Royal & Derngate launch new partnership with the National Youth Theatre bringing pioneering youth arts organisation back to Northampton

A new partnership has been announced between Royal & Derngate and The National Youth Theatre, who have committed to providing outstanding vocational learning opportunities in theatre for up to 500 young people aged 14 to 21 in Summer 2021.

The NYT programme will take over the whole arts venue for five weeks next summer, with three productions being commissioned through the collaboration; starting with Tatty Hennessy’s adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm (directed by Ed Stambollouian, in association with Kneehigh Theatre) and a new abridgement of Shakespeare’s Othello by Dzifa Benson, directed by Miranda Cromwell and starring Francesca Amewudah-Rivers in the title role. The productions will play at Royal & Derngate from 19 February - 13 March 2021, before touring nationally and being streamed online.

Local Director Andy Routledge will also lead the NYT REP Company in developing an original play about a unique period in Northampton’s rich and often surprising history. 

Teaching will take place on all three stages at Royal & Derngate, as well as in the Rehearsal Rooms and other Cultural Quarter venues. Participants will gain valuable insight into a 360-degree overview of a working theatre’s practice with time also spent with the venue’s wider staff. 

Taking place in Northampton but open to young adults of all backgrounds from across the UK, the summer residency programme will offer 16 acting courses, with placements being made available for those who have completed NYT’s courses in costume design, to lighting and sound and stage management from September 2021 onwards. The residency includes a vital collaboration with the University of Northampton, with participants living at the University’s new Waterside Campus allowing them to be fully embedded in the town. 

Royal & Derngate Artistic Director James Dacre said: “Working with the NYT as a freelance director before I joined Royal & Derngate, I experienced the passion, expertise and insight with which they champion every young artist to hone their craft and find their voice. Four years ago, Royal & Derngate and the NYT partnered on a co-production of The Tempest, enabling 30 young local actors to make their professional debut, many of whom have returned to perform on our stages since. That inspiring experience left us determined to partner on widening such training opportunities across all theatrical disciplines and so we are thrilled to be able to announce an annual programme that will enable hundreds of young artists from the widest possible range of backgrounds to train at Royal & Derngate, learning from our teams and placing young people at the heart of all that we do.”

Applications to take part in the new summer vocational training with Royal & Derngate are open at www.nyt.org.uk/hub and young people can sign up to audition and access a range of online workshops and resources for £2-a-month or £24-a-year through the NYT’s new Hub subscription.