Judi Dench pens letter to younger self for National Youth Theatre’s anniversary

Dame Judi Dench, Adeel Akhtar, India Amarteifio and Jessica Henwick are among the first wave of stars announced for National Youth Theatre's Letters to My Younger Future Self, a one-night event marking the organisation's 70th anniversary.

Taking place at London's Royal Festival Hall on September 20, the event will bring together National Youth Theatre alumni and supporters to share letters reflecting on their younger selves. Supported by Netflix, the evening will raise funds for the youth theatre charity.

The line-up includes BAFTA-winning actor Adeel Akhtar, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story star India Amarteifio, Fehinti Balogun, Jessica Henwick, broadcaster Rob Rinder, Sarah Solemani, Roundhouse Poetry Slam winner Takunda Muzondiwa and Adolescence co-creator Jack Thorne.

Letters written by Dench and No Time to Die actor Lashana Lynch will also feature during the event, with further contributors set to be announced.

The event is directed by National Youth Theatre chief executive and artistic director Paul Roseby alongside Josie Daxter. Young creatives from National Youth Theatre and Netflix's IGNITE Your Creativity programme will work across the production, both on stage and behind the scenes.

Adeel Akhtar, who is a patron of National Youth Theatre, said: "I came up through National Youth Theatre and it was a really, really important step in me being where I am now. I'm looking forward to being back with my friends from NYT for a special evening."

National Youth Theatre president Barbara Broccoli said: "The National Youth Theatre's Letters to My Younger Future Self at Southbank's Royal Festival Hall promises to be a very special evening of entertainment celebrating the 70th anniversary of the world's first youth theatre. 

We are assembling an exciting line-up of Britain's brightest young talent to perform alongside NYT alumni, the UK's leading actors across television, film and theatre."

Jack Thorne, who will also take part, reflected on the impact National Youth Theatre had on his career, saying it gave him "the desperation to find another way to get into the rehearsal room" after he realised acting was not the right path for him.

Founded in 1956, National Youth Theatre describes itself as the world's first youth theatre. Its alumni include Daniel Craig, Helen Mirren, Florence Pugh, Regé-Jean Page, Matt Smith, Susan Wokoma and Andrea Riseborough, while former members also include writers James Graham, Miriam Battye, Lennie James and Sarah Solemani.

Letters to My Younger Future Self takes place at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, on September 20.