WIDENING PARTICIPATION AND ACCESS IN YOUTH THEATRE

Ruth Hewston, Jonothan Neelands and Juliet Raynsford

This project for The National Association of Youth Theatres investigated and analysed under-representation in youth theatre with a specific focus on innovative youth theatre work with Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups; young people with disabilities; and groups which would ordinarily be ‘hard to reach’ (e.g. in the youth justice work sector). Core components of the project were to identify and document new and effective ways to develop more inclusive practice and widen access for young people; and to identify and examine tensions between social access and excellence training in current youth theatre practice. Ruth was the Principal Investigator coordinating a team including Prof. Jonothan Neelands (Warwick Institute of Education) and Juliet Raynsford (Birmingham Repertory Theatre).