Deaf Youth Theatre Selected for National Festival of Youth Theatre 2026
What is the National Festival of Youth Theatre?
Run by Youth Theatre Arts Scotland, the festival is the largest gathering of youth theatres in the UK, bringing together young performers from across Scotland (and beyond) to celebrate creativity, collaboration and performance.
Taking place at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness
What happened?
- Camping
- Taking part in workshops and creative sessions
- Watching and sharing performances
- And of course… performing as part of the festival programme
The festival is designed to be inclusive and accessible, with a strong focus on collaboration and removing barriers — making it an incredible opportunity for our deaf young people to showcase their talent on a national stage.
It’s not just about performing — it’s about learning, connecting, and being part of something much bigger.
What was DYTs performance about?
The production was devised using Ned Glazier, Emily Lin and Company Three’s Blueprint ‘Brainstorm’ as a jumping off point. This multimedia production brings together Solar Bear’s Deaf Youth Theatre, Scotland and Youth Theatre Kenya to explore life as a teenager in 2026. Blending live performance with video, the ensemble shares stories shaped by workshops and conversation. From identity to family, to messy bedrooms, boring school and the meaning of life – this piece captures the contradictions of growing up in today’s world, in very different, yet similar surroundings. The show also weaves in momentous occasions from Deaf history, including the 1880 Milan Conference and the 2015 Scottish BSL Act, situating these young voices within a wider story of Deaf identity and rights. Raw, funny and fearless, this multilingual performance places young experiences centre stage, asking what it means to be seen, understood and listened to – are you listening?
