Established in 2017, the Youth Board helps us ensure that the Youth Theatre Ireland programme of work is youth-led and relevant. The Youth Board helps to provide strategic leadership to the team at Youth Theatre Ireland by sharing their first-hand knowledge about the needs and interests of young people in the context of youth theatre.
What does the Youth Board do?
- To advise Youth Theatre Ireland on a range of topics
- Input into Youth Theatre Ireland’s long and short term planning in an advisory capacity
- Suggest and contribute to the design of new and existing initiatives and projects
- Preserve a consistent youth perspective in Youth Theatre Ireland.
- Act as ambassadors for Youth Theatre Ireland
- Be consulted on a wide range of major and minor decisions
Youth Board 2023
This year the youth board will:
- Work with Youth Theatre Ireland to create social media content promoting Youth Theatre Ireland and Youth Theatre as a whole.
- Meet once a month over Zoom for a short check in, and will have four projects throughout the year:
- Spend a day with the staff of YTI and guest facilitator on April 11th
- Deliver the Member’s Forum Workshop at the National Festival of Youth Theatres
- Attend a strategic meeting in August (to coincide with a trip to the National Youth Theatre)
- Attend the Youth Theatre Ireland Practice Symposium in Cork in November and deliver a Keynote Speech at the Symposium
Current Youth Board
The 2023 Youth Board are:
Ace Porter - Roscommon Youth Theatre
Robin Walsh - County Limerick Youth Theatre
Terri Byrnes - County Limerick Youth Theatre
Sarah Grogan -Fracture Youth Theatre, Co. Tipperary
Joshua Kelly - Fracture Youth Theatre, Co. Tipperary
Aileen Gordon - Backstage Youth Theatre
Dearbhla McCormick - Monaghan Youth Theatre
Ruairí Phelan - Dublin Youth Theatre
Chaya Nicole Smyth - Dublin Youth Theatre
Pádraig Harrington - Rusty Frog Youth Theatre, Co.Cork
How do I become a Member of the Youth Board?
Joining the youth board is a great way to meet like-minded youth theatre members, be more involved in youth theatre nationally, and help raise the profile of youth theatre! Youth Board members are also occasionally asked to sit on panels for statutory bodies who seek a youth voice.
To apply to be a member of the Youth Board you must be:
- Aged 18 – 25
- A current or past member or leader of a Youth Theatre affiliated to Youth Theatre Ireland
- Motivated to contribute your time, skills and energy to the task as outlined
- Be a generous and collaborative team-player
When selecting the Youth Board we will give consideration to the following:
- A balanced mix of current members, past members and leaders aged under 25.
- Representation across the specified age-range
- Gender balance
- Geographic representation – urban/rural balance
More information is available by emailing Cathal Thornton