Help more young people enjoy the magic of theatre! 

Stratford East turns 140 this December. We’re here to push boundaries, champion creativity, and create hard-hitting shows in the beating heart of East London. We believe that brilliant, engaging, thought-provoking theatre should be for everyone, including young people. 

Engaging in creative activities isn’t just fun—it helps young people thrive. Studies show that creativity can boost happiness and improve skills in literacy and maths.* 

But here in Newham, where nearly 50% of children live in poverty, the cost of accessing creative opportunities is a major barrier. Many young people miss out simply because they can’t afford the materials, workshops, or experiences that spark imagination and growth. With your support, we can break down these barriers and ensure every young person in Newham has the chance to explore their creativity, develop new skills, and build a brighter future. 

This is why at Stratford East all our community and young people's engagement programmes are free so that more young people can enjoy the magic of theatre.  

“Without the free tickets our students may never be able to experience live theatre. Many of our students are from deprived backgrounds and are barely able to leave the borough of Newham” 

Teacher at Lister Community School 

We remain committed to providing free access to the arts for those that need it despite having a 100% funding cut from one of our key funders this year. We're doing this because we're here to move you, excite you, and keep theatre open for all. 

And for this, we need your support. 

Help us raise £14,000 to give 120 free tickets per production to young people and community members. Break barriers with us: Your gift makes theatre accessible to everyone. 

Your support will also help us to: 

• Keep our transformative youth and community programmes free of charge. 
• Keep ticket prices low to be accessible to people who would otherwise be economically excluded from theatregoing.  
• Offer extra ticket discounts to local residents, students, freelancers and young people 

Please support our campaign here. 

Thank you. 

*Assessing the direct impact of the UK arts sector | McKinsey.