Burnley Youth Theatre

In its early years the Youth Theatre was run from various locations in Burnley, including the Deaf Institute on Hebrew Road.

In 1983 as part of the government's Youth Opportunities Programme, one shed was converted into a theatre which opened in September 1983 with the musical Camelot.

BYT (as Burnley Youth Theatre is affectionally known) depended on volunteers to ensure the successful running of the organisation.

The organisation was awarded lottery funding and money from NWDA and the building began in earnest, with the new theatre opening its doors in June 2005, with playwright David Edgar being in attendance.

Artistic Director Andrew Raffle welcomed HRH The Prince of Wales on 21 February 2008 and gave him a tour of the building, along with chair of the Board Colin Hardacre.

Playwright Julia Donaldson came to watch a performance of her book Bombs and Blackberries which was directed by Artistic Director Mandy Precious in March 2010.

When a flood and leaking roof caused the Burnley Youth Theatre to close from April 2018, BYT was warmly welcomed back to the new Drama Studio (Auditorium) of Unity College (formerly Towneley High School) as it presented the play Goodnight Mister Tom, the first time BYT had performed in the school since 1986.

After repairs Burnley Youth Theatre was officially re-opened by Sir Ian McKellen on 23 May 2019, when he unveiled a plaque and presented his one-man show celebrating his life and his 80th Birthday.