BLAST Youth Theatre

Tickets Now on Sale for BLAST Youth Theatre’s Gather & Tell

Join us for an interactive journey through stories from across the globe.

Sunday, 5 July 2026 at Metal Southend, Chalkwell Hall, Westcliff-On-Sea

Find out more and book tickets
Find out more and book tickets

BLAST Youth Theatre is a vibrant hub for youngsters aged 8-12, focussed on those with English as an additional language. Through dynamic and exhilarating drama activities, we ignite the spark of confidence, develop language skills & support well-being.

BLAST Youth Theatre, launched in 2021 in collaboration with Welcome To The UK and expanded to Basildon in 2024 in partnership with Signpost and Towngate Theatre.

Registrations for September 2025 are now closed. If you have any enquiries or would like to join our waiting list, please get in touch.

Contact BLAST Youth Theatre
Contact BLAST Youth Theatre
BLAST Youth Theatre member: Child in colorful, shiny costume with arms outstretched, performing on stage.
Latest News
Stories, Culture and Creativity at BLAST Youth Theatre
Stories, Culture and Creativity at BLAST Youth Theatre

This autumn, BLAST Youth Theatre launched Gather & Tell, our Arts Council–funded storytelling project. Through folk tales from around the world, shared feast days, and imaginative drama and design sessions, young people have been celebrating culture, creativity and community. Read more about our journey so far.

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BLAST Youth Theatre awarded BBC Children in Need funding
BLAST Youth Theatre awarded BBC Children in Need funding

We are thrilled to announce that BLAST Youth Theatre has been awarded funding from BBC Children in Need to support our work with vulnerable young people in Southend and Basildon.

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BLAST Youth Theatre Wraps Up 2024/25 with Found
BLAST Youth Theatre Wraps Up 2024/25 with Found

This summer, BLAST Youth Theatre closed the 2024/25 year with Found — a magical play about Archibald, a lost puppet discovering where he belongs. Performed by young people aged 8–12, it celebrated belonging, identity, and community.

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Meet the Creative Team Behind Found
Meet the Creative Team Behind Found

We’re so excited to introduce the brilliant creative team behind Found, our brand-new production with BLAST Youth Theatre.

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BLAST Youth Theatre Presents Found – Summer Update
BLAST Youth Theatre Presents Found – Summer Update

Our young company at BLAST Youth Theatre are well into rehearsals for Found – and the energy is electric!

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Ripple Effect: Creativity Springs Into Action
Ripple Effect: Creativity Springs Into Action

We’re feeling incredibly inspired by the creativity and passion that has emerged during the development of Ripple Effect. This term, both groups of Blast Youth Theatre have explored powerful themes of migration, acceptance, and unity, using their unique voices to share their stories.

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Ripple Effect: A New Theatre Project with BLAST Youth Theatre
Ripple Effect: A New Theatre Project with BLAST Youth Theatre

We’re thrilled to announce Ripple Effect, an inspiring new theatre project created by BLAST Youth Theatre and funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

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BLAST Youth Theatre Expands to Basildon This September!
BLAST Youth Theatre Expands to Basildon This September!

Elevator Arts is thrilled to announce the expansion of our beloved BLAST Youth Theatre to Basildon this September! Building on the success of our Southend group, we are excited to bring our innovative and inclusive project to more young people in the South Essex area.

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Behind the Scenes of Found

To celebrate our Found journey, we’ve created a special behind-the-scenes film featuring rehearsal moments, cast interviews, and insights from the creative team. It’s a chance to hear directly from our young performers about what Found meant to them — and to experience the teamwork, imagination, and energy that brought Archibald’s story to life.

“Taking part made me feel happy & very joyful. I have learnt confidence and taking part - expressing myself more through acting.”

— BLAST Youth Theatre member

BLAST Youth Theatre members: Children wearing colorful butterfly and superhero costumes with face paint, standing in front of a yellow curtain.
Group of children and adults celebrating on stage with a projection in the background and yellow curtains, some holding decorative paper dragons and waving.
Children on stage holding colorful paper puppets during a school performance.
Young girl with blonde hair, wearing a blue sports shirt, standing indoors with a smile, hands on her chest.
A woman and two children taking a photo at an indoor event. The woman is smiling and holding a colorful display. The girl has a homemade paper headpiece and is holding a painted stick, while the boy stands next to her. Several people are visible in t
Child smiling and holding a colourful fish-shaped puppet at a BLAST youth theatre performance with other children and puppets in the background.
A young girl dressed in a red costume performing a dance on stage with children dressed as animals in the background.
A group of people seated and standing, clapping and smiling during a BLAST youth theatre event inside a colourful cafe or community space with wall art and a bar area in the background.
Children performing in a colorful stage play, dressed in costumes, with yellow and pink curtains in the background.
A young girl with face paint being decorated with a paintbrush by another person at a festive event.
A young girl dressed as a clown and a young boy in a school uniform are standing indoors, both showing surprised or excited expressions.
A young girl with glasses and long dark hair reading from a colorful pamphlet titled "Magical Stories" in an indoor setting with framed photographs on the wall behind her.
Three young women are on a stage with two suitcases and a puppet resembling a star with a face. One woman is sitting on a blue suitcase, while the other two work together near the puppet.
A woman in a yellow sweatshirt and shorts sitting on stage, speaking to a group of children seated in front of her. The children are wearing colorful clothing and bandanas, some are raising their hands. The setting appears to be a theater or rehearsa
Two children dressed in costumes on a stage with large pink suitcases. One child is dressed like a magician or performer with a star hat and cape, while the other is dressed like a security guard or police officer, checking a set of keys.
Children on stage engaging in puppet show, with puppet made of paper mache and craft materials, and children dressed casually with bandanas.
Group of people taking photos and smiling at an indoor event.

“My son is less shy, more confident & developed his social skills.”

— Parent feedback

“My child has learnt lots about meeting peers from other cultures and countries.”

BLAST Youth Theatre 2025/26 Funders & Partners

Text logo that reads Supported by BBC Children In Need

Registered charity in England and Wales (802052) and Scotland (SC039557)

Arts Council England logo with "Lottery Funded" text and a hand icon.
Graphic with the text 'WELCOME TO THE UK' and a map of the United Kingdom filled with flags of various countries.
Logo of Signpost Resource Centres with black text and a small green circle over the letter 'i'.
Towngate Theatre logo with teal and pink lettering

BLAST Youth Theatre’s past funders

Logos "People's Postcode Lottery" on the left and "Postcode Places Trust" on the right, with a gold ribbon above each. Text reads "Supported by players of" and "Awarded funds from" above the logos.
Community Fund logo featuring a smiling hand with crossed fingers next to the text "Community Fund" in bold pink and black letters.
Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2022 logo next to Arts Council England lottery funded logo.
Logo of Comic Relief, a red square with white text, and the words "Funded by" in black outline.
Basildon Council logo with Basildon, Billericay, Wickford text
Logo with FSJ Charities text and butterfly design
Blue CO-OP logo on black background
Logo of The Rosca Trust with a design of four overlapping hands in different colors and the text "The Rosca Trust."
The phrase 'Stronger Starts' in large blue text with a red raspberry at the end.