Are You Right for Youth Theatre? 5 Questions Every Director Should Answer

Hannah Crawford, OnStage Blog Columnist

As someone who has dedicated so much of her life to youth theatre, this topic is especially close to my heart. And let me be clear: this is not about trying to “gate-keep” who directs youth. It’s about making sure we are one, protecting kids, and also protecting directors who could be miserable in this role. 

Now, let's set the record straight here: “Could” any theatre professional direct youth theatre? Yes, absolutely. However, “should” any theatre professional direct youth theatre? Absolutely not. We need people who care about coaching kids in that seat. 

I think sometimes the misconception about youth theatre is that theatre professionals see it as a stepping stone, so to speak: kind of like “Okay, so directing a youth show is step one, step two is community theatre, step three is an equity show, and then step four…” etc. 

So, don’t think of this piece as being judgmental, that “oh, she’s saying I can’t do it.” Think of this more like a gut check for whether you should be doing it. 

Let me put in a no-brainer disclaimer here: anyone having a predilection to harming kids in any capacity, or having been convicted of a crime against children, should not under any circumstances be working around children in any capacity.

Question 1: Do You Actually Like Being Around Kids?

Alright, now reading this, you might be like, okay, well that’s a no-brainer. However, even I’ve been surprised by how many people just don’t like being around kids. Let me tell you that this point is non-negotiable. So, if you’re here and say, “yeah, I don’t like being around kids,” then you don’t even need to go through the rest of this honestly. 

This isn’t a matter of “Well, I’ll just put up with them for this”. If you don’t like kids, this is not for you. Now, you might be like “Well, this is kind of harsh, Hannah. Everyone likes kids and would do anything to protect a child.”

Well, that is different. 

You may “love” kids, but teaching and mentoring them is a whole different ballgame. The reality of it is that kids are loud, extremely curious, sometimes chaotic, and come with a string of emotions they don’t yet know how to regulate.

Are you up for that on top of directing a show?

Question 2: Are You Patient With Kids?

When you are directing an adult theatre show, you expect to be able to tell the cast something, and they just do it. When you’re going over your blocking, you may tell the protagonist you want the DSL. But blocking doesn’t always stick with kids. Are you okay repeating yourself more than five times for them to understand what DSL means?

Another area to be patient in is the emotional regulatory part. There are moments when the kids will get emotional about something that comes up, and you may need to spend a little more time on that. Are you prepared for a child onstage to all of a sudden freeze because they are expressing an emotion they haven’t before, and now they feel vulnerable because they are up in front of everyone? 

Are you patient with kids who can’t keep their attention for long and seem to struggle to sit still for more than 5 minutes? It never ceases to amaze me that the adults get frustrated at kids who can’t sit still during the whole rehearsal. They are children. They are not going to sit still for an hour.

This all takes patience. And if you can’t do that, it doesn’t mean that you are not a skilled director at all. It just means this is where the difference lies between being a skilled director and a good youth theatre teacher. Because at the end of the day, even though you are directing a youth show, you’re really teaching it. 

Question 3: Can You Separate Your Ego From the Process?

I think this builds on what I was saying at the beginning of the piece: that directing youth theatre is not a stepping stone. This isn’t something you need to accomplish to get on your resume to show you “can do anything.” 

Okay, let’s take me, for example. I have dedicated my life to youth theatre. Now, can I direct an adult theatre show? I absolutely can.

However, I don’t need that for my resume to show theatres that I can direct youth theatre shows. They want to see that I have experience directing youth. Basically, stick to your niche field. It’s not that you can’t ever explore outside of it, but stick to what you’re good at. 

To top it all off with a very red cherry, understand that something will always go wrong in a youth theatre show. And no, I’m not talking about the typical “something always goes wrong in a show”...the lights didn’t change, someone forgot a prop, the quick change is taking too long type thing. 

I’m talking about a kid who all of a sudden stops speaking because they completely forgot their lines, and they don’t know how to improvise it for the rest of the scene because they are too embarrassed. 

Are you, in essence, able to accept a “lesser” product on stage than what you would normally produce? Or would embarrassment and ego get in the way?

If you can’t handle that, it’s okay, but that means this isn’t for you because this will absolutely happen.

Question 4: Are You Prepared to Be More Than “Just” a Director?

I can’t tell you how many different hats I’ve worn teaching youth theatre. You aren’t just clocking in to direct a show and then calling it a day. You are going to be a mentor, listener, role model, and sometimes even an emotional support system because of something they are going through at home. 

Are you prepared to help a kid who has never felt like they have ever belonged anywhere, and who finally has a home in your show? Anyone who works in theatre knows that it is a place where people can be who they are and have that place to call their own. 

But what about kids who are just discovering who they are? What if one of your theatre students comes out as LGBTQIA? Are you prepared to help them navigate their emotions over it while they are in your show? Help to guide other theatre students who don’t understand?

This isn’t a punch-in and punch-out position. Teaching youth theatre is so much more than just being a director.

Question 5: Can You Handle the Responsibility That Comes With Trust?

Now, directing youth theatre is not a stepping stone, as I have said before. However, it is a stepping stone for kids. They have to go through that in order to get to high school, then college, then the real world, and so on.

Parents are entrusting you with their kids. They are trusting that you will help get them to where they need to be, setting them up for success as either an actor/actress or a role backstage. 

This is no small matter. This is a grave responsibility to know your boundaries as a youth teacher, maintain professionalism, and the weight of knowing how your words will affect your students for years to come.

Those who have gone through youth theatre always tend to remember their youth directors throughout their lives. I don’t remember all of the adult theatre directors I’ve worked with, but I absolutely still remember my youth theatre director. I remember her first and last name and exactly how she directed shows, even though I have not had any contact with her in probably 20 years, if not more. 

Youth theatre should be led by those who want to be there for the right reasons. It is okay if you’ve gone through this piece and come out with “I really don’t think this is for me”.

Doing what is best for kids is always the right call. 

And if you know that you’re not it, there honestly is no shame in that. Personally, I know I’m not the right fit to direct adult theatre shows. And I am at peace with that. 

So, if you get a youth directing opportunity, it is okay to turn that down because you know it’s not for you. Just as a brilliant calculus teacher may not be the best fit to teach 2nd-grade math, you may realize that you’re not the right fit for directing a youth show. 

We need talented directors who are patient and can mentor kids so they keep the love for the show and continue to grow throughout their lives. We don’t want to halt that growth because they encountered a director who couldn't offer the patience and understanding they needed.