National Youth Theatre of Wales Commissions Playwright Bethan Marlow for 50th Anniversary Production
We’re excited to announce National Youth Theatre of Wales (NYTW) has begun work on a bold, bilingual, semi-verbatim work by acclaimed playwright Bethan Marlow that has the voices, stories and ambitions of Wales's next generation at its heart.
This 50-year milestone comes at a moment of renewed focus on the kind of Wales we want to build and how young people want their stories to be told. To mark this, 25 of Wales's most promising young performers will collaborate this summer with Bethan to develop an ambitious new music filled state-of-the-nation production set to tour Welsh stages in 2027.
Working alongside the ensemble members and Bethan this summer will be director Hannah Noone and a wider creative team who this year will present an exclusive preview of this work in progress featuring a selection of scenes and musical numbers at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama on the 30th of July 2026.
The work has already started with a series of online workshops held over the past months where the NYTW members and Bethan have got to know each other and collaborated to shape this work and its identity.
Originally from North Wales, Bethan is known as a writer that creates fictional worlds with real voices working with and within easy to ignore communities in our society. Scripts that seep of queer joy, gut-punching drama and authenticity.
Bethan’s work spans theatre, film and television with the acclaimed work Nyrsys (Theatr Cymru) and the coming-of-age classic Cysgu’n brysur, both testament to their unique approach that finds the extraordinary and joy in the everyday through stories that connect with audiences from all ages and backgrounds.
Bethan Marlow says: "To have the opportunity to work with young people in Wales, to write a piece of theatre in response to their thoughts and feelings about today's world, is an absolute privilege. I never get tired of working with real-life voices and hearing what makes them tick. I'm excited to see what we can create together."
Megan Childs, Head of Theatre at NYAW, says:
“Having had the pleasure of sitting in on the online workshops all I can say is If what comes next is half as prolific creatively and as collaboratively generous then this is shaping up to be something very special for participants and audiences alike.”
Come and see the work
For a special glimpse of the work by National Youth Theatre of Wales 2026, a limited ticketed sharing performance will be held at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama on Thursday 30th July at 7pm.
Photo: Bethan Marlow by Kristina Banholzer