Renowned National Theatre Youth Festival Comes To Worcester!
17 March 2023
Worcester Theatres is delighted to announce that this April, the Swan Theatre will be hosting the NT Connections 2023 festival as a partner venue for the very first time.
Connections is the National Theatre’s annual youth theatre festival, bringing together talented young people from across the UK. The festival has been running for over 28 years, and for the very first time is being hosted in the region at the Swan Theatre. Over the course of the 3-day festival in April, local youth theatres, schools and young companies will perform a selection of 10 new thrilling plays, written exclusively for Connections by some of the UK’s most established playwrights. Those performing in the festival will also broaden their creative skills at a variety of writing, dance and poetry workshops provided by local professionals in the theatre industry.
The local youth theatres, schools and companies performing at the Swan Theatre include the University of Worcester, Perfect Circle, Stagedoor Learning, Cheltenham Bournside School, King Edward VI Five Ways School, Worcester Youth Theatremakers, The Chantry School, The Kings Company as well as Worcester Theatres’ very own Young Rep! After the Young Rep’s successful run of Samphire at the Swan Theatre in March, the cast are eager to return for the festival.
Owen Harper, Creative Producer & Young Rep Artistic Director, said
“The Worcester Theatres team and I are excited to be hosting groups from across the West Midlands as a partner venue for NT Connections this year. We have nine amazing productions performing at the Swan Theatre, all created with, by and for young people and it’s going to be three days of laughter, fun, and theatre! The groups will also be given the chance to learn and develop their theatre skills during a series of workshops hosted by local independent creatives and arts organisations, including Dancefest, Crave Arts and more. We can’t wait to get everyone involved in the fully packed schedule we have planned.”
CEO and Artistic Director, Sarah-Jane Morgan had this to say,
“I am delighted that Worcester Theatres will be hosting for the first time, the NT Connections Festival. Having a connection to the National Theatre is very exciting, especially as Rufus Norris (Artistic Director of the NT) is the patron of our Swan Youth Theatre, having started his career here at the Swan. Regional talent development is crucial for the sustainability of companies such as our own Worcester Repertory Company, and we are delighted to be working with the NT Connections team to enable increased opportunities for those taking part.”
With so much to see, make sure to come along and show your support for these brilliant theatre makers of the future! The festival will be taking place Sat 1st – Mon 3rd April at the Swan Theatre.
Tickets are available for each performance, or you can get an ‘All Day Pass’ to see all the performances happening that day. For more information click the link below. We’re wishing all those taking part the very best of luck!