HISTORY
Somerset Youth Theatre CIC was founded on 15 January 2021 by theatre-maker and educator Selina Keedwell, who grew up in a working-class home in Highbridge, Somerset. Having worked in state education for nine years, Selina noticed a pattern: while every child in the classroom displayed creativity, passion, and talent, access to extracurricular arts—whether drama, dance, or music—was often limited to the same small group of children. Barriers such as cost, travel, and confidence meant that many young people missed out on opportunities to explore the arts outside of school.
The arrival of Covid-19 deepened these inequalities. As schools reopened, it became clear that children and young people were experiencing a growing mental health crisis, compounded by the pressures of exams and achievement. Creative spaces such as the drama classroom became vital safe havens where young people could express themselves, explore identity, and talk openly about wellbeing.
Determined to create more of these spaces, Selina established Somerset Youth Theatre CIC. At the same time, she joined the School for Social Entrepreneurs to develop the organisation’s vision and language, and with support from Spark Somerset, began shaping SYT into a sustainable community-rooted organisation. In 2021 and 2022, Jo Evans and Fiona Hulme joined the board of directors, helping to steer the organisation through its early growth.
The journey was not without challenges. Moving from education into the arts and third sector required a huge leap of faith, and adapting safeguarding and pastoral approaches to a new context demanded innovation and resilience. Rural Somerset also presented practical barriers such as limited transport and a small specialist workforce. But every time SYT gathered young people in a rehearsal room or creative workshop, the importance of this work was clear: theatre could be a catalyst for growth, belonging, and change.
By 2022, SYT had moved from kitchen tables into its first office at Flook House, Taunton, enabling deeper collaboration and planning through a joined-up creative approach between Artists, local authority, schools and VCSFE sector. From a single youth theatre group in Highbridge, SYT grew rapidly—by 2025 reaching 13 weekly youth theatres across the county. Alongside this, the organisation built strong partnerships with freelance artists, provided training in safeguarding and inclusion, and increasingly embedded young people’s voices in decision-making.
Today, SYT continues to ask: what barriers do young people face in accessing creativity, and how can we remove them? We don’t pretend to have all the answers, but we remain committed to curiosity, learning, and collaboration—always putting young people first.
Looking ahead, we are excited to begin a new chapter at the Bridgwater Arts Centre, supporting young people who have grown with us since our inception and who may not fit traditional pathways into the creative industries. We are proud to see young people’s voices now influencing wider conversations—feeding back into local councils, parish networks, and education departments.
Somerset Youth Theatre CIC is still young, still learning, and still asking questions— it is a place of joy, creativity, and possibility.