World Day of Theatre for Young People 2025

Foreword by Afsaneh Torabi, Generator artist

“To celebrate World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People, we asked our PIPS to offer their reflections on what theatre offers them. Their responses are a moving and surprising insight into the inner world of the child and how they find expression, restoration, focus and authenticity in the sanctuary of theatre.

Their words speak of a space where permission meets possibility to create the conditions for creativity to sprout and be nurtured into all it’s tendrilled, robust and wildly interwoven glory. But achingly, they also speak of the need to find a counterpoint to worries and fears- whether that looks like shaping those feelings with simple materials into something they can hold, examine and play with, or finding reprieve in an enchanted, self-directed world built by imagination and wonder.

In a world that often emphasizes structure and results, Polyglot instead proposes a game; one that seems to say, ‘Let’s see what happens when…’ Where every moment is co-devised and could shift at any moment because it responds to the collective expression of all who participate. What I hear in these testimonies is the flow-on effect of that; I can be me, I can do what I want in the ways I know how, I can be inspired, I am part of something greater, it is fun.

These responses remind me that the most suitable thing isn’t always the most complex thing; that simplicity allows room for movement and imagination. As a theatre maker for young audiences, it is what I’ve learnt to most strive for; to leave space for the creativity of the child to occupy. And certainly, they have taught me that. And in turn we offer back theatre to nurture that very child in the ways that (in their words) only theatre can. Together, we grow.

Let their words inspire you as much as the experience of theatre has inspired them.”

FLOAT. Photo: William Hamilton-Coates, MPavilion, 2024

World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People has been celebrated by ASSITEJ International on 20 March since 2001, and promoted through the message ‘take a child to the theatre today’. 

“…dedicated to promoting the importance of theatre and performing arts in children’s and young people’s lives… this special day aims to raise awareness of the transformative power of theatre and performing arts in nurturing creativity, imagination, and empathy among young audiences worldwide.”

To mark the occasion in 2025, Polyglot Theatre asked some of our PIPS to reflect the importance of theatre. Polyglot Inspiring People Society (PIPS) is a group of young people who contribute to the testing of ideas in the creation of new work, and to the company’s continuing education of how young people think and collaborate. We asked them how they feel when they experience theatre, like Polyglot shows, and why it’s important for all children everywhere to be able to experience theatre.

Here’s what our PIPS shared:

“I like it because… It’s fun! I like making theatre, and I feel focused making birds, trees, stingrays and I play with it, or I hang them in the space. Because I don’t need to use any heavy tools like a nail or drills, I can easily make the stories out of the papers, hands, clips and scissors.” Miro

Art Tree. Photo: Sarah Walker

“I feel happy and excited when I go to theatre because it is very fun! It’s important to experience theatre, because it can be fun, sometimes it makes you laugh and it’s just really interesting!”

Ants. Photo: Lucy Parakhina, Bondi Festival.

“I feel excited and joyful when I go to see or do something at the theatre. Everyone should get a chance to experience theatre because you get to express yourself in different ways.” Maisie, age 9

Sound Shadows. Photo: Theresa Harrison.

“Just being able to do whatever you want and just play and have fun and make stuff. I feel like it’s good for kids if you’re having a hard time or hard day, you can just go to Polyglot and it’s really fun because you can let out all your worries and just make them into something…

Polyglot is really inspiring for me because it just helps you be yourself and be whatever you want to be. Like the time… I made a spider and I was a little bit scared that day of some things, and I was a little bit worried, but just putting those away, putting the worries away and just having fun and playing and making stuff and making it look so cool, it’s just all that matters. And you can put all your worries away whenever you need to and come to Polyglot! It was really, really fun. I felt like I could just be myself and do whatever I wanted, and I could make whatever I want. I could make a robot or something. I could do anything my imagination would lead me to. So it was really fun, and the people who ran it inspired us to be ourselves and just be free I guess.

[When I experience theatre] I feel inspired and like my imagination has took me off to a new world, and I just… feel like that every kid should be able to… experience the magic in theatres! Because it’s just so magical and inspiring and it makes me feel like I can believe in myself and do new things and try my best. So that’s what I feel when I do theatre.”

Cubbyhood. Photo: Suzanne Phoenix.

Feature: Paper Planet. Photo: Ai Ueda.