Brixton Wings at the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes
11 December 2025 | National Theatre, London
Brixton Wings was proud to mark our fourth visit to the National Theatre, continuing our commitment to opening up cultural opportunities for young people across our programmes. This visit was open to all eligible participants, and 16 young people took part in an evening that celebrated creativity, ambition, and the power of storytelling.
The group attended Ballet Shoes, the National Theatre’s stage adaptation of Noel Streatfeild’s much-loved coming-of-age novel. Set in 1930s London, the production follows three adopted sisters navigating uncertainty, ambition, and identity through their shared love of performance. Themes of perseverance, chosen family, mentorship, and self-belief sat at the heart of the story themes that strongly resonated with our young people.
For many participants, this was not only their first time seeing a ballet-led theatre production, but also their first experience of the National Theatre itself. The scale of the stage, the energy of the performers, and the collective experience of attending together made the evening especially memorable.
“I really enjoyed Ballet Shoes, I loved the stage, the energy, and being with our group.”
– Jazz
The production sparked reflection and aspiration, particularly for young people already engaged in creative pathways through Brixton Wings. Seeing performers close to their own age pursue their craft with confidence and discipline helped participants imagine new possibilities for themselves.
“This has shown me that I really do love the theatre and want to be an actor. I hope to go to drama school after my A Levels.”
– Rylee
The themes of Ballet Shoes hope in the face of uncertainty, the importance of support systems, and the courage to pursue ambition were echoed in conversations after the show. Several young people spoke about the value of access to spaces like the National Theatre and what it would mean to share such experiences with their families.
“Thanks so much to Wings for this lovely opportunity. I wish I could take my mum to the theatre, she works so hard.”
– Natalie
Much like the mentors in Ballet Shoes who guide the Fossil sisters, experiences like this reflect Brixton Wings’ role in supporting young people through encouragement, exposure, and belief. These visits are about more than entertainment they help build confidence, cultural literacy, and aspiration, while showing young people that they belong in spaces of excellence and creativity.
Programm Outcomes
Quantitative
16 young people attended
4th National Theatre visit delivered by Brixton Wings
Opportunity open to eligible participants across all programmes
Qualitative
Increased confidence and engagement with live performance
Inspiration toward creative and performing arts pathways
Strengthened group connection and shared cultural experience
Greater exposure to professional theatre and higher-level arts environments
With thanks to the National Theatre
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the National Theatre for continuing to open its doors to our young people. Opportunities like this go far beyond a night out they inspire ambition, creativity, and confidence, and help our participants imagine new futures for themselves. We are incredibly grateful for the generosity and care shown in making experiences like Ballet Shoes accessible to the Brixton Wings community.
