Theatre workshops are fundamental to Dublin Youth Theatre’s work. The year-round programme caters for all our members, regardless of experience.

Every Saturday at 11am-1pm from October to May, members are invited to take part in weekly workshops often accompanied by specialist workshops for specific theatre disciplines. Workshops are bookended with a social gathering; tea, coffee and biscuits are available to members in the DYT house where they are free to hang out, make plans and discuss their ideas and dreams.

Our workshops include; clowning, dance, devising, forum theatre, improvisation, percussion, puppetry, voice, stagecraft, stage combat, writing, directing and technical skills, to name but a few. These workshops are not classes in acting or theatre. The principles of youth work in the context of community arts underpin the planning and operation of all DYT activities.

The annual DYT  programme includes the production of between 6 to 12 plays. These are a combination of high profile shows in recognised professional venues and low-key productions which allow new members with little or no experience an opportunity to perform in a ‘safe’ environment. You can find out more about our Productions here.

Workshops

CRUINNIÚ NA NÓG @DYT – FREE Storytelling for the Stage Workshop

Curious what goes on in a DYT workshop and what youth theatre is all about? Celebrate Cruinniú na nÓg and explore storytelling for the stage with Dublin Youth Theatre! This practical 90 minute workshop in DYT’s studio space is suitable for ages 14–18 and will include a vocal and physical warm-up, exploring text and improvisation,…

Outreach Programme

In addition to the activities and workshops provided for our members, Dublin Youth Theatre also carries out OUTREACH programmes. We believe in the importance of drama and theatre for young people everywhere yet unfortunately we are limited by how many members we can welcome in each year. For this reason, we LOVE collaborating with external…

DYT Young Critics

Drawing on the resources developed by Youth Theatre Ireland and Youth Theatre Arts Scotland (YTAS), DYT launched its own Young Critics programme in 2019. DYT members benefit from workshops in the critique of theatre performance before attending professional productions in Dublin. After attending performances, they produce their own response and critique to the production in…

Specialist Workshops & Emerging Artists

We run longer workshops outside of our regular Saturday workshops in specialist areas of theatre each year. In 2019 we had a day long workshop on costume and sewing with Irish designer Zoë Carol Wong (you might recognise her from RTE’s The Fitting Room!)  In 2020 we adapted to the realities of online working and…

DYT Writers’ Group

In 2017 Dylan Coburn Gray was named the Irish Writers’ Centre Playwright-in-Residence at Dublin Youth Theatre. He led a group of 10 DYT members in a series of workshops on playwriting and mentored the members while they worked on their own pieces. From this group To Be A Bird by Amy Shields was selected for production as part of…

Activities

‘Listen Up’ Audio Project

In February of 2023, several members took part in our ‘Listen Up’ Audio Drama Project, facilitated by Hugh Hick. The project was supported by the Bank of Ireland ‘Begin Together’ arts fund in collaboration with Business to Arts. Three audio dramas were recorded at The Podcast Studios: ‘The Waiting Room’, ‘Roxy’, and ‘Flat White’.  

DIY Film Project 2022

During the February 2022 mid-term break, our members worked with two filmmakers, Keith Jordan and Jeda de Brí, who guided them through the process of creating a short film, from conception to post production. The members collaborated to create their own short films/sketches.

Pan Pan Theatre’s The Rehearsal, Playing the Dane

Dublin Youth Theatre was delighted to partner with Pan Pan Theatre for the revival of their award-winning production of The Rehearsal, Playing the Dane at the Abbey Theatre in May 2018. There’s something strange in the neighbourhood of contemporary Denmark. Who are you going to call? That is the question. In Pan Pan’s purgatorial presentation of Shakespeare’s…

Keep Sketch Summer Film Project

        During the summer of 2018 facilitator Alan King led this project with DYT members to devise, create and publish original comedic sketches. Using Design Thinking processes, this built upon the workshops Alan led at the residential intensive weekend in Feb 2018 and as part of our regular Saturday workshop programme in the…