Spotlight on Playing Up
As this year's cohort stage their final production, here's a look back at early productions like Zawe Ashton's Skunk and grads who've gone on to success
This week, we’re shining a light on Playing Up and its brilliant graduates, as this year’s cohort takes to the stage with their end-of-course production, Disco Inferno, at our air-conditioned (oh yes!) NYT Workshop Theatre this weekend.
What is Playing Up?
Playing Up is a practical, ten-month, part-time drama training programme for young people aged 19–25* who are not in education, employment, or training. It offers the opportunity to gain a Level 3 qualification in drama, with high levels of pastoral, wellbeing, and academic support from an expert team.
Previous graduates have described it as a great space for those who haven’t always found traditional academic settings suited to them. The course is designed to be as practical, playful, and creative as possible.
A Proven Pathway
Seraphina Beh in My Beautiful City by Samuel Evans in 2015
This free course has been running for over 15 years as a vital access route to higher education and the creative industries. Graduates have gone on to achieve great things, including:
Seraphina Beh (Crongton)
Dionne Brown (Queenie)
Gavin Singh Chera (The Rings of Power)
Shalisha James-Davis (Punch)
Ria Zmitrowicz (Sherwood)
Gavi Singh Chera speaking about his time in Playing Up said:
“Playing Up has been the most exhilarating experience I have ever had creating theatre. It has been sensational. I was exposed to people from all over Britain, from different classes and races and regions. That’s why I’d recommend to anyone to join the National Youth Theatre, because it broadens your horizons”
Off stage, alumni have pursued studies at leading universities and taken on influential roles in the arts and beyond. For example, Linden Walcott-Burton is now a Cultural Policy Officer in the Culture and Creative Industries Strategy Team at the Greater London Authority.
A Legacy of Powerful Productions
Father’s inside by Philip Osment at Soho Theatre in 2009
Early Playing Up productions included Skunk by Zawe Ashton, directed by Tessa Walker, and Father’s Inside by Philip Osment, directed by Jim Pope, both at the Soho Theatre. Since then, the programme has staged work at leading venues including The Unicorn Theatre, the Arcola Theatre and the Bunker Theatre, and collaborated with leading writers such as:
Miriam Battye (Succession)
Luke Barnes (NYT alum and playwright)
Rebecca Manley (award-winning TV and stage writer)
Share Your Memories
We’d love to hear your Playing Up memories as we continue to explore our archive.
Read more about the 2025 production of Disco Inferno: www.nyt.org.uk/discoinferno
If you know a young person who would benefit from being part of Playing Up send them our way: www.nyt.org.uk/playingup