National Theatre’s nationwide youth theatre festival – Connections 2024

Connections is the National Theatre’s annual, nationwide youth theatre festival. The programme is 29 years old and has a history of championing the talent of young people from across the UK. Every year, the Connections commissions ten new plays for young people to perform. The programme brings together some of the UK’s most exciting writers with the theatre-makers of tomorrow. In 23/24, Connections are working with nearly 270 youth companies from every corner of the UK.

As a partner theatre, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch are thrilled to be welcoming six companies over three days to present their work

NT Connections Day 3 – Saturday 20 April

Age is Revolting by Abi Zakarian, performed by Ormiston Rivers Academy

Choir is for mad old people, right? When a group of school kids rebel against their boring music lesson they hit the wrong note and magically transform into their 80 year-old selves…and now live in a care home. Suddenly age, and their understanding of it, feels very relevant as they begin to confusedly navigate their way back to the present; no longer older, but maybe just a little wiser.  Suggested content guidance: Recommended for ages 13+. Some strong language.

Replica by Titas Halder, performed by Green Shoes Arts, Young Actor’s Club

Something happened on the school trip. One of the class has been replaced by an exact replica of themselves. At least that’s what everyone’s saying. Once a rumour starts, it can be difficult to remember what is real – or who. Convinced that there is an impostor walking among them, a group of teenagers is determined to root out the intruder. A mystery about friendship, the nature of truth, and humanity. When it comes to it, how do you prove that you are a human? Suggested content guidance: Recommended for ages 16+. Strong language, some mildly violent language, used in a sci-fi context