Ten youth theatre and school groups from across the UK have been selected to perform new plays on the Dorfman stage at the National Theatre from 25-29 June as part of the National Theatre’s 2024 Connections Festival.
Now in its 29th year, the Connections Festival is an annual nationwide youth theatre festival that champions the talent of young people aged 13-19 from across the UK. Over 7,500 young people from 250 companies from Plymouth to Pitlochry have taken part this year, performing ten specially commissioned plays at one of 33 leading partner theatres this Spring.
Developed in consultation with young people, the festival showcases new plays performed by youth groups nationwide, exploring a range of themes including neurodiversity, cancel culture and mental health.
Writers of this year’s plays include Mojisola Adebayo (Stars), and Charlie Josephine (Cowbois) as well as Elgan Rhys (Llais / Voice) who, in collaboration with Leo Drayton, has written Connections’ first play offered in both English and Welsh language scripts. Their play Dy Enw Marw (Your Name is Dead) will be performed by youth group Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr, from Swansea, this summer in Welsh, making it the first full non-English play to be staged at the National Theatre.
Engaging in all levels of the theatre making process, the young people have the chance to develop new creative skills and learn more about backstage and offstage roles in the creative industry. Across the ten selected groups over 25 young people have supported their productions by working offstage and backstage, from costume, lighting and sound design to directing and scoring.
Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre said “It is one of my favourite times of year when the National Theatre is buzzing with excitement as these ten youth groups flood the building for Connections Festival. Connections is such a brilliant opportunity for young people from every corner of the UK to stage new plays and develop skills through the world of theatre-making both on stage and off, firing imagination and creativity that lasts a lifetime. To have our first ever full non-English play just spotlights the talent and creativity of the young theatre-makers nationwide. I can’t wait to welcome them all to the National Theatre in June.”
All performances will be captioned. Dy Enw Marw will be performed in Welsh with Welsh and English captions.
Tickets are £5 per performance, or £8 for two performances in an evening, and go on sale on Thursday 23 May. To book tickets visit the National Theatre website.
Applications for Connections 2025 are now open. To take part in the National Theatre’s annual nationwide youth theatre festival’s 30th anniversary, visit the National Theatre website. Applications close on 8 July at midday.
