Birmingham & District Theatre Guild

Youth Participation

Many years ago the Guild acknowledged the importance of involving youth in their festivals What are the benefits: Young people can enjoy benefits from youth theatre, including: •developing confidence, self discipline and self esteem •improving communication skills and developing teamwork skills •broadening young people’s horizons through new experiences • Increased understanding and knowledge of relevant issues •having fun and being creative Youth theatre has been considered a safe space in which young people could explore issues, take risks and test their emotional and physical boundaries. Youth theatre also provides a way to engage young people, to learn and explore issues. Youth groups are encouraged to enter our one-act festival - they have their own marking system and awards. Within the one-act festival a session on Sunday afternoon is generally put aside for individual youth entries, these include singing, poetry recital, solo and duo drama. Set poems Aged under 14 Set poems Aged 14-18 Years. Individual Entry Form Youth groups can take part in our full-length festival but will be judged on an equal footing with adults. Due to the coronavirus pandemic there will be no youth festival in 2021 - youth groups may enter the one act AETF ongoing festival but they will be marked as an adult group.