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

T Connections Day 1 – Thursday 18 April

Shout by Alexis Zegerman, performed by Roding Valley High School

In a world full of words, how can Dana survive when she can’t speak? Dana has selective mutism, but that doesn’t stop her vivid imagination. Shout is a funny, moving play about anxiety, celebrating difference, and finding your voice. A play that wonders what exactly it takes to overcome anxiety and mental health issues when you’re a teenager. It’s not just the noise you make, that makes you who you are. Suggested content guidance: Recommended for ages 14+. Play explores experiences of anxiety disorders, moments with characters struggling with poor mental health

Back in the Day by Yasmeen Khan, performed by The King Edmund School

A group of classmates are charged with the responsibility of being their school’s well-being champions. In a freak occurrence they are transported back to the 80’s via an impromptu and heavily improvised roller disco. Here they discover they’re not the only ones with skeletons in the cupboard, and there was more to the 80s than glitterballs and strange haircuts. Suggested content guidance: Recommended for ages 13+. One moment of strong language