Take Part: MTI's Junior Theatre Festival
Every year RCT attends the Junior Theatre Festival - a celebration of all things musical theatre.
The MTI Junior Theatre Festival (JTF) is Europe’s largest celebration of musical theatre for young people, held each year at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham. Produced by Music Theatre International in partnership with iTheatrics from New York, the festival brings together over a thousand young performers from across Europe for a weekend of performance adjudications, workshops and unforgettable showcases from West End stars. The next festival takes place on Saturday 29th May 2027.
Rubber Chicken Theatre will once again be part of this incredible event, with a two-night stay away from home that combines the full festival experience with a trip to Chester Zoo. Our JTF performance group is open to everyone – whether or not you’ve taken part in one of our previous Broadway Junior productions – making it a truly exciting opportunity to perform, learn and celebrate musical theatre alongside young people from across the continent.
Never been to JTF with us before? Watch now on YouTube
Junior Theatre Festival 2027
About the Festival
Our visit to MTI's Junior Theatre festival has become a well anticipated annual event in the RCT calendar. JTF is a three day stay-away experience that sees us journey to the ICC in Birmingham.
Previously as a group we have returned with accolades for outstanding performance, awards in ensemble, and had individuals highlighted for achievements in both performance and student choreography.
We have yet to confirm which of our previous productions we'll be taking to the event. However, registration is open to all those who will be under 19 in May 2027. Anyone who has taken part in an RCT show before (or who is signed up for a show) is eligible to sign up for the trip.
Key Dates
Rehearsal Workshops: Sun 16th May 4.30pm - 7.30pmSun 23rd May 4.30pm - 7.30pmWed 26th May 6.30pm - 9.00pm
Travel to Accommodation
Fri 28th May (Departing 8.00am)
Junior Theatre Festival
Sat 29th May📍The ICC, Birmingham
Chester Zoo and Return Travel
Sun 30th May (Return approx. 11.00pm)
The day at the JTF
Click the images to find out more
Adjudicaton
In the morning, we'll take part in performance adjudication. We'll perform a 15 minute extract of a previous Broadway Jr production in front of other groups in our 'pod' and in front of a panel of two or three industry professionals. The panel will score us on various elements of our performance and provide expert advice. The best group from each pod will get to perform on the main stage at the end of the day. Two members from the group are selected as All Stars to take part in a special performance. After a cool down / debrief, we'll return to the pod and watch others perform their adjudication pieces.
New Works Showcase and Workshops
After lunch, we're into the main hall to watch snippets of up and coming Broadway Jr releases. In previous years, a West End star has answered questions from students, and performed.
After this, we head out for three separate workshops led by industry professionals from across the globe. Each focussing on one of the core skills; acting, singing and dancing. Dance Workshops are delivered directly by West End show creatives, teaching actual choreography from those shows!
Awards Ceremony
During adjudications, two students from each group will be selected as AllStars. Allstars will participate in exclusive workshops to rehearse and perform a featured number on stage at the Awards Ceremony.
To celebrate the accomplishments of the day, everyone gathers in the theatre at the end of the day. We'll watch some of the Outstanding Productions of the day, enjoy a mini concert from a current West End performer and if we're incredibly lucky maybe even pick up an award or two! The festival ends with the AllStars performance.
Adjudicaton
In the morning, we'll take part in performance adjudication. We'll perform a 15 minute extract of a previous Broadway Jr production in front of other groups in our 'pod' and in front of a panel of two or three industry professionals. The panel will score us on various elements of our performance and provide expert advice. The best group from each pod will get to perform on the main stage at the end of the day. Two members from the group are selected as All Stars to take part in a special performance. After a cool down / debrief, we'll return to the pod and watch others perform their adjudication pieces.
New Works Showcase and Workshops
After lunch, we're into the main hall to watch snippets of up and coming Broadway Jr releases. In previous years, a West End star has answered questions from students, and performed.
After this, we head out for three seperate workshops led by industry proffesionals from across the globe. Each focussing on one of the core skills; acting, signign and dancing. Dance Workshops are delivered directly by West End show creatives, teaching actual choreography from those shows!
Awards Ceremony
During adjudications, two students from each group will be selected as AllStars. Allstars will participate in exclusive workshops to rehearse and perform a featured number on stage at the Awards Ceremony.
To celebrate the accomplishments of the day, everyone gathers in the theatre at the end of the day. We'll watch some of the Outstanding Productions of the day, enjoy a mini concert from a current West End performer and if we're incredibly lucky maybe even pick up an award or two! The festival ends with the AllStars performance.
Itinerary
8.00am Depart for Accommodation (with lunch stop)
3.00pm Arrive at accommodation. Room allocations and unpacking
4.00pm Final Rehearsal
6.00pm Dinner
7.00pm Time at leisure
9.00pm Heading to rooms / bed.
Times are approximate and are subject to change.
5.30am Wake Up
6.00am Breakfast
6.45am Depart hostel
7.30am Arrive at JTF.
7.30pm Depart JTF
8.30pm Dinner
10.00pm Head to rooms / bed.
Times are approximate and are subject to change.
8.00am Wake Up
8.30am Breakfast
9.15am Packing and room clearing
10.15am Depart for Chester Zoo
12.15pm Arrival at Chester Zoo
5.30pm Depart Chester Zoo
11.00pm - Arrive home
Times are approximate and are subject to change.
8.00am Depart for Accommodation (with lunch stop)
3.00pm Arrive at accommodation. Room allocations and unpacking
4.00pm Final Rehearsal
6.00pm Dinner
7.00pm Time at leisure
9.00pm Heading to rooms / bed.
Times are approximate and are subject to change.
5.30am Wake Up
6.00am Breakfast
6.45am Depart hostel
7.30am Arrive at JTF.
7.30pm Depart JTF
8.30pm Dinner
10.00pm Head to rooms / bed.
Times are approximate and are subject to change.
8.00am Wake Up
8.30am Breakfast
9.15am Packing and room clearing
10.15am Depart for Chester Zoo
12.15pm Arrival at Chester Zoo
5.30pm Depart Chester Zoo
11.00pm - Arrive home
Times are approximate and are subject to change.
Booking in for the first time?
A two night stay away from home can be a big ask, particularly for younger ones.
We'll give your child all the support they need to take part confidently. We've put together some FAQs and further info below to answer any questions you might have now, and we'll hold an information evening on Zoom closer to the trip itself.
We’ll hold three essential rehearsals before we head off on the trip:
-
Sunday 10th May, 5.00pm - 8.00pm
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Sunday 17th May, 5.00pm - 8.00pm
- Wednesday 20th May, 7.00pm - 9.00pm
Everyone in the cast should attend all rehearsals where possible.
Once we’re away, there’s a short, final rehearsal planned for the Friday.
We’ll be travelling by coach with Mackies Coaches, who we’ve used on past JTF trips — they know how we roll!
We'll be based at YHA National Forest, which we've used before on several occasions and is our preferred accommodation choice. For 2026, we'll have exclusive use of the whole hostel.
All rooms are en-suite and can accommodate up to four people. You’ll be able to tell us who you'd prefer to share with and we’ll do our best to match you all up!
We’ll be staying on a full board basis — so all meals are included once we arrive. We'll share more info about menus, dietary needs, and mealtime routines nearer the time.
Just a heads up: food isn’t provided for the coach journey to and from home, but we’ve planned service station stops for snacks and breaks.
Casting will be based on who attends the trip — there are no extra auditions. That said, it might not be possible for everyone to keep the same role they played in the original production. We’ll do our best to match roles appropriately.
Yes — every year we've been everyone has enjoyed it! It's a brilliant day out and a great way to break up the weekend.
There’ll be at least five experienced RCT adults on the trip — most of whom your children already know well. While we’ll mostly move as a group, younger cast members will be assigned a named adult for any times when we split up.
The trip is open to:
-
Anyone who has taken part in an RCT show to date.
Everyone attending must be under 19 at the time of the trip. There’s no strict lower age limit, but this is a multi-night, high-energy trip, so we’d ask parents to think carefully about whether it’s the right fit for their child.
Yes — as part of our registration with the Junior Theatre Festival, we need to provide photo/video consent for everyone in the group. These may be used by the festival for promotion, and we also feature the trip heavily on our social media.
If you have concerns about this, please get in touch before signing up.
The Qualifications Scotland 2027 exam diet can be found here. If your child would still like to attend but you think exams may impact their ability to travel with the group, please sign up first and then reach out to us to discuss it.
Junior Theatre Fesitval
Fee to take part
The fee for taking part in MTI's Junior Theatre Festival is £430 - which includes:
Youth hostel accomodation with exclusive use on a full board basis for two nights.
Coach travel to and from Birmingham
Entry and participation to the Junior Theatre Festival
Entry to Chester Zoo
JTF t-shirt, wristband and commerative programme
How To Pay
There are three different ways to pay:
- In full at registration - we accept all major credit / debit cards.
- Over 8 monthly instalments - select the option at checkout (first payment due at registration).
- Pay nothing for 1 month then 7 monthly instalments.
Just select your preferred payment at checkout.
Changes to Deferred Payments
From 1st September, we're replacing the RCTDEFER code with our new 'Instalments with Deferment' option.
You can still book now and pay nothing at the time of registration. Except now, a payment plan is set up automatically when booking.
After one month, your first instalment will be collected automatically, followed by the remaining monthly payments. We'll email you when your plan is set up and before your first payment is due.
Need more flexibility?
The website options aren't the limit of the support we can offer.
We can change your payment date, extend your payment plan, arrange invoicing or explore part or fully subsidised places.
If the available options don't work for your family, we recommend signing up with the deferred instalments option first (as we know how quickly places for things go at RCT) and then getting in touch.
Cancellations and Refunds: If you need to cancel your child's place for any reason, it can be refunded in full up until 31st December 2026. After this it will only be possible to refund if we are able to replace your child on the trip.
