This book explores the relationship between theatre for early years (TEY) and pedagogy. Drawing on empirical research with a small group of preschool theatre-goers and interdisciplinary theoretical perspectives, it examines the influence of young children on theatre, considering how they shape the performance event and reframe notions of audience and participation. The book situates theatre for early years as a distinct theatre form, exploring its origins, development and significance while engaging with key debates in the field. At the heart of the book is an argument for the centrality of the relationships between adults and children to TEY creation and performance, alongside an exploration of the pedagogical possibilities that emerge between young children and theatre.

Emma Miles is a senior lecturer in education at Anglia Ruskin University. She began her career as a primary school teacher, working in the EYFS and Key Stage One, and has also worked in the museum and heritage learning sector.