Revealed: Homegrown play was pulled from National Youth Theatre over extremism fears

National Youth Theatre bosses pulled a play about the radicalisation of young Muslims over fears its “extremist agenda” could harm the company’s reputation, it has emerged.

The creators of Homegrown blamed “external pressures” for its cancellation two weeks before it was due to be staged at a Swiss Cottage school.

But an internal email, released after a Freedom of Information request, appears to show it was axed “to prevent any damage to NYT’s reputation and membership”. NYT said in a statement: “We can categorically state that no external parties had any involvement in the decision.”

After the play was axed its creators said they thought “external pressures” had guided the choice, including police demands to see the script — claims denied by Scotland Yard and NYT.

The play’s creators said after the show was axed that they thought “external pressures” had guided the decision, including police demands to see the script - claims that Scotland Yard and NYT have denied.