Ages 5–18yrs

Weekly Drama Classes

QYT is one of the largest Youth Theatres the UK. We don’t just teach acting; we build friendships, confidence and a love for theatre. Weekly classes for 5-18 year olds allow children and teens to build long term friendships, self-assurance and performance skills.

About the classes

Classes are scheduled for each year group, running after school or on Saturdays. Designed for fun and skill-building, activities vary by age but include:

Drama games, improvisation, storytelling, group work, devising scenes, trust exercises, character development, voice work and performance skills.

Each year group has the opportunity to perform their end of term show case in a working theatre, giving them – and their parents – a unique experience!

What We Cover

SKILLS

Learn skills in vocal and physical work, characterisation and storytelling.

SELF-CONFIDENCE

Build trust and self-confidence through drama games and teamwork.

STAGE-TIME

Perform on a Questors stage in an end of term showcase, or audition for the annual QYT show or the Questors Christmas Pantomime.

Success Stories

Questors was really my first introduction to theatre. From first performing as a member of the Youth Theatre to later working backstage as a teenager. Questors provided me with a huge opportunity to expand my knowledge and skills, something I continue to be grateful for. I now work professionally as costume and puppet maker.

Shaan Latif-Shaikh, costume and puppet maker

Our grandchildren attend Questors Youth Theatre and it has been rewarding to watch them develop from shy children to confident stage performers. Thank you Questors!

A member of The Questors Theatre community

I spent 10 years in the youth theatre and made amazing friends for life, I owe The Questors so much.

A member of The Questors Theatre community

2026/27 Term Dates

  • Autumn Term: 14 Sept – 28 Nov 2026 (Half-term: 25 Oct – 1 Nov)
  • Spring Term: 4 Jan – 25 March 2027 (Two week half-term: 14 Feb – 25 Feb)
  • Summer Term: 12 April – 12 July 2027 (Half-term: 30 May – 6 June)

Please note: No classes on Bank Holiday Monday, 3rd May 2027

Weekly Timetable

Classes are allocated by school year group (e.g., Group 4A is Year 4).

Day Time Groups
Monday 16:15-17:15pm 17.30-19:00pm 1A 7A, 12-13A, 12-13B
Tuesday 16:15-17:15pm 17.30-19:00pm 2A 8A,9A,10A
Wednesday 16:15-17:15pm 17.30-19:00pm 3A 8B,9B,10B
Thursday 16:00-16:30pm 16:15-17:15pm 17.30-19:00pm Dreams In Motion (Junior) Dreams in Motion (Senior) 7B, 8C, 10C
Friday 16:15-17:15pm 17.30-19:00pm 17:45-19:15pm 7C 9C, 10D 11 A/B
Saturday 09.00-10.00am 10.15-11.15am 11.30-12.30pm 12.45-13.45pm 14.00-15:00pm 3B, 5A, 6A 1B, 4A, 5B 1-2A, 4B, 6B 2B, 3C, 6C 4C, 5C

Theatre for Everyone

We believe the stage belongs to everyone. Dreams in Motion is our specialist weekly drama class (Thursdays at 16:15) designed specifically for children with disabilities. Please contact our team at to discuss your child’s needs before enrolling.

Fees

As a registered charity, we strive to keep our high-quality training accessible to all.
We offer a discount for booking all three terms in a year at once.
We also offer concessionary fees to those in receipt of benefits.

Group Per Term Full Year (3 Terms)
Primary (Years 1–6) £120 £320
Secondary (Years 7–13) £130 £345
*Concessions (All Groups) £65 -

Ready to join?

Our classes are very popular and some have waiting lists, so don’t delay, put your name down today for a place.

PARENT ESSENTIALS

Your child’s safety and the quality of their experience with us is our priority. Find out more.

QYT Parent Info & Safety

In order to work together and create a safe, happy and productive environment, we must all agree on acceptable behaviour. Please review our Code of Conduct with the student.

Code of Conduct

We aim to create a safe environment where children can enjoy rewarding and stimulating experiences and believe the welfare of the child is paramount. Read our full policy below.

Child Protection Policy

All members of the Questors Youth Theatre must purchase a QYT branded T-Shirt and wear when attending any QYT activity. These include classes, masterclasses, workshops, rehearsals, showcases and other special events. These T-Shirts are compulsory.

Buy your T-Shirt here

Meet the Mentors

At QYT, your child is taught by practitioners who live and breathe theatre. From West End designers to RSC guest tutors, our team brings real-world experience directly into the rehearsal room. Every member of our staff holds a current Enhanced DBS certificate and is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and creative environment.

Caitlyn Vary

QYT Tutor/TA

Caitlyn Vary started her acting journey with us at the age of eight! Since then, she has completed her drama school training at Drama Studio London with a BA in Professional Acting! As a Questors acting member, she has appeared in Robin Hood (2019), Snow White (2022), The Anniversary (2025) and Emma (2025). For the past three years whilst training, she has been working with our Youth Theatre too! As Caitlyn is in the industry herself, she is so excited to mentor our youth theatre members in their acting journey. She strives to deliver fun, inspiring and creativity-filled lessons involving devising, script work and confidence building!

Jessica Balmer

Lead Tutor, Acting for All; Senior QYT Tutor

Jessica is an actor, director, facilitator and Associate of the National Youth Theatre. She has worked with a plethora of arts organisations and youth theatres across London and Berkshire to share her process, knowledge and love of the creative industry.

As an actor she has worked in TV, Film and Theatre and has recently finished a U.K. tour of ‘Macbeth’ and ‘A Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde’ with Dickens Theatre Company. You can see her star along side Simon Pegg, Minnie Driver and Christopher Llyod in ‘Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose’ streaming on Amazon Prime and as Mia in horror film ‘Pinocchio Unstrung’ alongside Richard Brake releasing this summer in cinemas.

Lolade Ajala

QYT Senior Tutor

Lolade has 20 years’ experience of working in schools and creative learning environments. She is a highly adaptive drama practitioner and has a gift for working creatively with children and young people. She is passionate about the power of using drama to nurture confidence, wellbeing and life skills, as well as important values in students. A creative magpie, Lolade regularly takes part in a wide variety of workshops in order to learn new skills which she adapts to create a dynamic and positive learning experience. Her classes are always fun and inclusive to meet individual needs.

Alex Marker

Artistic Director, Youth Theatre Director and Senior Tutor

Alex is the current director of The Questors Youth Theatre and has taught on the programme for thirty years. He is a qualified teacher (PGCE: University of Greenwich) and taught theatre craft subjects at Kingston Upon Thames College’s Production Arts course for 14 years. He also spent 6 years lecturing on the University of West London’s Technical Theatre BA (Hons) course. He has run workshops and masterclasses for a wide range of clients including:  The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Open Stages Project, The Little Theatre’s Guild of Great Britain, The National Operatic and Dramatic Association and The National Student Drama Festival. Parallel to his teaching career Alex is a critically acclaimed stage designer. Since graduating (BA Hons in Theatre Design: Wimbledon School of Art), Alex has designed over 200 productions for fringe, regional, touring, site-specific and West End venues. He is also Resident Designer at the Finborough Theatre and the Artistic Director of The Questors Theatre.

Claudia Carroll

QYT Tutor

Claudia has been at the Questors since 2010. She was in Student Group 65 and has been in productions ever since, enjoying everything but particularly travelling to Slovenia for the Questival, and The Minack Theatre for She Stoops to Conquer and The Country Wife. Claude has been involved in many areas of the theatre: touring, the Grapevine, Get ins and so on. She organised the 60th Anniversary of the Grapevine, initiated new members with the Thursday Night Drinks and all the aftershow parties of all her plays.

She is Senior Tutor of the Youth Theatre years 8 & 12-13 and is a constant presence around the theatre.

FAQs

All our Questors Youth Theatre members are required to wear our QYT branded T-shirt. This can be purchased via the link below. We recommend appropriate footwear and comfortable clothing for ease of movement.

Uniform shop

Parents and carers are not able to stay and watch sessions, though you are welcome to stay onsite during the lesson in our foyer and café areas. Each class will do a showcase during the year for parents and carers to watch, so you can see how they have developed their skills.

We advise students not to bring smartphones and other mobile devices to The Questors Theatre. If they do, please be aware that it is at their own risk as we do not take responsibility for any personal belongings. Students must turn off their phones before the class starts and not use phones or camera under any circumstances during the sessions.

If the student is unable to attend a session, please email youththeatre@questors.org.uk or call 020 8567 0011 during office hours to let us know.

More from the Youth Theatre

QYT+ Masterclasses (Ages 14–18)

For teens looking to explore creative and backstage elements of theatre, our masterclasses cover a range of skills.

View classes

Holiday Workshops

Make the most of school holidays with our range of workshops for primary and secondary ages.

View workshops

Youth Productions

Find out more about past QYT productions and our students in Questors productions.

View productions