Kwame Kwei-Armah: arts education cuts pose danger to diversity in theatre

Outgoing artistic director of Young Vic calls for urgent government action to redress arts funding in schools

Kwame Kwei-Armah, the outgoing artistic director of the Young Vic, has warned that diversity in the theatre industry will regress if the government does not make urgent interventions to improve the provision of drama and art classes in schools.

The director and dramatist has scripted a new Hercules musical that opens at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London in June 2025, taking over the musical mantle at the theatre from Frozen. It will be his first major project since stepping down from the Young Vic earlier this year.