’re welcome, because their opinions matter and they can help shape what happens here. Youth Nights are a big part of making that happen.
For some young people, walking into a theatre can feel intimidating. They might never have visited before, they might have various reasons to think it’s not a space that’s for them, or they might not know where to start or whom to speak to. Youth Nights offer a guided first experience, helping teenagers feel comfortable and confident in getting familiar with the building and our programme before they begin making their own choices about what they want to see and do.
The hope is that one visit becomes something more.
If a teenager comes along to a Youth Night, discovers a show they enjoy and feels at ease in the space, we are hoping that they then return on their own terms. Booking a ticket independently, using our Pay What You Decide option, coming back with friends or taking a chance on another production or event because they now feel comfortable in the building.
We know teenagers are busy and that not every opportunity suits every young person, so It’s about creating stepping stones and offering chances for teenagers to be a part of what happens here in a variety of shapes. Weekly groups might work for some, while others can only commit to one-off events, like Youth Nights.
Just as importantly, Youth Nights help build confidence. Confidence to walk through the doors, confidence to engage with live performance, confidence to ask questions about the show’s topics, and confidence to see themselves as part of the cultural life of their community.
At a time when many young people feel there are fewer places designed with them in mind, it’s vital that spaces like ours actively open their doors and make it clear that they are welcome. Youth Nights are our way of saying that “your voice matters and your presence here is valued.”
We want teenagers to see the theatre as somewhere they can return to throughout their lives, because they chose to come. Ultimately, that’s what Youth Nights are about.
A simple but important message sits at the centre of everything we do, and we want to make it very clear:
You’re invited. You belong.
