The Earl celebrates the 60th anniversary of the National Youth Theatre

The Earl of Wessex hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the National Youth Theatre.

The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain was established in 1956 as the world's first youth theatre. A world leading youth arts organisation it has nurtured talent such as alumni Daniel Craig, Dame Helen Mirren, Rosamund Pike, Colin Firth, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sir Ben Kingsley and Daniel Day-Lewis over the past 60 years.

2017 will mark the twentieth anniversary of The Earl's Patronage of the NYT.

Guests at the reception were treated to a special performance in the Buckingham Palace ballroom by the members of the 2016 NYT company who  performed excerpts from their 60th anniversary gala. Guests included NYT alumni Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Ed Westwick and Daisy Lewis and supporters such as Stephen Mangan.