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A large group of young actors in bright clothing performing a scene from Alice, A Musical Adventure in Wonderland.

Young people

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We offer young people opportunities to develop their creative talents and skills. Whether you want to join in as a hobby or want to pursue a creative career, involvement in the arts can be life changing.

We provide on-stage, off-stage and training opportunities. We also provide a ticket scheme for young people aged 11-25. Please click the relevant link below for more information on the variety of programmes on offer.

Contact us

Phone or email us with any questions you may have.

White envelopeEmail: engage@mayflower.org.uk

White phoneTel: 02380 711811

On-stage

We are proud to ignite passion and creativity in young people. We want to give young people opportunities they never thought possible. We aim to bring them together in a love of theatre and the performing arts.

We offer three programmes to access the stage for young people; Mayflower Youth Theatre, Summer Youth Project and Christmas Youth Production.

Young actors flying in a scene from Peter Pan - An Awfully Big Musical Adventure. The boy is wearing dirty green denim shirt and top and the young girl is in a white night gown.

Christmas Youth Production

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2 young female actors on stage. The actor in the foreground is sat on a white cube looking pensive whilst wearing black jeans and a grey hoodie. The actor is the background is out of focus and staring at the other performer.

Mayflower Youth Theatre

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Elevate Ensemble

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Blue Apple Youth Theatre

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Pinkish red printing of side-profile of woman's head on deep purple background. The Last Rose of Summer block printed over the top. Mayflower Made producer logo in corner

Mayflower Summer Projects

Pre-registration is open. Applications open 13 January 2025. Register your interest now!

Learn more

A group of young white dancers wearing yellow leggings and black and white checked coats with their right leg raised and their arms strecthed.

Production photos

View 17 images
A group of young whte children in yellow and orange outfits looking bewildered on stage in a scene from our 2023 Summer Youth Project, Honk!
Summer Youth Project - HONK!
A group of young white male and female performers. The male is holding a shoe in the air and confetti is falling around him.
Grimm Tales Summer Youth Project
Diverse image of young performers posing on stage during a scene from Grimm Tales at MAST Mayflower Studios
2 young females and 1 young male performing with red puppets in a scene from Grimm Tales.
A young white female performing under a spotlight whilst images from our Bugsy Malone photoshoot rotate on a screen behind her.
A large group of young actors posing on stage during a performance of Bugsy Malone
A group of young white females reading from a book during a scene from Guys and Dolls
Young white male performer stood on a box in the centre of a stage with other performers around him reaching out towards the young man.
Young white male in a blue coat looking at another young white male wearing a black top hat and purple coat in a scene from our Summer Youth Project, Oliver!
Oliver. Summer Youth Project 2015.
Young white male in blue trousers and blue jacket with his back to the audience holding a bowl begging for food whilst the other performers on stage stare at him.
A group of diverse young people standing in pairs back-to-back with their arms stretched outwards.
A diverse group of young people performing on stage with their fist raised in the air.
Peter Pan - An Awfully Big Musical Adventure - Christmas Youth Production 2021
Young white male and young white female in bright elaborate costumes performing a scene from Alice, A Musical Adventure in Wonderland
A young girl in blue dress and white apron performing on stage
Alice, A Musical Adventure in Wonderland - Christmas Youth Production 2022
A group of young performers in bright costumes performing in our Christmas Youth Production - Alice, A Musical Adventure in Wonderland.
Young man with his arms raised perofrming on stage during our Christmas Youth Production of Alice, A Musical Adventure in Wonder;and

Off-stage

We are much more than shows. Our activities are for all ages with opportunities to get involved both on and off stage.

Writing workshops | Academic years 3-13

We partner with Southampton based writer development agency ArtfulScribe. Students develop skills in characterisation, story lines, dialogue and setting. Learn more

Production Arts | Ages 15-18

Weekly sessions looking at aspects that help bring a show together. Areas include prop making, deputy stage managing, lighting, and sound. Learn more

Mayflower City Eye Young Filmmakers | Ages 12-17

Young people gain insider knowledge of film creation in weekly sessions led by City Eye. Learn more

Holiday workshops

Craft making and fun games for everyone.

 

A group of young adults filming backstage at Mayflower Theatre.
View 8 images
Young boy in front of someone holding a clapper board. The boy is wearing sunglasses and a coat and is sat on a chair in front of a green screen.
Mayflower City Eye use a green screen.
Close up image of a young person in silhouette shining a spotlight at performers on stage.
Production Arts - operating the spotlight
Diverse group of young children staring at the camera behind a lit spotlight
A group of young white students on a theatre tour standing in a box staring out over the auditorium.
4 white men from Singin' in the Rain are sat on stools on the stage taking questions from a young audience.
A collection of old programmes and paraphernalia showing the history of Mayflower Theatre
Display created by our heritage volunteers for the run of Jersey Boys.
Young woman in white shirt and short check skirt standing in front of a green light taking direction from someone with their back to the camera in silhouette.

Mayflower Student Nights

Fancy tickets for a tenner?

Sign up to Mayflower Student Nights for FREE and receive the following:

  • Regular opportunities to see fantastic productions at our venues
  • 10% discount on drinks at the bar when you show your student ID
  • Access to events such as post-show talks and Q&A’s
  • Private student Backstage Tours
  • Advance email notification of upcoming Student Nights offers at Mayflower venues

 

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Training

We offer a variety of opportunities designed to find, shape, inspire, champion and sustain the next generation. We can:

  • Support you with performing arts training through our Young Company and Elevate Ensemble.
  • Provide financial support for drama school training through our Higher Educational Bursary.

Higher Education (HE) Bursary Scheme

Our scheme is open to all young people who have the aspiration to follow a career in theatre, whether on or off stage.

Who is eligible?

To qualify, you must:

  • Be aged 18-25 years old.
  • Live in Hampshire (as your home address).
  • From a lower income household
  • Have been offered a place at HE or be currently studying a creative subject at HE.
What courses are supported?

Although we do support some university courses, our support is prioritised to those attending a course run by a member of The Federation of Drama Schools, and you can apply for any year of your study.

Please find list of the Drama Schools here.

What does it provide support for?

Higher Education Tuition Fee Grant:

Up to £3,000 for an accredited training course with the minimum course length of one year. Please note, we do not support Foundation courses.

The maximum amount of our Tuition Fee Grant is £3,000. However, in addition we can also offer one of the awards below at our discretion:

  • The Edward, Lord Montagu Award for a maximum of £9,000
  • The Isobel Gatward Award for a maximum of £6,000
  • The Off Stage Award for a maximum of £6,000
  • The Malcolm Le Bas Award for a maximum of £6,000

Awards are made directly to the education provider to cover the cost of student fees.

Support Grants:

Up to £500 to:

  • purchase equipment and books required for study
  • attend a short arts specific training course/workshop of no more than one week’s length
  • to support audition fees and/or travel expenses for application to higher education courses. An invoice with receipts is required
How do you apply?

Applications for our Higher Education Bursary Scheme and Support Grant are now open. Discover more…