Young people from Years 4-6, 7-9, 10-13, and aged 17 – 25 will take to the stage, having worked in a supportive group led by theatre practitioners to develop their skills in acting and performance, as well as exploring the range of processes of theatre making including acting, devising, teamwork, and writing for theatre.
The first double bill of the summer season is Macbeth Reimagined, performed by Years 10-13 from Friday 1 to Saturday 2 May 2026. This year, the Youth Theatre took on the challenge of creating new work in response to Derby Theatre’s production of Macbeth in April, exploring its themes, characters and what makes this story relevant today.
They present Dead in the Water. At a moment of national crisis, a struggling Prime Minister faces collapsing support, public criticism, and resignations. As Hardwick rises, turning disaster into triumph, strange voices begin to whisper of opportunity, forcing a dangerous choice between truth and power, as a water contamination crisis threatens a small northern community.
They are proud to also present 1600s There and Here: A Witches’ Story, a tale of sisterhood, spells, and the power to choose your own fate.
Youth Theatre (Yr 4-6) Double Bill will be from Friday 19 June to Saturday 20 June 2026 and includes performances of Operation Meatballs and The Monster and the Mirrorist.
In Operation Meatballs, it’s a boring afternoon in a busy, well-known furniture shop.
But something isn’t quite right – in a strange room called ‘Spegelraum’, a mysterious mirror is hiding a secret.
The Monster and the Mirrorist tells the story of Lunna, who has started her first day working as a Sales Assistant at M&B Bargains. Hidden in the ‘Restricted Section’ at the back of the store is a secret, magical mirror: a mirror that will change the lives of five local children, amongst many others. But what lies inside the mirror? Or rather…who?
Derby Theatre Youth Theatre Years 7-9 present Wish Upon an AAAHH! from Friday 26 June to Saturday 27 June 2026. Set on New Years Eve, Alice is hosting a big party – but nothing seems to be going right.
Family feuds, friends who won’t speak to each other, siblings arguing – but to top it all off, nobody wants to make a New Year’s Resolution.
A mistake that will ripple across time and space – and lead to dire consequences for the entire universe…
The final performances from Youth Theatre, presented by the 17 – 25s Theatre Makers group, is a fast‑paced, myth‑mangling comedy by Don Zolidis, The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza from Thursday 16 – Friday 17 July 2026.
Step into a whirlwind of gods, monsters, mayhem, and absolute theatrical chaos as Olympiaganza hurls the entirety of Greek mythology onto the stage — at breakneck speed and with zero regard for dignity.
Two feuding narrators battle to tell the “definitive” version of the myths, but with a cast who can barely keep up, the result is a ridiculous sprint through Pandora’s Box, Jason and the Argonauts, Hercules, the Titans, and a gloriously condensed five‑minute version of The Iliad. Expect audience participation, wild improvisation and even some music!
Whether you’re a classics fan or simply love very silly comedy, Olympiaganza promises a night of pure fun.
This amateur production of THE GREEK MYTHOLOGY OLYMPIAGANZA (ONE-ACT) is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Playscripts.
Harry Kingscott (Young Artists & Participation Producer, Derby Theatre):
“2026 is feeling like an especially exciting year for our Youth Theatre.
The Youth Theatre already has a reputation for making excellent shows, and this year is going to be no exception!
All the young people and the Youth Theatre staff have been working so hard to get us to this point. I can’t wait for audiences to catch the exciting range of shows we’ve got coming up!”
Caroline Barth (Creative Learning Director, Theatre Makers Leader, Derby Theatre):
“This year we’ve taken a fresh approach to linking the groups, with each age range drawing inspiration from a shared starting point. As always, the young people have embraced these ideas with imagination and flair, creating a rich tapestry of inventive characters and remarkable stories.”
As Derby Theatre has marked 50 years of making and sharing theatre, this season continues to celebrate the next generation of artists at the heart of its future. These performances showcase the creativity, ambition and voices of young people across the city, highlighting the vital role Youth Theatre continues to play in shaping Derby’s cultural landscape.
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