The National Youth Theatre is New Zealand's premier musical theatre training programme for young people aged 7-21. With training programmes in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), Manukau, Kirikiriroa (Hamilton) and in Ōtautahi (Christchurch).

Open to all without audition, our performing arts training programmes include term time workshops in musical theatre (TripleThreat) & Drama (ActingUp), holiday programmes (AllStars), two full-scale musical theatre productions each year featuring a diverse cast of up to 250 at the Aotea Centre and short programmes of 12 weeks in other centres. 

Within an inclusive and supportive atmosphere, our professional theatre mentors provide unique opportunities for young performers to be part of a major theatrical production whilst inspiring them to have fun, build confidence, and develop essential capabilities including:

  • communication and language skills

  • imagination and creative problem solving

  • co-ordination and motor skills

  • the ability to work under pressure

  • teamwork

  • a sense of pride in group achievement

  • an understanding of commitment and accountability to self and others

  • resilience

  • patience

  • perseverance

And through our Outreach programme, we not only provide full scholarships for a large number of deserving students to join the cast, but we also reach new audiences by presenting three to four school performances and partnering with deserving schools to fully fund their attendance at those shows.

Our programmes change lives. Whilst some will be inspired to pursue a career in the theatre, every child will benefit from an experience which enables them to confidently take the stage and happily interact with their peers whilst developing the skills for well-rounded lives.