Free plays. Extraordinary artists. Unforgettable opportunities for young people.
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participating groups
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young people
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plays commissioned
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of young people reported pride and achievement through taking part (Season 4)
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felt confident or highly confident to take part in drama afterwards (Season 4)
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of group leaders said the programme increased young people’s access to cultural opportunities (Season 4)
“I’m so much more confident. Life’s so much more than being shy!”
Young Participant
“When you’re doing it on zero budget, to get good quality new writing is really difficult. So getting hold of good quality, free, new scripts is huge for small arts venues like ours.”
Group Leader
“an astonishing youth theatre initiative”
Joyce McMillan
Welcome to Season 5 (2026-2027)
Positive Stories for Negative Times is Wonder Fools’ free international theatre project by young people for young people. Across the last five seasons, it has brought together 11,583 young people from 817 groups to make bold, imaginative theatre in schools, youth theatres and communities.
Recognised for its impact and ambition, Positive Stories for Negative Times was a finalist for The Stage Awards Community Award and is a huge part of Wonder Fools’ nomination for the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards 2026 Empty Space… Peter Brook Award.
We commission some of the most exciting artists working in theatre today to create brand new work for performers aged 6 to 25. Writers and artists commissioned by PSfNT have included Tim Crouch, Bryony Kimmings, Douglas Maxwell, Travis Alabanza, Ella Hickson, James Ley, Stef Smith, Sabrina Mahfouz, Chris Thorpe, the Pappy Show, Hannah Lavery and more.
Each season, participating groups receive access to brand new plays and play-blueprints completely free, alongside practical resources and support to help bring the work to life. Whether you are a teacher, youth theatre leader, artist or community organiser, PSfNT is designed to make brilliant theatre feel accessible, flexible and exciting.
Sign up / Get Involved
Perform at a Showcase Weekend
Perform at a Showcase Weekend is for groups in Scotland who want to work with us across the year towards one of our Showcase Weekends. You will rehearse and develop your chosen piece in your own setting, then have the chance to share your work live as part of a wider programme alongside other groups from across the country. The 2027 events will take place at the Citizens Theatre (Glasgow), An Lanntair (Stornoway), and Theatre Royal (Dumfries).
Sign up – Perform at a Showcase Weekend
Perform in Your Community
Perform in Your Community is for groups looking for a more flexible way to be involved. You will still receive the plays, resources and support, and can take part from anywhere in the world in a way that fits your group and schedule.
Sign up – Perform in Your CommunityThe Writers
We are delighted to announce the writers of the six new Positive Stories plays for Season 5. They will collaborate directly with our Youth Board over the coming months to create brand-new plays for you to work on. The plays will be free to access from October 2026.
Alex Medland
Greg McHugh
Johnny McKnight
Maryam Hamidi
Ned Glasier
Xhloe and Natasha
The Plays
Positive Stories For Negative Times: Season 5 includes 6 exciting new plays with varying and flexible cast sizes. The Positive Stories Youth Board ensure that the plays are not only made for young people, but with them too.
All the ‘plays’ are very different, and we believe there’s something for everyone no matter their size, age or experience of making theatre. We say ‘plays’ because not all are traditional plays, some of based around devising and are a blue-print for your group to base their own work around.
Archeology
by
Maryam Hamidi
One classroom. One day. A million tiny fragments. Centuries from now a memory is dug out, dusted and pieced together again, but whose truth are we telling?
Knock Twice
by
Johnny McKnight
Ever since the McAdams packed up and left in the night, there’s been noises coming from Number 16.
Pirate Play
by
Xhloe and Natasha
Clementine hasn’t yet found their voice, and Duck hasn’t yet found Clementine, until the two stowaway on a nonsensical pirate ship.
Robbie-O and Jasmine
by
Greg McHugh
When a young man follows the crowd to a protest outside a ‘hotel’ used to accommodate those seeking asylum, his life is changed in more ways than he could have ever expected.
Staff Meals Not Allocated
by
Alex Medland
A group of teenagers, the multi-billion pound burger chain they work for, and how they take their power back.
The Butterfly Tap
by
Ned Glasier
Previous Seasons
Season 1 (2019-20)
A national participatory project by Wonder Fools with the Traverse Theatre, launched in response to the pandemic — bringing young people together to perform five newly commissioned plays.
Explore
Season 2 (2021-22)
Coming together and changing theatre for young people. Newly commissioned plays for ages 6–25, offered free to groups and designed to work live, blended, or fully online.
Explore
Season 3 (2023-24)
An international participatory project giving youth organisations a process, newly commissioned plays, and training from leading UK theatre artists — free of charge, reaching groups across 17 countries.
Explore
Season 4 (2024-25)
An international project focused on opening up cultural opportunities, building participants’ confidence, and rethinking theatre for young people. Plays for ages 6–25 from artists including Ella Hickson, Adura Onashile and Travis Alabanza.
Explore
