We are delighted to unveil our programme for 2009. It promises to be an exciting and  challenging year.

Here are some of the highlights:

NYT 2009: The National Youth Theatre will be on stage in the Peacock Theatre from 24-29 August. Rehearsals will take place for 4 weeks at the end of July and August. This year’s production will be directed by Wayne Jordan, recently nominated for Best Director at the Irish Times Theatre Awards. Auditions for youth theatre members will take place in late March and early April. More info will be available very soon.

New Stage: New Stage is back in ‘09.  Three established writers are working away on scripts that have been specially commissioned for Irish youth theatre. These plays will be offered to youth theatres for performance, accompanied a mentoring programme.

Young Critics Programme: The Young Critics programme will remain in its expanded form. Participants will attend a number of professional theatre productions and workshops throughout the year, with a final public forum as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival in October.

Centre Stage +10: Centre Stage+10 is our major research project into youth theatre in Ireland and it will be published in May.

Leading On….: Leading On….,our training programme for youth theatres, will return with the Summer Residential and one off workshops for leaders.

Regional Festival: We will host a regional festival in the Autumn open to all youth theatres with a wide range of artistic skills workshops for young people and leaders alike.

Youth Theatre DVD Project: A pilot project will be developed with two youth theatres to support them in representing their work and practice. This will take the form of a short 5-minute DVD that will be created by NAYD for them over a 6-month period and also a  The youth theatres will be supported to provide materials that best reflect them for future funders etc.

Youth Ambassadors Programme: This new programme will focus on developing ways that NAYD can directly engage with and communicate with a youth theatre member in each individual youth theatre.

And also happening in ‘09…… another Skills Support Programme, a new intake of trainees to ArtsTrain as well as Go See YT!(our scheme to support youth theatres travelling to see each other’s work)

As well as these exciting opportunities, NAYD will also produce a range of publications such as Youth Drama Ireland, the monthly newsletter Intermission, following on from the success of our guide to drama in the primary classroom, Step by Step Educational Drama 2 will be published in ‘09.

We will also continue to develop resources and  support services for youth theatres and will advocate on behalf of the sector and make sure youth theatre isn’t forgotten during this difficult period.

So make sure you’re part of it…. Membership forms are winging their way to you as we speak. If you are an individual or belong of an organisation, that has not previously been in membership, you can download a form on the Become A Member page. Youth Theatres who wish to affiliate should contact Anna Galligan,our Youth Theatre Officer, and she will explain the process involved.

We look forward to working with you all in ‘09

The NAYD Team