The value of theatre for young people: An evidence gap map

Theatre has been a vital part of cultural expression and community building, particularly affecting young people, who engage with it the most. In response to global declines in arts funding, this evidence gap map (EGM) aimed to quantify theatre’s impacts on young people and identify research gaps to guide stakeholders, including policymakers and artists. A literature search was conducted on June 6, 2023, using PsycInfo, MedLine, ERIC, the International Bibliography of Theatre and Dance, and ProQuest Social Science supplemented by gray literature to ensure a comprehensive review. In total, 190 studies were analyzed, using EPPI-Reviewer (a web-based systematic review platform) for data extraction and coding. Of the 190 included studies, the vast majority reported positive outcomes, spanning educational (n = 105), social (n = 112), health/well-being (n = 33), and other (n = 9) domains; some studies reported outcomes across more than one category. Thirty-two studies reported negative or nonsignificant findings; all of these also reported positive outcomes in at least one other domain. This EGM underscores the need for future studies to explore underrepresented areas, including health outcomes, early childhood, and non-Western contexts, to strengthen advocacy and policy development in the arts.