Local young people aged 13-19 will take to the Nottingham Playhouse stage as part of this year’s National Theatre Connections programme. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Connections is the National Theatre’s annual nationwide youth theatre festival that champions the talent of young people across the UK.
From 16 – 19 April, Nottingham Playhouse will host performances from 6 different groups, from Skegness Academy and Sleaford Little Theatre Academy, to Rugby Connected Youth Theatre and Flourish Youth Theatre in Newark, to the Nottingham Girls Academy, Nottingham College and the Nottingham Playhouse Company itself. Many of the shows will be produced on the main stage at Nottingham Playhouse, with the others in the Neville Studio.
Nottingham Playhouse is one of 33 theatres across the UK joining this year’s celebrations, with over 5,500 young people from 275 companies and schools having the chance to perform on professional stages. Regional festivals will take place at partner theatres nationwide from 12 March – 12 May, culminating in a festival at the National Theatre in June.
To celebrate the vast range of talent on display nationwide this spring, ten youth theatre groups will be invited to perform their version of one of this year’s plays at the National Theatre from 24 – 28 June, reopening its Dorfman stage. The Connections Festival will spotlight the power of youth theatre nationwide by bringing groups together for a final celebratory moment of the anniversary year.
Senior Participation Producer and Director of You 2.0, Sarah West, said:
“The NT Connections festival is about giving participants the full experience of producing theatre. We’ve been running this programme for 5 years and many of those taking part join our other Participation programmes to develop their craft. In addition to the performing opportunities, we run the NT Technicians course too, which means we have technicians working on the shows are also young people.”
Nova Squire, Assistant Director of You 2.0, said:
“I’ve been involved in the NT Connections programme at Nottingham Playhouse for the last 5 years and been given so many amazing opportunities. I’ve done the NT Young Technicians’ course and shadowed industry professionals. It’s really boosted my self-confidence and my understanding of making theatre. I have now been offered a place at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) for their BA Theatre and Performance Design degree.”
Over 125,000 young people nationwide have taken part in Connections over the past three decades, giving young people firsthand experience in all aspects of staging and performing a new play. Esteemed alumni include David Oyelowo, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Callum Scott Howells and Keira Knightley. Each year ten new plays are commissioned that explore contemporary themes relevant to young people, creating a canon of over 235 scripts specifically for young people to perform. Previous playwrights include Alice Birch, Chris Bush, James Graham and Lenny Henry. Connections also takes place internationally, with festivals being hosted in seven countries spanning three continents.
Kirsten Adam, Head of Young People’s Programmes at the National Theatre, said:
“We are delighted to be celebrating the landmark 30th anniversary of National Theatre Connections with theatres across the UK. Whether this is the first rung on the ladder to a glittering career on the stage, or the mechanism that builds confidence in a young person to go on and embrace challenges later in life, youth theatre is the foundation that allows young people to flourish and develop. We can’t wait to witness the talent and creativity that these groups will bring both on and off stage this Spring”.
To book tickets to NT Connection performances at Nottingham Playhouse visit nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk.
As headline partner for the Connections programme, BNP Paribas aims to make art accessible to all young people across the UK through their BNP Paribas AccessArt25 programme.
For more information about Connections 2025, visit the National Theatre Website.
Listings
Nottingham Playhouse, Wellington Circus NG5 1AF
Wed 16 Apr
5.45pm You 2.0 – Flourish Youth Theatre
8.00pm Mia and the Fish – Rugby Connected Youth Theatre
Thu 17 Apr
5.45pm Fresh Air – Sleaford Little Theatre Academy
7.15pm Their Name is Joy – Skegness Academy
8.45pm Ravers – Nottingham College
Sat 19 Apr
6.15pm Their Name is Joy – Nottingham Girls Academy
7.45pm You 2.0 – Nottingham Playhouse Company
Posted on 22 April 2025
