Upcoming & Recent Events

Age Guidance: 15+
Content Guidance:
Contains strong language
Mild sexual references
Allusion to suicide
Reference to self-harm
References to youth violence
References to drug use

The Animals — National Theatre Connections 2026
13–14 March | Garter Lane | By Sean Buckley, directed by Sinéad Hourigan

Waterford Youth Arts is thrilled to once again be selected for the National Theatre Connections 2026, celebrating our ongoing commitment to creating bold and imaginative youth theatre.

Following the success of our 2025 production Saba’s Swim by Danusia Samal, we’re proud to present The Animals — a powerful new play by acclaimed British-Irish writer Sean Buckley, known for his BAFTA-nominated drama Responsible Child and his work on Skins.

The Animals tells the story of Sam, a student teacher working at Redhill Youth Custody Secure Unit, who turns to philosophy to reach young residents and spark moments of self-discovery — especially for Gee, a teenager confronting life beyond the walls.

Directed by Sinéad Hourigan, this production will be staged in Waterford before travelling to the Lyric Theatre, Belfast, as part of the National Theatre Connections festival. Join us for this thought-provoking and inspiring piece that showcases the creativity and passion of Waterford’s young performers.

Performance Dates: 13–14 March
Venue: Garter Lane

Youth Arts Workshops

January 2026 registration will open Friday the 9th of January.

Registration Closed

Waterford Youth Arts works with children and young people across a range of art forms; dance, youth theatre, drama, film, creative writing, visual art and street spectacle.

Activities are programmed as terms, 3 each year (Jan – April / April - June and Sept - Dec), which tend to run in 9-week cycles during late afternoons, evenings and at weekends.

If you know someone in this age range who would love to learn about the art world while making new friends and doing something new, this is a great opportunity for them. No experience is necessary to get started and we have an open-door policy so anyone can get involved.

At WYA, safety is paramount, and while your young artists are involved in one of their workshops, you can be certain that they are learning in a safe and secure environment as all WYA staff and volunteers have been Garda Vetted and undergone child safety training.

Registrations fees range from Eur 49 - Eur 69 per term. Bookings can be made online through

waterfordyoutharts.eventbrite.ie or over the phone T. +353 51 879 377 (office hours) For more information, get in touch with us; see the workshops section on this website or get in touch with the team for any other information.