York’s venerable Theatre Royal has gone much further than handing out free tickets to young people, it’s asked them to run the show too.

Robbie Swale has been booking acts for the programme at York’s Theatre Royal this month. But Robbie doesn’t work for the theatre. He has a job with the Meat Hygiene service. Izzy Madgwick has been commissioning designers, employing photographers and issuing press releases for the York Theatre Royal since May, but she’s not on the theatre payroll either - she’s just graduated from university.
In fact, stroll into the foyer of the city’s prestigious and venerable theatre building, 265 years old and still going strong, and you will come across box office staff, technicians, managers and catering supervisors who are not only extraordinarily young, but none of them will be on any kind of employment contract with the theatre.
But this is not a student occupation..it is rather, one of the most daring schemes ever undertaken by a regular theatre. From September 19 until October …everything at York Theatre Royal will be run by a group of young people who have been allowed to take over the theatre lock, stock and barrel.