Theatre for Young Audiences

From the “Gentleman Freak” to the “Rage-Filled Recluse,” simplistic tropes limit popular representation of disabled individuals. Ben Ranaan explains these tropes and advocates for more complex portrayals of disability in theatre and other media.

Ilasiea Gray looks at the many challenges kids of color face in the performing arts, including access and exposure, the lack of educators of color, and more.

Robert Barry Fleming, executive artistic director of Actors Theatre, and Courtney Sale, artistic director of Merrimack Repertory Theatre, converse about structural racism and systems of oppression, what can be learned from theatre for young audiences, the possibilities in a post-COVID world, and more.

Jennifer Rodrigo sits down in conversation with Sabera Shaik, the artistic director of Malaysia’s Masakini Theatre Company, about the country’s fragmented arts community, shadow theatre, and more.

Tiffany Vega-Gibson shares information she gleaned from seven theatre companies around the United State about how to best work with young artists who may be struggling in their personal lives.

Clare Hennessy discusses the challenges of developing a play that sheds light on eating disorders—depicting them accurately, avoiding triggers—and offers suggestions for other writers in a similar position.

Alex Ates reflects on the Toddler Takeover at Atlanta, Georgia’s Alliance Theatre and shares what the growing field of theatre for the very young can teach adult theatremakers about their craft.

Roxanna Myhrum looks at the history of the iconic puppet show Punch and Judy and Sarah Nolen’s feminist adaptation of it, Judy Save the Day.

Kim Peter Kovac looks at the way the theatre for young audiences field has changed over the last few years, where it’s at today, and what his hopes are for the future.

Alex Ates examines the recent production of Christina Ham’s Four Little Girls at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

Marci R. McMahon reports on the 2019 Latinx Theatre Commons Theatre for Young Audiences Festival and Convening, which took place in January 2019 in Austin, Texas. 

Playwright Jenny Kokai talks about co-writing a piece of theatre for young audiences with her now twelve-year-old son.

Maximilian Kempf discusses climate change theatre through the lens of the Anthropoligists’ show This Sinking Island.

Bebê de Soares talks about her organization, Amazonas Network, and the work they’re doing to internationalize Latin American theatre for young audiences. 

Ramón Esquivel looks at the recent history of Latinx theatre for young audiences, who is creating the work, and how the sector can grow.

Marco Novelo explores the little-known history of theatre for young audiences in Mexico. / Marco Novelo explora una historia poco conocida del teatro para niños en México.