New research reveals the financial and accessibility barriers preventing children and families from experiencing live theatre
Access to the arts for children is under growing pressure, with recent research revealing that almost one in four parents (24%) report no school theatre opportunities in a typical year.
For a growing number of children, live theatre is becoming a luxury reserved for those whose families can afford it. With almost half of school leaders (47%) ** cutting back on trips and outings, and nearly one in four parents (24%)* reporting no school theatre opportunities for their children, a generation risks being shut out of the arts before they’ve even had the chance to experience them.
Despite government promises to make arts and culture accessible to every pupil, schools have been given no dedicated funding to meet new cultural enrichment expectations. The result is a widening cultural divide, where a child’s access to theatre increasingly depends on their family’s finances, leaving charities to plug a gap that the education system is struggling to fill.
Research commissioned by John Lyon’s Charity, which supports disadvantaged children and young people to access arts and cultural opportunities, found that almost half of UK adults (48%) identify cost as one of the biggest barriers to attending the theatre, while 85% of parents have never heard of a Relaxed Performance.
Davita Grafstein, Deputy Headteacher, Sudbury Primary School, Wembley: “For many of our pupils, their only experience of live theatre has been through a school trip. We see firsthand just how much these opportunities mean to them. Sadly, schools face so many barriers, from rising costs and limited opportunities to a real shortage of Relaxed Performances, which are so important in helping children with SEND feel welcome and included. We are incredibly grateful to John Lyon’s Charity for helping us give children these experiences, but schools shouldn’t have to rely so heavily on charitable funding to give children access to cultural experiences. We need the government and theatre industry to do more to make theatre affordable and accessible to all.”
In a Relaxed Performance, theatres may use captioning alongside other adjustments, such as reduced sound levels, lower lighting, and the freedom for audiences to move around or make noise without judgement. These adjustments help make theatre more welcoming for children with disabilities or additional learning needs. Despite the need for Relaxed Performances, very few theatres across the West End offer these types of performances.
John Lyon’s Charity has seen firsthand the barriers that prevent children from accessing theatre through its Cultural Capital Fund (CCF). Since 2021, the CCF has awarded 156 grants worth more than £600,000 to help schools cover the cost of tickets and travel, opening opportunities for more children to experience live performance.
Dr Lynne Guyton, CEO of John Lyon’s Charity, said: “Our Cultural Capital Fund helps children discover the magic of theatre, often for the first time. Too many children and families still face financial and accessibility barriers that prevent them from experiencing live theatre. Increasing affordable opportunities and ensuring more performances are genuinely accessible for children with special educational needs and disabilities must be a priority. Government, theatres, funders and cultural organisations all have a role to play in removing these barriers.”
John Lyon’s Charity is calling on government, theatres, cultural organisations and funders to work together to remove the financial, physical and sensory barriers that prevent children and young people from accessing live theatre.
*Campaign research: The research was conducted by Opinion Matters, among a sample of 2000 Nationally representative UK respondents (Aged 18+). The data was collected between 01.09.2026 – 04.09.2026. Opinion Matters abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Opinion Matters is also a member of the British Polling Council.
**Schools context: Sutton Trust, School Funding and Pupil Premium 2026, published 23 April 2026. The 47% figure covers trips and outings generally, not theatre visits specifically.