Half Moon Theatre

Half Moon is the UK’s leading small-scale young people’s venue and touring company. It is a local organisation with a national remit. The company gives young people from birth to 18 (25 for disabled young people) an opportunity to experience the best in young people’s theatre, both as a participant and as an audience member.

Half Moon’s activity includes a season of professional plays for young and family audiences, including teenagers, national touring productions and an extensive creative learning programme, including seven youth theatres.

Half Moon’s expertise is in supporting artists and young people at every stage of their creative development, providing a gateway to engagement, offering pathways for progression and experimentation and then disseminating outcomes within the wider cultural sector, through performances, touring productions, open dialogue and continuing professional development.

There is a synergy between Half Moon’s participatory and professional theatre programmes, which have equal status and are mutually enriching. The company specialises in new writing and art-form development, involving artists who are under-represented in the sector and working collaboratively with a wide range of partners.

The company places an emphasis on engaging participants (artists and young people) who often feel excluded from arts activity, such as those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, Deaf and disabled people, or those excluded due to socio-economic circumstance.

The company produces through its touring wing, Half Moon Presents, many artists and companies, whose work can be seen throughout the UK.

Half Moon’s digital archive, exploring the company’s history, is available at www.stagesofhalfmoon.org.uk

Half Moon is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England and receives regular funding from Tower Hamlets (Arts and Leisure, and Education through THAMES), with further financial support from many trusts and foundations, commercial sources and individuals.