Youth group to perform first full non-English play at National Theatre

Ten school groups and youth theatres from across the UK have been selected to perform new plays as part of the National Theatre’s 2024 Connections Festival. 

Taking place between 25 and 29 June this year, Connections is an annual nationwide youth theatre festival that champions the talent of young people aged between 13 and 19 from across the UK. 

Writers this year include Mojisola Adebayo (Stars), and Charlie Josephine (Cowbois). Elgan Rhys (Llais / Voice) has worked in collaboration with Leo Drayton to write the first Connections’ first play offered in both English and Welsh language scripts: Dy Enw Marw (Your Name is Dead). 

All performances will be captioned; Dy Enw Marw will be performed in Welsh with Welsh and English captions.

Over 7,500 young people from 250 companies across the UK have taken part in Connections year, performing 10 specially commissioned plays at one of 22 leading partner theatres this spring. 

Find the full listings of performances on the NT website. 

National Theatre director, Rufus Norris, called the Connections festival one of his ‘favourite times of year’, labelling it ‘a brilliant opportunity for young people from every corner of the UK to stage new plays and develop skills through the world of theatre-making’. 

‘To have our first ever full non-English play just spotlights the talent and creativity of the young theatre-makers nationwide. I can't wait to welcome them all to the National Theatre in June,’ he adds. 

Tickets are now on sale for £5 per performance. 

Applications are now open to take part in Connections 2025 – the festival’s 30th anniversary year – and will close on 8 July at midday.

nationaltheatre.org.uk/learn-explore/young-people/connections/