GLOBE YOUTH THEATRE
Inspiring young performers through the works of Shakespeare
Join a community of theatre-makers.
The Globe Youth Theatre (GYT) is a weekly, informal training programme for young people aged 8-19 with a passion for acting, theatre-making and storytelling. Sessions are led by professional actors and directors in our on-site studios and offer a lively, explorative and supportive space for young people to develop their creativity, build confidence and express themselves.
Our Globe Youth Theatre members will deep-dive into performance techniques, work collaboratively towards a final performance, meet other interested young people, and become part of our vibrant Youth Theatre community.
The programme is structured across three terms (autumn, spring and summer) and split into age groups 8-10, 11-13, 14-16, and 17-19. Each term explores a different area of theatre training, with groups working towards a performance in the spring and summer terms for family and friends on our world-renowned stages.
Interested in an intensive, three-month long actor training programme for young people ages 14-19, culminating in a performance? Discover our Globe Young Company.
DETAILS
TICKETS
One term £295
Three terms £885
Bursaries for free and discounted places available
We offer payment plans to help spread the cost – for more information, please email [email protected]
COURSE DATES 2026
Spring Dates
Every Saturday from 10 January to 21 March (no session on 28 February)
Sharing on Sunday 22 March
Summer Dates
Every Saturday from 18 April to 11 July (no session on 30 May)
Sharing on Sunday 12 July
This course is on-site at Shakespeare’s Globe
Capacity 25 individuals per session
Part of Young People
The 2024/2025 Globe Youth Theatre cohort on stage at the Globe Theatre c. Ali Wright
Globe Youth Theatre participants on stage at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse c. Cesare De Giglio
What is the programme?
Over three terms, Globe Youth Theatre participants will attend two-hour long sessions every Saturday during term time. In these sessions, they will develop different skills and put them into practice during performances to an invited audience of friends and family, on both Globe stages.
Autumn term: Building performance skills
This first term focuses on core performance skills and stage combat. It’s ideal for both newcomers and returning members who want to strengthen their foundation. All participants will also attend a Globe production together, followed by a Q&A session with theatre-makers who create work for our stages – a fantastic way to connect with live theatre.
Spring term: Voice and outdoor performance
This term places special focus on voice and the techniques needed to perform in an open-air theatre. Participants will work towards an informal sharing of work on the Globe stage, developing confidence and audience awareness in one of London’s most iconic performance spaces.
Summer term: Movement and final sharing
In the final term, participants explore movement and dance – essential elements of Shakespearean theatre. The term concludes with a creative response to the themes of the Globe’s summer season, shared with family and friends in our atmospheric indoor theatre, the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.
How to join GYT
We’re excited to invite young people aged 11–19 to audition for the next term of Globe Youth Theatre.
8-10s do not need to audition. Places will be offered to our waiting list on a first come, first served basis. Please note that auditioning for Globe Youth Theatre does not guarantee you a place in our classes.
To apply, you will need to submit a video that includes the following:
- A performance of a 60–90 second speech from any of Shakespeare’s plays
- At the end of your video, please also answer the following three questions (your responses should take no longer than five minutes in total):
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- What do you hope to learn from being part of Globe Youth Theatre?
- Why do you think Shakespeare is still being performed today?
- What do you find exciting or interesting about live theatre?
Whether you’ve been acting for years or this is your first audition: if you love theatre, we want to meet you.
Applications close at 10.00am on Friday 17 July. All applicants will be notified by 5.00pm, Friday 24 July at the latest.
Submission Guidelines
The easiest and most efficient way to show us your audition video is to upload it as an unlisted video to YouTube and then share the link with us. Guidance on how to do this can be found here: How to upload videos to YouTube.
If you have any issues with uploading your video, please email [email protected].
Bursaries for free and discounted places
We are committed to making GYT accessible. A number of bursary places are available for those who meet any of the following criteria:
- The young person receives Free School Meals or is eligible for Pupil Premium.
- The young person is currently in care or a care leaver.
- One or both parents/carers receive Universal Credit.
- The young person (or their parent/carer) is currently seeking asylum in the UK.
- The young person is a young carer. A young carer is someone under 18 who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend with an illness, disability, mental health condition or substance misuse issue. This may include helping with cooking, cleaning, personal care, or offering emotional support.
- The family is experiencing financial hardship, and there is evidence that the young person would significantly benefit from joining GYT. This could include: improving social inclusion for someone at risk of marginalisation, supporting a young person’s mental health or helping to overcome significant barriers in education.
If you meet any of these criteria, please complete the application form above and answer the relevant questions.
Globe Youth Theatre participants in the rehearsal studios c. Cesare De Giglio
Globe Youth Theatre participants in the rehearsal studios c. Cesare De Giglio
Testimonials
“It has been so amazing, I am SO glad I auditioned. Being part of GYT has already helped boost my confidence in acting, but also with my communication skills with others, and I am so grateful to be part of this group.”
– Erin
“Before joining GYT, my daughter used to be a very shy, reserved young person who struggled speaking up and expressing herself. Since she has joined, she has come out of her shell. Her confidence has very much increased, and I have seen an overall positive change in her.”
– GYT Parent
“I found that since starting at GYT this term I have really been able to apply the knowledge I learnt here to subjects such as English and History, opening my understanding of literature in general.”
– Kit
Thank you to our supporters
Globe Youth Theatre would not be possible without the generosity of our remarkable donors. Their support enables us to offer bursaries to young people who might otherwise be unable to take part and helps us cover key costs of running the programme.
With heartfelt thanks to:
Haddenham Healthcare
Celina Dunlop
Toby Wallis
And anonymous supporters
If you would like to support GYT, please get in touch with:
Steve Hartill – Head of Trusts and Foundations [email protected]
Jessica Lowery – Head of Individual Giving [email protected]
Rebecca Greenbank – Head of Corporate Partnerships [email protected]
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