Youth Theatre Ireland Awarded €40,000 from RTÉ Toy Show Appeal to supports it's new Youth Theatre Connects Programme.
Youth Theatre Connects
Youth Theatre Connects brings transformative youth theatre experiences and increased opportunities for artistic engagement to young people facing barriers of rural isolation, disability, and socio-economic challenges.
Youth Theatre Connects continues the important work of the Empower Youth Theatre Encounter, providing young people with further opportunities for creative expression, personal growth & community building. This ensures a continued and lasting impact, and pathways for continued and equal participation in the arts. Focused on young people facing barriers such as disability, neurodiversity, socioeconomic challenges & rural isolation, ensuring inclusive & accessible theatre experiences.
Speaking of the announcement Youth Theatre Ireland Deputy Director Alan King said: “This significant grant from the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal and Community Foundation Ireland allows us to continue to support our members who face barriers to participation. Through the workshops and the chance to see each other’s productions, friendships and connections can grow. We are able to offer a range of new services to our members and give them the opportunity to go see and create theatre by removing barriers to participation. We are eternally grateful for this support.”
Participating Youth Theatres:
Ballyfermot Youth Theatre, Dublin
Breaking Barriers Theatre Group, Cork
Castletownbere Youth Theatre, Cork
Co. Clare Youth Theatre
Droichead Youth Theatre, Louth
Dublin Youth Theatre
Kildare Youth Theatre
Mr. Sands Youth Theatre, Wicklow
Snapped Youth Theatre, Tipperary
WACT Youth Theatre, Wexford
Young Theatre Connect programme will begin in late 2025 and continue into 2026.
All participation costs will be covered from the generous grant from The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal and Community Foundation Ireland.
Creative Workshops
Youth Theatre Connects offers creative workshops for 10 youth theatres who will collaborate in five pairs to host two, day-long youth theatre workshops in their own community space. Each group gets a turn being host & visitor.
Go See Theatre
The 10 Youth Theatres will receive funding to go to see a professional theatre production locally and the chance to support and attend another youth theatre's production. This includes a €10,000 ticket fund to support up to 200 young people to see professional theatres locally.
Partner With Us
If you are a theatre or venue and you would like to support the work of Youth Theatre Ireland as a venue partner, please get in touch with Alan King, Deputy Director, Youth Theatre Ireland.