Zambian Youth Theatre

Zambian Youth Theatre is an emerging initiative founded on the principles of Theatre for Community Action by the core team of YOCUPA, a pioneer in community-based projects in Zambia, and our international partner, GRACE Cares, with whom we have collaborated on education and community-building programs over the past five years.

With over half of Zambia’s population under 18, and many lacking access to formal education, youth-led theatre offers something a unique platform for youth voices to inspire audiences, bridging tribal, regional, and cultural divides while raising awareness of climate change and peacebuilding.

Zambia is among one of world’s most vulnerable nations to climate disruption and has extensive problems with gender-based violence. Yet young people often find themselves excluded from decision-making tables that concern a safer future for them. The Zambian Youth Theatre (ZYT) was created to change that dynamic and put youth voices front and center in cultural and political conversations.

The ZYT Mission

To cultivate a youth-led, Zambia-rooted, globally-connected theatre company that amplifies African voices on climate justice, culture, and equity through bold performance and spoken word..

Zambian Youth Theatre is headquartered in Lusaka. We have attracted international performers and artists to support the training and development of the local theatrical team. By bringing their performances to the wider world, we are sharing the voices of Zambian youth through:

• Youth-led, youth-powered creativity
• Decolonized, Pan-African storytelling
• Creative resistance and joy as acts of resilience
• Solidarity between local and global movements

The ZYT is committed to:

• Touring Zambia: bringing House of War: House of Glass to schools, festivals, and communities across the country
• Building international bridges: forging residencies and partnerships with youth theatres in South Africa and other nearby African countries, Ireland, Germany, Finland, and Norway
• Training a new generation by hosting workshops and intensives with Zambian and international theatre directors
• Expanding the repertoire by creating original plays on gender-based violence, climate adaptation, and youth identity