The Board of Youth Theatre Arts Scotland (YTAS) is today delighted to announce the appointment of Jo Walmsley to the position of Chief Executive Officer, effective from the end of October 2025.  

Jo has been Executive Producer at Barrowland Ballet, one of Scotland’s leading contemporary dance-theatre companies, since 2018. She will bring over 20 years’ experience in delivering ambitious, inclusive, and sustainable theatre, arts, and cultural programmes to this role at Scotland’s national development body for youth theatre.

Previous positions include Head of Engagement at Tramway, Glasgow’s renowned contemporary arts venue, as well as senior producing roles with the Turner Prize and the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme. Her knowledge of youth theatre spans participation, facilitation, producing, and programming.

Reflecting on her appointment to YTAS, Jo Walmsley said:

“I’m passionate about the transformative power of youth theatre. Now, more than ever, creative participation can play a critical role in supporting young people to navigate, shape, and connect with the world around them. Youth Theatre Arts Scotland is instrumental in the development of this thriving sector, and I’m thrilled to be joining the organisation as Chief Executive. I look forward to working closely with YTAS’s members, partners, and team to ensure all young people across Scotland can access this vital provision.”

Liam Farrow, Chair of the YTAS Board, said of Jo’s appointment:

“We are delighted to welcome Jo as she takes on leadership of Youth Theatre Arts Scotland. With her wealth of experience across the cultural sector, she will bring a robust understanding of the lifelong impact the arts can have on individuals and communities as well as a strong track record of delivering creative programmes. We look forward to having Jo lead YTAS into its next chapter, building on the strong foundations already in place, as we work to develop and advocate for this vital sector.” 

Jo will join YTAS at an exciting time, both with a clear strategic framework in place, and with the organisation in a secure funding position. YTAS is currently working towards delivering the aims of its 2025-2028 Business Plan, having received an uplift in Multi-Year Funding from Creative Scotland earlier this year.

Notes to editors

• Youth Theatre Arts Scotland is the national development body for the youth theatre sector in Scotland, and since 2004 has played an instrumental role in building and supporting a vibrant and vital sector.

• YTAS support inspiring experiences for young people by connecting and training the network of 1800 adult staff and volunteers who work with them.

• YTAS support a membership of around 100 youth theatre organisations and practitioners operating throughout Scotland. Each week they engage around 22,000 young people in youth theatre activity.

• In 2022, YTAS and the Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities (SGSAH) carried out research into the long-term impacts of participation in youth theatre on participants’ professional and personal lives. The research identified significant long-term impacts of taking part in youth theatre, including increased confidence, emotional intelligence, teamworking skills, and more.  

• YTAS is a multi-year funded organisation of Creative Scotland, which described our organisation as one which makes “a vital contribution to the current health and future development of the arts in Scotland”.

• The national Youth Arts Strategy, Time to Shine, highlighted that “Scotland’s youth theatre sector is well networked and, through the work of Youth Theatre Arts Scotland, is proactive in its self-development”.

Media Enquiries

Hollie Wegner-Jaszkin | Communications and Marketing Manager

Youth Theatre Arts Scotland

hollie@ytas.org.uk | 0131 538 0591