Since 2012, we at balletLORENT have been proud to bring something truly special to stages across the UK: our Young Cast.
With every stop on our national tours, we’ve invited local children from inner-city state schools to step out of their classrooms and into the spotlight—often for the very first time. None of them are trained dancers, and that’s exactly the point. What matters to us is their energy, spirit, and joy—something they bring in abundance.
From Newcastle’s West End, where we’re based, to stages as far apart as Inverness and Worthing, we’ve now welcomed 700 children to perform with us in productions like Snow White, Rapunzel, and Rumpelstiltskin. And more than 7,000 children have taken part in free creative workshops delivered by our professional dancers in their schools.
Each time, we collaborate with a local primary school near the venue we’re touring to—most recently with our Snow White tour in Derby, Doncaster, Hull, East London, and Darlington—to cast a brand-new group of children who work alongside our company to create something unforgettable.
Whether they’re dancing the maypole with balloons, transforming into forest animals, or making bold entrances on scooters, our young performers bring the stage to life in ways that surprise and delight both audiences and their teachers.
For many, it’s their first time inside a theatre, let alone performing in one. But from the moment they start rehearsing, their commitment and focus are incredible—and the impact is lasting. Some discover a passion for the arts. All of them leave with a boost in confidence, creativity, and self-belief.
One of our proudest moments? Seeing Freya Allan, who joined us at age 11 in Rapunzel at Oxford Playhouse, go on to star in Netflix’s The Witcher and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
As our founder and artistic director Liv Lorent says:
"This isn’t just about performance—it’s about expanding horizons. When children see themselves on stage, they start to believe they belong there."
We believe in access, inclusion, and the power of possibility. That’s why we continue to run free creative activities from our Newcastle studio all year round. Our Youth Academy (ages 7–12) and Creative Studio for teens (ages 13–18) offer safe, inspiring spaces for young people to explore dance, theatre, music, film, and more.
Here’s to the next 700 young performers—and the thousands more we hope to reach.
