1. Application & payment
1.1 The deadline for applications to participate in the Connections 2023 cycle is Monday 11 July 2022 at 12pm.
1.2 Once your Company has been accepted onto Connections 2023, you will be invoiced for your fee. For Connections 2023, if a Company cancels their involvement in Connections before 22 October 2022, they will receive a full refund of their fee. If a Company cancels their involvement in Connections between 22 October and 31 December 2022, they will receive a refund of 50% of their fee. There will be no refund payable for cancellations after December 31 2022. Please note: all invoices must be paid before 22nd October 2022.
Please note there is an additional fee of £100 for any Company bringing a second director to attend in person at the Directors’ Weekend, this sum is payable before the Directors' Weekend and bursaries are available.
1.3 The NT will accept a maximum of 300 UK-based applications for Connections 2023.
1.4 If the NT receives more than 300 applications, it will select companies to ensure a balance of participating groups by age range, type of group and geography, and between those who are new to Connections and those who have taken part before. It will also consider how Companies intend to involve young people in backstage and off-stage roles. The allocation of places is at the National Theatre's discretion, and its decision is final.
Due to restrictions on capacity and resources we can only offer places to 300 Connections companies for the 2023 cycle. Every year we are significantly over-subscribed with applications and our policy is to prioritise offering places to state schools and youth theatre groups, in order to reach young people who may not have previously had much opportunity to see, make and take part in theatre. Where independent schools can demonstrate in their application that they are partnering with other state schools in their area in a meaningful way, we will take this into consideration.
1.5 Connections companies will consist of young people aged between 13 and 19 years old, and up to 26 years old for groups with additional needs.
1.6 You must provide one main Company Contact, through whom all communication will be sent.
1.7 All Companies who apply will be notified about whether their application has been successful by the end of July 2022.
1.8 Successful Companies will be sent further information upon receipt of payment.
2. Scripts
2.1 Scripts will be available to download as soon as you have been accepted on Connections 2023. This access is for your Company only. The Scripts may only be copied for use by the Company and must not be passed on to any other person or organisation. An online form will be available for you to select your two preferred Scripts. This must be completed and returned to the NT by early-September 2022. The NT will confirm your script allocation with your Company Contact shortly after this.
2.2 Companies will be selected to perform each Script to ensure variety at Partner Theatre festivals. The NT will do everything possible to ensure you receive one of your preferences; however, there may be some instances where this is not possible.
2.3 The NT strongly encourages each Company not to start rehearsing their Script until after the Directors' Weekend as the Weekend will assist in making artistic decisions in line with the writer's intentions for the piece.
2.4 If, because of conversations at the Directors' Weekend, a new version of the Script becomes available, this will be emailed to the Company Contact.
3. Child Licensing
Where required by the local authorities of all the young people in your Connections company, the Connections Director is responsible for obtaining all necessary licenses for company members taking part in both your Home Performances and Partner Theatre Festival performance.
4. Directors' Weekend - Friday 21 to Sunday 23 October 2022
4.1 Attendance at the Directors' Weekend is compulsory for your Company's Director. If your Company's Director fails to attend the Directors' Weekend the NT may, at its discretion, terminate the Company's involvement in Connections 2023. In such circumstances, no refund shall be paid.
4.2 If you would like a second Director to attend the Weekend and we are able to accommodate this there is an additional fee of £100 which must be paid before the Directors' Weekend.
4.3 Each Company will arrange and pay for travel and accommodation for their Director to attend the Directors’ Weekend.
5. Home Performances
5.1 Involvement in Connections 2023 entitles your Company to the performance rights of your selected Script for up to five performances at your school or youth theatre between 1 February – 9 April 2023. Your Production cannot be performed for any purpose outside of the Connections 2023 Cycle. If your preferred home performance date falls outside this range, please contact the Connections team.
5.2 Your organisation will be responsible for the costs incurred when staging your Production.
5.3 Each Company will specify its choice of Home Performance dates. The NT must be notified of the Company's performance dates by December 2022 to allow the NT good time to arrange a Connections Mentor Director to attend your Production. If a Connections Mentor Director cannot attend your selected Production date, a suitable alternative date will be sought. If the NT has not received your Production dates by the deadline in December 2022 it may not be possible for a Connections Director to attend your Production.
5.4 Your Company Contact will receive Development Notes approximately ten days after your Production.
