We are thrilled to announce that for the third year running we have been selected as one of two theatres in Scotland to host the National Theatre’s prestigious Connections Festival, which will showcase the best of exciting young acting talent from seven theatre groups from around the country and from the Isle of Man.
From 10-12 April, the Studio will host Spotlights Community Youth Theatre from Forfar, Crieff High School, Aberdeen based Oldmachar Academy, Open Door Drama Youth from the Shetland Islands, East Lothian based The Mill Youth Theatre, Kensington Arts from the Isle of Man, and Pitlochry Festival Theatre Young Company as they perform the Scottish premières of the plays, Fresh Air by Vickie Donoghue; YOU 2.0 by Alys Metcalf; Mia and the Fish by Satinder Chohan; No Regrets by Gary McNair (Dear Billy, National Theatre of Scotland); Brain Play by Chloë Lawrence-Taylor and Paul Sirett; Ravers by Rikki Beadle-Blair; and Saba’s Swim by Danusia Samal.
Now in its 30th year, Connections 2025 draws together ten new plays from some of the UK’s most talented and popular playwrights, for young people aged between 13 and 19, to perform. These are plays for a new generation of theatre-makers who want to ask questions, challenge assertions, and test boundaries, and for those who love to invent and imagine a world of possibilities. This year the National Theatre will be working alongside 33 Partner Theatres and over 250 youth theatre companies from every corner of the UK.
The plays offer young performers an engaging and diverse range of material to perform, read or study. Young people also have the opportunity to engage in all aspects of the theatre making process both on and off stage, including costume, lighting and set design, and learn about the many skills and roles involved in theatre.
Previous Connections playwrights have included Liz Lochhead, Mark Ravenhill, Anthony Neilson, David Mamet, Bryony Lavery, Lenny Henry, James Graham, and Cush Jumbo.
Several performers have appeared at the festival and gone onto being professional actors including the Oscar nominated Keira Knightley (Pride and Prejudice, The Imitation Game and Pirates of the Caribbean), John Boyega (Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi), Dylan Llewllyn (Derry Girls and Big Boys), Callum Scott Howells (It’s A Sin) and David Oyelowo (Selma and Silo) who appeared in the very first Connections in 1995.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre Associate Director Sam Hardie said:
“We are thrilled to be welcoming seven youth theatre companies to perform at the NT Connections Festival at Pitlochry Festival Theatre this spring. It’s our third year hosting this amazing nationwide festival and we are delighted to say it’s our biggest year yet, welcoming young companies from across Scotland, the Isle of Man, and our very own Pitlochry Festival Theatre Young Company. The festival champions young people and celebrates their brilliant work which will be showcased in our Studio theatre. We are very excited for the festival and know it will be a highlight of our year! “
Kirsten Adam, Head of Young People’s Programmes at the National Theatre, said,
“We are delighted to be celebrating the 30th anniversary of National Theatre Connections with Pitlochry Festival Theatre. Over 125,000 young people have taken part in this nationwide youth theatre festival over the past three decades, staging and performing new plays across the breadth of the UK. We can’t wait to witness the talent and creativity that these seven groups will bring both on and off stage this April”.
The NT Connections Festival takes place at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 10 – 12 April. Tickets are available from the Pitlochry Festival Theatre box office on 01796 484626 or online at pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
National Theatre Connections: Thursday
National Theatre Connections: Friday
