LYT 2024-2025

From grassroots to registered charity, with our most ambitious show to date

LYT 2024-2025

The Latinx Youth Theatre’s third ACE-funded cohort ran a full skills-development and devising programme at Southwark Playhouse, delivering 29 theatre sessions, 5 masterclasses, a video class and 3 theatre trips, before an intensive 5-day production week. The cohort premiered Out of Frame, staged for three performances at our new partner venue, Brixton House.

The cohort also grew the network significantly: new relationships with Brixton House, UAL, Guildhall, the Young Vic, National Youth Theatre and the National Theatre gave participants closer ties to the industry, and LYT attended the first Youth Theatre Together national conference as the only Latinx-focused youth theatre in the country.

The impact was clear: 88% of participants felt more able to express themselves, 100% of carers reported them happier and more independent, 73% wanted to continue with LYT, and 95%+ of audiences found the show powerful and culturally relevant.

OUT OF FRAME

Fitting in is overrated!

3 – 5 June

A shy Chilean teenager battles salsa classes, virtual influencers, Shakespeare English and self-doubt in a playful coming-of-age story about finding your place when you feel out of frame.

Graphic design: Eoin Norton, Photography: Miguel Torres Umba.

Out Of Frame

Out of Frame is a playful, vibrant coming-of-age story set in Elephant & Castle, South London.
Meet Mariana: a shy Chilean teenager caught between two worlds;  family and independence, childhood and adulthood, virtual life and physical life salsa lessons.

With a little courage (and a lot of pan de bono), she stumbles through birthday parties, school theatre plays, restaurant shifts, and TikTok trends, discovering that belonging isn’t just about fitting in.

Created by the Latinx Youth Theatre 2025 cohort, Out of Frame is the culmination of a year-long program dedicated to giving young Latin Americans in London a space to connect, create, learn, and develop life skills. The result is a bold, funny, physical, and heartfelt new play celebrating identity and community. It invites audiences to laugh, cringe, dance, and cheer alongside a generation learning to speak the language of their hearts.

The Latinx Youth Theatre 2025 is produced by Umba Arts and Community Art Project, with support from Arts Council England, Southwark Playhouse (our home throughout the program and rehearsal process), and Brixton House, where the final sharing takes place.

We are deeply grateful to The Working Party Theatre Company, whose ongoing support has been instrumental to the success of LYT.

Cast and Creatives

CAST

Sayen

Vanessa

Katya

Samantha

Carlos

Sheyla

Ashley

David

Nicole

Taciana 

Gabriel

Alexander 

 

CREATIVES

LYT Cohort 2025 Facilitators
Carlos Ossa Valencia – Participation and Engagement Lead  
Fernanda Mandagará – Creative Lead

Written by
Fernanda Mandagará
In collaboration with the Latinx Youth Theatre Cohort 2025

Directed by
Miguel Torres Umba

Dramaturgy by
Fernanda Mandagará
Carlos Ossa Valencia

 Miguel Torres Umba

Produced by
Anna Alvarez

Production Design
Isabella Sarmiento Abadia

Technical Design
Fernando Benito

Graphic Designer
Eoin Norton

LYT Participation and Engagement Director  & Co-Founder
Carlos Ossa Valencia

LYT Artistic Director & Co-Founder
Miguel Torres Umba

Reviews and Responses

“Young people were brilliant! Very well put together production, creative and fun” – Audience member

“The superpower of wanting to disappear or become someone else must be a feeling shared by so many young people” – Audience member

“The bravery, professionalism and vulnerability that the young people demonstrated was touching and inspiring” – Audience member

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