IN CELEBRATION OF 70 YEARS OF THE WORLD’S FIRST YOUTH THEATRE
British stars of stage and screen will return to their NYT roots for a one night only staged performance, Letters to My Younger Future Self, on Sun 20 September at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall supported by Netflix. 60% of Britain’s biggest screen stars started on stage and the NYT is renowned globally for being a creative home for many of the best.
Performers on the night include Adeel Akhtar (Four Lions), India Amarteifio (Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story), Fehinti Balogun (Down Cemetery Road), Jessica Henwick (Game of Thrones), Rob Rinder (Judge Rinder), Takunda Muzondiwa (Roundhouse Poetry Slam winner 2026), Jack Thorne (Adolescence), BAFTA Breakthrough Brit Susan Wokoma (Enola Holmes), James Graham (Dear England), Calam Lynch (Rings of Power), Fay Ripley (Cold Feet), Rhea Norwood (Heartstopper), Megan Bolton (TikTok Comedian) and Rose Ayling-Ellis (Code of Silence) with letters penned by NYT Patron Chiwetel Ejiofor, Joanna Lumley, Dame Joan Collins, Richard E. Grant and Matt Lucas.
Letters To My Younger Future Self features a dazzling array of creatives representing seven decades of stand-out talent under the direction of CEO and Artistic Director Paul Roseby OBE and Director Josie Daxter. Dramaturgy by Krishna Istha and Sophie Ellerby, Video Design by Will Duke, Lighting Design by Prema Mehta, Sound Design by Nicola T. Chang and Movement Director by Matthew Wells. The show will be powered on stage, behind the scenes and on screen by young talent nurtured through Netflix and National Youth Theatre’s IGNITE Your Creativity programme.
The National Youth Theatre was recently nominated for Excellence in Inclusivity at the 2026 UK Theatre Awards, celebrating the outstanding work being presented and produced on regional stages throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Its illustrious alumni include performers from Daniel Craig, Helen Mirren and Adeel Akhtar, to Andrea Riseborough, Matt Smith, Regé‑Jean Page and Susan Wokoma. Dramatists who got an early break with the leading youth arts charity include Jack Thorne, James Graham, Miriam Battye, Lennie James and Sarah Solemani. Not to mention comedians Tom Allen and Joel Dommett and musicians Ed Sheeran and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
National Youth Theatre are very grateful to headline event supporter Netflix, Arts Council England and EON Productions for their support of Letters to My Younger Future Self. Netflix, who since 2023 have partnered with National Youth Theatre to create over 4,000 free opportunities to inspire the next generation of behind-the-scenes talent into creative careers.
Tickets on sale now at nyt.org.uk/letters with proceeds benefitting the national charity in its 70th anniversary year
Images of the National Youth Theatre in rehearsal (c) Rich Lakos
