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Connections 2023

A group of young people rest in a circle, looking out and away from the group, with a soft pink and green glow effect over the image. One young person in the centre wears glasses and looks directly into the camera. The National Theatre logo and Connections 2023 logo are written at the bottom of the image in white.

Booking and details

20 — 24 June 2023
This show has now ended
The event location is

Dorfman Theatre

National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 9PX

Connections is the National Theatre’s annual, nationwide youth theatre festival. The programme has been established for 29 years with a celebrated history of championing the talent of young people from across the UK.

Every year, we commission ten new plays for young people to perform, bringing together some of the UK’s most exciting writers with the theatre-makers of tomorrow. We work with just over 260 youth companies and over 6,000 young people annually from every corner of the UK.

A young person in a blue and red light effect covers one eye with their hand, and looks directly forward. The image is softly refracted around the edges. The National Theatre logo is written at the top of the image in white text. The play title and name of writer are written across the bottom of the image in white.

(Circle Dreams Around) The Terrible, Terrible Past

by Simon Longman

Performed by Ilkley Players Greenroom, West Yorkshire

Tuesday 20 June, 7pm

Connections 2023: Circle Dreams Around
A group of four young people in an orange and yellow glow sands in a group, three facing inwards and looking to the floor, while one turns over their shoulder to face the front. The National Theatre logo is written at the top of the image in white text. The play title and name of writer are written across the bottom of the image in white.

Old Times

by Molly Taylor

Performed by Bourne Academy, Lincolnshire

Tuesday 20 June, 8:30pm

Connections 2023: Old Times
A young person in a jacket stands centre and faces forward, surrounded by a group of young people sitting, facing away, wearing matching green beanie hats. The image has a green to pink colour and the lower half of the image is blurred in a semi-circle. The National Theatre logo is written at the top of the image in white text. The play title and name of writer are written across the bottom of the image in white.

Is This Good Enough?

by Avaes Mohammad

Performed by Eastbury Drama Group, Barking

Wednesday 21 June, 7pm

Connections 2023: Is This Good Enough?
A young person in a long t shirt stands directly in front of the camera, looking down at it from above. The image has a light blue glow. The National Theatre logo is written at the top of the image in white text. The play title and name of writer are written across the bottom of the image in white.

The Heights

by Lisa McGee

Performed by St Brendan’s Sixth Form College, Bristol

Wednesday 21 June, 8:30pm

Connections 2023: The Heights
Two faces in a soft golden glow are placed diagonally opposite each other, one upside down, looking at each other against a black background. The National Theatre logo is written at the top of the image in white text. The play title and name of writer are written across the bottom of the image in white.

Tuesday

by Alison Carr

Performed by Plough Youth Theatre, North Devon

Thursday 22 June, 7pm

Connections 2023: Tuesday
Two young people sit on the floor, one stretched out and leaning back, and one sitting on their knees with their hands folded in their lap. The image has a circular ripple effect and a purple and light blue glow. The National Theatre logo is written at the top of the image in white text. The play title and name of writer are written across the bottom of the image in white.

Innocent Creatures

by Leo Butler

Performed by The Boaty Theatre Company, Ellesmere Port

Thursday 22 June, 8:30pm

Connections 2023: Innocent Creatures
Two young people stands one in front of the other. One is smiling, and the other person standing behind looks over their shoulder. The image has a light purple colour and blurs out at the edges. The National Theatre logo is written at the top of the image in white text. The play title and name of writer are written across the bottom of the image in white.

Model Behaviour

by Jon Brittain

Performed by St Thomas the Apostle School and Sixth Form, Peckham

Friday 23 June, 7pm

Connections 2023: Model Behaviour
Two young people in a light pastel glow and soft glitch effect lean back to back against each other. One leans their head back onto the shoulder of the other and looks up. The National Theatre logo is written at the top of the image in white text. The play title and name of writer are written across the bottom of the image in white.

Samphire

by Shamser Sinha

Performed by Aberystwyth Arts Centre Youth Theatre

Friday 23 June, 8:30pm

Connections 2023: Samphire
A young person in a blue glow, in front of a bright orange background, sticks their tongue out, winks, and looks to the front. They are partially obscured by another blurred person closer to the camera. The National Theatre logo is written at the top of the image in white text. The play title and name of writer are written across the bottom of the image in white.

Strangers Like Me

by Ed Harris

Performed by Crescent Arts Youth Theatre, Belfast

Saturday 24 June, 7pm

Connections 2023: Strangers Like Me
A young person with short hair and a nose ring tilts their head back, looks up, and screams. The image has an orange colour and a soft shadow effect. The National Theatre logo is written at the top of the image in white text. The play title and name of writer are written across the bottom of the image in white.

Is My Microphone On?

by Jordan Tannahill

Performed by Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, Canterbury

Saturday 24 June, 8:30pm

Connections 2023: Is My Microphone On?

Suitability

Please note that each production in the Connections 2023 festival has different age recommendations. The plays deal with a range of themes. For full details on each production, please visit the individual play pages (links below), or download the Connections 2023 Self-Care Kit (PDF 221 KB)

 

Ticket prices and Assisted performances

Tickets

£5 per performance
£8 for two performances on the same evening

Access

All 7pm performances are captioned.

Our funders

The Mohn Westlake Foundation supports nationwide Learning programmes for young people.

Connections is supported by The Mohn Westlake Foundation, Buffini Chao Foundation, Bank of America, The EBM Charitable Trust, Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, Katie Bradford Arts Trust, Susan Miller and Byron Grote, The Broughton Family Charitable Trust, Mulberry Trust, The Peter Cundill Foundation, The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust and The John Thaw Foundation.

Nationwide learning is supported by Buffini Chao Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, Clore Duffield Foundation, Tim and Sarah Bunting, Behrens Foundation, Cleopatra Trust and Milton Grundy Foundation.

Find out more about supporting our work