Ravers

by Rikki Beadle-Blair

performed by Kensington Arts

A rag tag group of self-described ‘neeks’ (nerds and geeks) gather at midnight in a local park, to hold a ‘dry rave. (no intoxicants). Will they succeed in redefining ‘cool? Or will the powers that be succeed in shutting down the neek revolution?

Rikki Beadle-Blair MBE is a writer, director, composer, choreographer, designer, producer and performer working in film, theatre, television and radio. Having written and directed 40+ plays over the last 20 years along with several feature films, shorts and TV episodes and series, he has won several awards including the Sony Award, the Los Angeles Outfest Screenwriting and Outstanding Achievement awards, plus both an MBE for contributions to drama and an honorary doctor of letters from the University of Warwick. Rikkis passion for encouraging wellness, creativity and business sense in others has made a committed and effective mentor to a great many writers, actors, composers and directors around the world. As well as hosting the Annual UK Black Pride Event, Rikki has hosted Voguing balls around the country for the last 15 years.

Saba’s Swim

by  Danusia Samal

performed by The Mill Theatre

Seven months ago, Saba walked out of her GCSE mocks and didn’t come back. Her friends don’t understand why. Now, on prom night, Saba’s finally made contact, challenging her friends to track her down via a series of cryptic clues. But when the friends are finally reunited, Saba is different. The way she sees the world has changed. And what she’s asking of her friends… is it more than they can give?

Danusia Samal is an actor, writer & jazz singer from London. In 2018 she won the Theatre503 International Playwriting Award for ‘Out of Sorts’, which was later shortlisted for the George Devine Award. Her Garage musical Bangers (in which Danusia also stars) sold out at Soho Theatre and the Edinburgh Fringe. Danusia is also a climate campaigner, founding the Green Rider to cut film and TV pollution. Screen Writing Credits include: Doing Good (ZDF); Virdee (BBC) Gangs of London S2 & 3 (Sky): Bodies (Netflix). Theatre Writing Credits include: Saba’s Swim (NT Connections); Cinderella (Brixton House); Bangers (Soho/Cardboard Citz/Paines Plough); The Keyworker Cycles (Almeida); Out of Sorts (Theatre503); Busking It (Shoreditch Town Hall/HighTide).

About National Theatre: Connections

The National Theatre Connections festival is a celebration of young people, theatre-making and the importance of access to the arts. Each year we commission ten new plays for young people to perform, bringing together some of the most exciting writers with the theatre-makers of tomorrow.

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