Jack Thorne, India Amarteifio, Judi Dench Join Youth Theatre Show
Jack Thorne, India Amarteifio, Judi Dench Join Youth Theatre Show
Plus Icon
Film
Plus Icon
TV
Plus Icon
What To Watch
Plus Icon
Music
Plus Icon
Docs
Plus Icon
Digital & Gaming
Plus Icon
Global
Plus Icon
Awards Circuit
Plus Icon
Video
Plus Icon
What To Hear
Plus Icon
Click to expand the Mega Menu
Plus Icon
Click to Expand Search Input
Got a Tip?
Newsletters
Switch edition between
U.S. Edition
Asia Edition
Global Edition
U.S.
Asia
Global
Variety
Plus Icon
Click to expand the Mega Menu
Plus Icon
Click to Expand Search Input
Variety
Plus Icon
Read Next: ‘Oh, Mary!’: Giles Terera, Michael Urie and More Reprising Roles Alongside Cole Escola in West End Limited Run
Home
Theater
News
Jul 14, 2026 2:30am PT
‘Adolescence’ Co-Creator Jack Thorne, ‘Bridgerton’ Star India Amarteifio, Judi Dench Join National Youth Theatre’s 70th Anniversary Show (EXCLUSIVE)
By
Naman Ramachandran
Plus Icon
Naman Ramachandran
Latest
Kartik Aaryan, Mammootty, Yami Gautam Take Top Acting Honors as ‘Article 370’ Wins Best Feature at India’s National Film Awards
14 hours ago
S.S. Rajamouli Marks Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ Birthday With New ‘Varanasi’ Images
20 hours ago
‘Saiyaara’ Stars Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda Mark Film’s First Year With Collector’s Edition Vinyl LP Launch at Wembley Stadium (EXCLUSIVE)
23 hours ago
See All
National Youth Theatre/Variety
The U.K.’s National Youth Theatre has unveiled the first wave of stars joining “Letters to My Younger Future Self,” a one-night performance marking the organization’s 70th anniversary.
The show is set for Sept. 20 at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London and is supported by Netflix.
The lineup for the evening includes BAFTA winner Adeel Akhtar alongside India Amarteifio (“Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story”), Fehinti Balogun (“Down Cemetery Road”), Jessica Henwick (“Game of Thrones”), Rob Rinder (“Judge Rinder”), Sarah Solemani (“Bridget Jones’s Baby”), Takunda Muzondiwa and Jack Thorne (“Adolescence”), all NYT alumni or supporters set to share stories and advice at the event. Letters penned by Judi Dench (“Skyfall”) and Lashana Lynch (“No Time to Die”) will also feature, with further names to be revealed.
Related Stories
IPL 2026 Powers India's JioStar to $1.14 Billion Quarter and Streaming Record
Apple Music Hikes Subscription Prices, Citing Rising Licensing Fees
Paul Roseby, National Youth Theatre’s CEO and artistic director, is helming the production alongside director Josie Daxter. Krishna Istha and Sophie Ellerby handle dramaturgy duties, Will Duke is designing video, Prema Mehta is on lighting, Nicola Chang is composing sound and Matthew Wells is choreographing movement. Young people enrolled in Netflix and National Youth Theatre’s Ignite Your Creativity initiative will contribute across performance, production and broadcast roles for the show.
Popular on Variety
Akhtar, an NYT patron, said: “I came up through National Youth Theatre and it was a really, really important step in me being where I am now. I’m looking forward to being back with my friends from NYT for a special evening.”
NYT president Barbara Broccoli added: “The National Youth Theatre’s ‘Letters To My Younger Future Self’ at Southbank’s Royal Festival Hall promises to be a very special evening of entertainment celebrating the 70th anniversary of the world’s first youth theatre. We are assembling an exciting line-up of Britain’s brightest young talent to perform alongside NYT alumni, the U.K.’s leading actors across television, film and theater.”
Thorne, an NYT alumnus, said: “I love the NYT. I had the time of my life there and watching what they did with ‘Let The Right One In’ recently was just thrilling. I loved acting as a kid, and my dad brought me to London to audition for the courses they ran. He actually brought me three times, because I failed to get in the first two. But once inside it was like being welcomed to the best club. I was surrounded by ambition and talent. I quickly realized I wasn’t good enough to be an actor, but it fired me with a desperation to find another way to get into the rehearsal room.”
Amarteifio added: “Happy to be supporting NYT at The Royal Festival Hall in September. An important place for young people to hone their skills from across the country and without socio-economic exemption. Just art.”
Henwick said: “National Youth Theatre was a key step on the road to where I am today. I’m pleased to support the next generation on their journey into the industry.”
Ted Hodgkinson, head of literature and spoken word at Southbank Centre, added: “This new project is all about platforming the voices and views of young people, and asking big questions about what kind of society they want to build as we head into our next 75 years. We look forward to welcoming present and future stars of stage and screen to the Royal Festival Hall to hear their letters to their younger / future selves in what promises to be a very inspiring night.”
Netflix has partnered with National Youth Theatre since 2023, creating more than 4,000 free opportunities aimed at drawing young people into behind-the-scenes creative careers. National Youth Theatre said 60% of Britain’s biggest screen stars started on stage; its alumni include Daniel Craig, Helen Mirren, Adeel Akhtar, Andrea Riseborough, Matt Smith, Regé-Jean Page and Susan Wokoma, along with writers Jack Thorne, James Graham, Miriam Battye, Lennie James and Sarah Solemani, comedians Tom Allen and Joel Dommett, and musicians Ed Sheeran and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
Tickets for “Letters to My Younger Future Self” are on sale now, with proceeds benefiting the charity during its 70th anniversary year. National Youth Theatre credited Netflix, Arts Council England and EON Productions for their support of the event.
Read More About:
India Amarteifio,
Jack Thorne,
Judi Dench,
National Youth Theatre
Jump to Comments
More from Variety
Ariana Grande Makes Her Audience Wish ‘Sunshine’ Really Was Eternal in Bravura Oakland Tour Opener: Concert Review
Max Martin and Shellback Sell Catalog Including Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande Songs to HarbourView Equity Partners (EXCLUSIVE)
Ariana Grande Pitched Judy Garland ‘Get Happy/Happy Days’ Duet on ‘Wicked: One Wonderful Night’ Over Zoom
Ariana Grande Expands Philanthropic Efforts With Launch of Brighter Days Ahead Foundation
Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey’s ‘Sunday in the Park With George’ Revival Delays Ticket Sales Until Fall
Ariana Grande Drops Out of ‘American Horror Story’ Season 13 Amid Concert Tour
JavaScript is required to load the comments.
Loading comments...
Most Popular
Netflix Paid $587 Million for Ben Affleck’s AI Startup InterPositive
S.S. Rajamouli Marks Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ Birthday With New ‘Varanasi’ Images
Box Office: ‘The Odyssey’ Has Epic Opening Day With $51 Million
‘The Odyssey’ Cast Guide: All the Heroes, Gods and Characters in Christopher Nolan’s Greek Epic
Confused by 'The Odyssey'? All the Timelines, Monsters and Greek Myths Explained
‘The Odyssey’: What Academics Are Saying About Christopher Nolan’s Epic
'The Odyssey': All the Ways Christopher Nolan's Movie Is Different From the Book
Tom Brady Slaps Logan Paul at Fanatics Fest, Calls Him a 'Dork' and 'Nerd' on X
Lena Headey Rips Hollywood for Protecting ‘Predatory Men,’ Says ‘Game of Thrones’ Toxic Fans Got Mad She Didn’t Go Nude: ‘I Was Shocked by the Anger…
Shane Gillis Breaks Guinness World Record for Most Tickets Sold for a Solo Comedy Show (EXCLUSIVE)
Must Read
Film
The Box Office Bounces Back: Gen Z, Surprise Hits and More Have Hollywood Banking on a $10 Billion Year
By Andrew Wallenstein
4 days
TV
David Harbour Is Ready to Talk About His Mental Health, Lily Allen’s ‘West End Girl’ and the End of ‘Stranger Things’
TV
Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow’s ‘Friends’ Reunion: The Emmy Winners on Funniest Moments, Learning About AI and Making Another Sitcom With…
Legit
How Cynthia Erivo Survived ‘Wicked’ — and Thrived: ‘People Thought I Was Being Myself, Even Though I Was Green’
Film
‘Just F—ing Go for It’: How ‘Supergirl’ Star Milly Alcock Learned to Ignore the Trolls and Became a Punk Rock Superhero
Sign Up for Variety Newsletters
Your Email
Sign Up
Sign Up
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.
We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Variety Confidential
A Variety and iHeartRadio Podcast
More From Our Brands
Rolling Stone
What Makes the World Cup Hit Different? Ask the Music Industry
Robb Report
A Luxe Sardinia Hotel Just Opened a New Penthouse Suite. Here’s a Look Inside.
Sportico
Kerr of the Moment: Record Mile Attempt Is Months in Making
WWD
Wallace Chan’s Sci-fi Universe Unveiled at Shanghai’s Long Museum
Variety
About Us
Advertise
Media Kit
Careers
Legal
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
California Privacy Rights
Privacy Preferences
AdChoices
Your Privacy Choices
Accessibility
Magazine
Customer Service
Back Issues
Subscribe
Help
More
Newsletters
Archives
Events
Luminate
Connect
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
LinkedIn
Variety
The Business of Entertainment
Subscribe Today
Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2026 Variety Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. Powered by WordPress.com VIP
Have a News Tip? Let us know
Variety
Close the menu
Expand the sub menu
Film
News
Reviews
Podcasts
Box Office
Events
Columns
Trailers
Expand the sub menu
TV
News
Reviews
Podcasts
Ratings
Columns
Trailers
Expand the sub menu
What To Watch
Lists & Features
Expand the sub menu
Music
News
Album Reviews
Concert Reviews
Hitmakers
Music For Screens
Grammys
Expand the sub menu
Docs
Lists & Features
Expand the sub menu
Tech
Features
Global
VIP+ Tech
Expand the sub menu
Global
News
Asia
Markets & Festivals
Features
Expand the sub menu
Awards Circuit
News
Film Predictions
TV Predictions
Video
Artisans
Columns
Awards Circuit Podcast
Expand the sub menu
Video
Popular
Cover Shoots - Behind the Scenes
Actors on Actors
Power of Women
Events
Artisans
Expand the sub menu
What to Hear
Lists & Features
Expand the sub menu
More Coverage
Obituaries - submit obituaries to obits@variety.com
Photos
Podcasts
Scene
Voices
Theater
Expand the sub menu
More Variety
Live Media Summits
Vscore
Luminate - Film & TV
Variety Archives
Variety500
Industry Executives
Have a News Tip?
Newsletters
Switch edition between
U.S. Edition
Asia Edition
Global Edition
U.S.
Asia
Global
Alerts and Newsletters
Your Email
Sign Up
Sign Up
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.
We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Follow Us
Got a Tip?
Switch edition between
U.S. Edition
Asia Edition
Global Edition
U.S.
Asia
Global
Advertise
About
Contact Us
Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2026 Variety Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Icon Link
Plus Icon
ad