NT Connections Festival '˜has revolutionised the landscape for youth theatre'

Chichester Festival Youth Theatre will join ten other youth theatre groups for the 21st anniversary NT Connections Festival at The Capitol, Horsham, from May 24-29.
NT Connections FestivalNT Connections Festival
NT Connections Festival

On each evening of the week, two youth theatre groups will perform their pieces, and on the final evening there will be an additional performance of two original pieces by CFYT.

Spokeswoman Tracey Grubb said: “Each year, Connections offers a unique opportunity for youth theatres and school drama groups to stage plays specially written for young people aged 13-19 by some of the UK’s most exciting playwrights.

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Tracey continued: “The festival is open to all secondary schools, colleges, youth theatres and voluntary organisations, ranging from experienced young companies to groups who have never staged a production before.

“Following a development weekend for the company directors at the NT, each company stages their chosen play in their local venue and then transfers their production to one of the NT’s partner theatres and performs alongside other Connections companies. Twelve companies will then be invited to perform their productions at the National Theatre in July 2016.”

Alice King-Farlow, NT Director of Learning, said: “Connections has revolutionised the landscape for youth theatre over the 21 years of its existence, creating an extraordinary body of more than 150 specially commissioned scripts for young performers by leading dramatists. Teenagers also get the opportunity to be involved in all aspects of theatre-making, from set design to marketing.”

Alice continued: “It’s immensely exciting to announce a hugely expanded Connections programme for 2016, which celebrates both past and future by reviving some of the most successful plays from the Connections portfolio and welcoming double the number of participants.”

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Tickets for Capitol shows are £5 per evening from www.thecapitolhorsham.com.

NT Connections shows at The Capitol

Tuesday, May 24: Panache Theatre, Park Community School, Havant: What Are They Like? by Lucinda Coxon; The Barn Youth Theatre, Crawley: Eclipse by Simon Armitage.

Wednesday, May 25: Blatchington Mill School, Hove: What Are They Like? by Lucinda Coxon; Petersfield School: Gargantua by Carl Grose.

Thursday, May 26: Northbrook College, Worthing: It Snows by Bryony Lavery, Steven Hoggett and Scott Graham (ages 15-plus); SAVVY Theatre Company, Sutton: The Musicians by Patrick Marber.

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Friday, May 27: Centrestage, Hampshire: What Are They Like? by Lucinda Coxon; Theatre Arts Starlight Youth Theatre, Portsmouth: It Snows by Bryony Lavery, Steven Hoggett and Scott Graham (age guidance 15-plus).

Saturday, May 28: CFYT: Citizenship by Mark Ravenhill (age guidance 15+); Seaford Musical Theatre Juniors: Bassett by James Graham (age guidance 15+).

Sunday, May 29: Chichester Festival Youth Theatre: performing two original short stories.

Trapdoor Theatre, Lewes: Take Away by Jackie Kay.

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