'Adolescence' co-creator Jack Thorne joins NYT 70th anniversary
Adolescence co-creator Jack Thorne, Bridgerton star India Amarteifio and Dame Judi Dench headline the first wave of talent confirmed for the National Youth Theatre's one-night 70th anniversary show, Letters to My Younger Future Self, at London's Royal Festival Hall on Sept. 20 — a Netflix-backed event pairing screen icons with rising performers.
Key Takeaways
- Jack Thorne, India Amarteifio, Adeel Akhtar, Jessica Henwick and other NYT alumni join the first announced lineup for the Sept. 20 show.
- Letters from Judi Dench and Lashana Lynch will be featured, with more names still to come.
- The Royal Festival Hall event is sponsored by Netflix and supports the charity during NYT's 70th anniversary year.
- Young people in Netflix and NYT's Ignite Your Creativity programme will work across performance, production and broadcast.
- Tickets are on sale now at nyt.org.uk, with proceeds benefiting the National Youth Theatre.
Who is joining the National Youth Theatre's 70th anniversary show?
The U.K.'s National Youth Theatre has unveiled the first wave of stars for Letters to My Younger Future Self. The lineup includes BAFTA winner Adeel Akhtar, 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).
Letters penned by Judi Dench (Skyfall) and Lashana Lynch (No Time to Die) will also feature, and further names are expected to be revealed. For more on how streaming stars are crossing into live performance, see our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage.
What is 'Letters to My Younger Future Self'?
The one-night performance marks seven decades of the world's first youth theatre. NYT alumni and supporters will share stories, advice, and candid letters brought to life through spoken word, movement and song.
CEO and artistic director Paul Roseby is helming the production alongside director Josie Daxter. The creative team includes dramaturgs Krishna Istha and Sophie Ellerby, video designer Will Duke, lighting designer Prema Mehta, composer Nicola Chang and choreographer Matthew Wells.
When and where will the anniversary performance take place?
The show is set for Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, at 6 p.m. at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall in London. It is supported by Netflix, which has partnered with National Youth Theatre since 2023.
That partnership has created more than 4,000 free opportunities aimed at drawing young people into behind-the-scenes creative careers. National Youth Theatre credited Netflix, Arts Council England and EON Productions for supporting the event, as reported by Variety.
Why does this anniversary lineup matter for U.K. screen talent?
National Youth Theatre says 60% of Britain's biggest screen stars started on stage. Its alumni include Daniel Craig, Helen Mirren, Regé-Jean Page and Matt Smith, plus writers such as James Graham and Lennie James.
Thorne, an NYT alumnus, said the organisation fired him with "a desperation to find another way to get into the rehearsal room" after he realised acting was not his path. Amarteifio called NYT "an important place for young people to hone their skills from across the country and without socio-economic exemption. Just art."
Tickets for Letters to My Younger Future Self are on sale now, with proceeds benefiting the charity during its 70th anniversary year.