Youth Theatre Programmes in London

Get involved!

Why not join one of Half Moon’s Youth Theatre groups? It’s a brilliant way to explore drama, create performances and make lots of new friends at the same time. We have eight groups for young people in East London interested in theatre that run during term time.

Join the waiting list Current member? Pay now

Five reasons to join Youth Theatre

Great value! Just £7 per session (£3.50 concession)
Run by friendly and experienced theatre tutors
No auditions
See shows at Half Moon and visit other London theatres in addition to your sessions
Perform for friends and family on the Half Moon stage at the end of each term

Young people from Tower Hamlets and across East London attend our Youth Theatres. All of our Youth Theatres are open to young people with disabilities and our venue is fully accessible.

We also run Solar, a specialist drama group for teenagers and young adults with physical, sensory and/or cognitive disabilities.

All of our tutors and staff at Half Moon have an Enhanced DBS Certificate.

For Younger Age Groups

Is your child currently too young for our Youth Theatres? You may be interested in our Creative Play programme.

Learn more

Half Moon’s Youth Theatres

The groups run during term-time and there is no session in the week of Half Term. Please note that the dates may not correspond with those of your/your child’s school.

To add your child to our waiting list, fill in the online registration form below, or call us on 020 7709 8900. We will then contact you as soon as a place becomes available.

If you have heard from us that your child already has a confirmed place in one of our Youth Theatres you can make a payment for the full term by clicking the button below.

Make a Youth Theatre payment

School Years 1–3

Comets | Saturdays, 10am-11am
Sunbeams | Saturdays, 11.15am-12.15pm
Moonbeams | Saturdays, 12.45pm-1.45pm

These groups take place in the autumn and spring terms only.

School Years 4–6

Eclipse | Tuesdays, 4pm–5.45pm
Equinox | Wednesdays, 4pm–5.45pm

Summer Term 2025
Eclipse: Tuesday 29 April – Tuesday 8 July (no session Tuesday 27 May)
Equinox: Wednesday 30 April – Wednesday 9 July (no session Wednesday 28 May)

School Years 7–9

Lunar | Tuesdays, 6.30pm-8.30pm

Summer Term 2025
Tuesday 29 April – Tuesday 8 July (no session Tuesday 27 May)

We also run free After School Drama clubs in four community centres in Tower Hamlets for young people in School Years 7-9. For more information email youth@halfmoon.org.uk

School Years 10-13

Orbit | Wednesdays, 6.30pm-8.30pm

Summer Term 2025
Wednesday 30 April – Wednesday 9 July (no session Wednesday 28 May)

Please note: You can only join Orbit Youth Theatre up until you are in Year 10 – Year 12. You can continue in the group when you are in Year 13, but you cannot join if you are already in Year 13.

Teenagers and young adults up to 25 with physical, sensory and/or cognitive disabilities (specialist group)

Solar | Mondays, 6.30pm-8.30pm

Summer Term 2025
Monday 28 April – Monday 14 July (no session Monday 5 May and 26 May)

Learn more about Access at Half Moon

“Thank you to everyone who has worked with Indra down the years, for the wonderful tuition and care she has been shown. We have been able to see clearly the positive impact Half Moon has had in her life, especially in her confidence and creativity, and you’ve helped set her on a path that she’ll continue to travel down, I’m sure.”

Youth Theatre Parent

Youth Theatre News

To read the Youth Theatre newsletters, click below:

Download Spring 2025 Newsletter

Sharings

Every group normally has a sharing performance on the last session of each term where we welcome parents, carers, friends and families. All sharings take place in the main theatre space. There is no charge for adults or other children attending these performances and we encourage people to come and support the young people by seeing their hard work performed. A snapshot selection of some of this work can be viewed using the button links below.

View photo galleries on FlickR

How do I join?

To add your child to our waiting list, fill in the online registration form below. We will then contact you as soon as a place becomes available.

Your Child's Full Name(Required)

First Last

Your Child's Date of Birth(Required)

Your Child's School Year(Required)

What Youth Theatre group would you like to join?(Required)

Does your child receive any additional support, or have any access requirements that we should be aware of?(Required)

Yes

This could be a diagnosis your child has, group or 1:1 support at school. or some strategies you use at home to encourage good behaviour, for example. Half Moon is an inclusive organisation that celebrates individuality and diversity, and we ask this so we can support your child.

Your Full Name(Required)

First Last

Your Email(Required)

Your Mobile Number(Required)

Your Child's School(Required)

This is the year they were in Summer Term and not which year they will move into in September,

Your Post Code(Required)

Your Availability(Required)

If your child is in Year 1, 2 or 3 at school (or you’re putting their name down for when they are in Year 1), please tell us which time of class on Saturday is possible for you (you can tick as many as apply):

Saturdays, 10am-11am

Saturdays, 11.15am-12.15pm

Saturdays, 12.45pm-1.45pm

Your Availability(Required)

If your child is in Year 4, 5 or 6 at school (or you’re putting their name down for when they are in Year 4), please tell us which day of 4-5.45pm class you would prefer (you can tick both if they apply):

Tuesdays, 4-5.45pm

Wednesdays, 4-5.45pm

Is there anything else you want to tell us?(Required)

This can be information about things they like/ dislike., how they find joining new groups, following instructions or any support they may receive at school. We are an inclusive organisation so it is important for us to make sure we can provide the right support for your young person to have the best time here.

Phone

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Theatre for Everyone

Youth Theatre at Half Moon is open to everyone. All groups are inclusive and we will provide access assistance for neurodiverse young people and any young people with physical and/or cognitive disabilities, sensory impairments and mental health conditions wanting to join a group and who require access support.

We meet with all participants with access needs before they join a Youth Theatre to decide together how we can best meet and support those needs. There are no auditions; all we ask for is enthusiasm and commitment.

Alongside Half Moon’s inclusive Youth Theatre groups is Solar, a group exclusively for teenagers with disabilities who feel their needs are better met in a specialist setting with smaller numbers and a higher adult to young person ratio.

We will happily discuss access requirements and provide communicators and access workers as appropriate. We fund transport for members with disabilities who live in Tower Hamlets if necessary. The group is extremely creative and demanding for members.

Half Moon views disability in terms of the social model of disability and we are constantly striving to grow and expand on our inclusive policy. Access underpins all of our work.

We strive to provide inclusive working practice for artists and staff, and an accessible theatrical and participatory experience for all our audiences.

Learn more about Access at Half Moon

Youth Theatre Awards

Artsmark and Arts Award

Youth Theatre

Get involved!

Five reasons to join Youth Theatre

Half Moon’s Youth Theatres

Comets | Saturdays, 10am-11am Sunbeams | Saturdays, 11.15am-12.15pm Moonbeams | Saturdays, 12.45pm-1.45pm

Eclipse | Tuesdays, 4pm–5.45pm Equinox | Wednesdays, 4pm–5.45pm

Lunar | Tuesdays, 6.30pm-8.30pm

Orbit | Wednesdays, 6.30pm-8.30pm

Solar | Mondays, 6.30pm-8.30pm

Youth Theatre News

How do I join?

Comets | Saturdays, 10am-11am
Sunbeams | Saturdays, 11.15am-12.15pm
Moonbeams | Saturdays, 12.45pm-1.45pm

Eclipse | Tuesdays, 4pm–5.45pm
Equinox | Wednesdays, 4pm–5.45pm