The UK’s leading small-scale young people’s venue and touring company
Our activity includes a season of professional plays for young and family audiences, including teenagers, national touring productions and an extensive creative learning programme, including eight youth theatres.
Half Moon’s expertise is in supporting artists and young people at every stage of their creative development, providing a gateway to engagement, offering pathways for progression and experimentation and then disseminating outcomes within the wider cultural sector, through performances, touring productions, open dialogue and continuing professional development.
Half Moon is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England and receives regular funding from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, as well as many other supporters.
Our supporters“I wanted to say thank you so much for everything that Half Moon have done for our learners. You have truly, tangibly made a difference to their education, their creativity and their aspirations. I hope the theatre continues to be successful in supporting the local community; I think you are doing incredible work…thank you for working with us with the attitude of ‘anything is possible’.”
“I have been here since the entry age and I don’t plan on leaving until I am too old for it!”
Participatory and professional theatre programmes
There is a synergy between Half Moon’s participatory and professional theatre programmes, which have equal status and are mutually enriching. The company specialises in new writing and art-form development, involving artists who are under-represented in the sector and working collaboratively with a wide range of partners.
The company places an emphasis on engaging participants (artists and young people) who often feel excluded from arts activity, such as those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, Deaf and young people with disabilities, those who are neurodiverse or affected by mental health conditions or those excluded due to socio-economic circumstance.
The company produces through its touring wing, Half Moon Presents, many artists and companies, whose work can be seen throughout the UK.
“I think you’re a great resource for the community and we feel lucky to live close to you!”
“It is lovely to hear that you are properly inclusive; this is what East London should be all about.”
Half Moon Digital Archive
This includes the small physical archive held for many years at Royal Holloway University (ref: HMT1 & HMT2) much of which was digitalised in 2016 and uploaded to the archive website Stages of Half Moon.
The vast majority of the archive transfer included an extensive and previously inaccessible physical and digital archive spanning the years 1972 to 2024 that had been stored by the company in Whitehorse Road since 1990.
Enquiries related to the collection should be directed to www.qmul.ac.uk/library/archives
Stages of Half Moon
Half Moon’s digital archive, exploring the company’s history, is available at our Stages of Half Moon microsite.
“[Half Moon] is the only venue in London I have visited where I feel me and my toddler are totally welcome just as we are!”
“My little boy likes your theatre very much; he is asking to go to Half Moon. The kindness of staff and engagement with little ones is admirable. The atmosphere is relaxed; so that is an added bonus!”
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