New Stage

In 2008 NAYD launched a major new writing initiative for Irish Youth Theatre. Very often groups find it difficult to find suitable plays for performance. To address this situation NAYD has commissioned acclaimed writers to create work that is interesting and relevant to youth theatres in this country. Other elements to the project include festivals to showcase the work produced and residential weekends for participating directors.

New Stage 2012

New Stage 2012 is open for business!

Last year's call for plays revealed the riches of original work that has been created by our member youth theatres. This year's selection of plays have all been performed sucessfully by young people and were chosen to reflect the diverse needs of member groups. They are:

  • In Quest of a Play devised by Physically Phishy Youth Theatre and scripted by Geraldine O'Neill
  • It Only Ever Happens In The Movies devised by Mikel Murfi and John Taite along with the cast of the National Youth Theatre 2011
  • On Track by Ursula de Brun

These plays will be available exclusively to NAYD member youth theatres for a twelve month period. To order a copy of any of the plays or to find out more about New Stage, contact Alan King by phone on 01-8781301 or

A huge thank you and congratulations to all the youth theatres who participated in the New Stage 2012 launch in the Lir Dublin on 19 November. Three wonderful performances brought the plays to life and inspired some great discusssion.

The youth theatres were Activate Youth Theatre (Cork), Monaghan Youth Theatre and Clondalkin Youth Theatre (Dublin).

About New Stage 2010/2011

For New Stage 2010/2011,  NAYD shifted focus from specially commissioned plays to work that has already been created by youth theatres and has been successfully performed by young people. The plays were:

  • The Voyage of the Orphans -written by Fiona Quinn, devised with Co. Limerick Youth Theatre;
  • Trust Games - by Pete Mullineaux and Moya Roddy;
  • Snap'd - by Jim Daly:
  • Tenderfoot:  Four short plays by young writers: A Family Affair by Lisa Sherin, The Party by Sarah Hanlon, Trapped by Fear by Aisling O'Leary and Strike by Alison Bryan.

All the plays are now available to youth theatres through Playshare.