Annual nationwide youth theatre festival celebrates 30th anniversary and features eight groups from across South West

Theatre Royal Plymouth (TRP) will once again host the regional National Theatre Connections Festival, which will see ten local schools, colleges and theatre groups from Plympton to Penzance perform on its Drum stage. Celebrating its 30th year, the National Theatre Connections Festival showcases the talent of thousands of young people aged 13-19 from across the country, with 33 regional partner theatres each hosting a week-long schedule of shows.

This milestone year, 5,500 young people from over 270 companies and schools will take part, showcasing their talent, passion and creativity. By taking part this year, these young people will join more than 125,000 people nationwide that have had the opportunity to explore theatre making over the past three decades of Connections, including esteemed alumni like David Oyelowo, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Callum Scott Howells and Keira Knightley. 

Ten plays are commissioned by National Theatre Connections each year for young people to perform, exploring the key issues that are shaping young people’s lives today, including the promotion of hope, insight, courage, and community. Participants 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.

TRP’s NT Connections programme, sponsored by Mohn Westlake Foundation, BNP Paribas and Buffini Chao Foundation, will take place in The Drum 29 April – 03 May 2025 with performances from: Atlantic Coast Theatre Co., The Mullion Collective, Callywith College, Plympton Academy Company, Lipson Co-operative Academy, Coombe Dean School, Fowey River Academy, Bodmin College, Penzance Young People’s Theatre and Theatre Royal Plymouth’s Young Company.

Ahead of the Festival, each company - many of whom return year-on-year - will perform its production at a local venue in front of a live audience. TRP’s Young Company will be performing its rendition of No Regrets at the state-of-the-art performing arts centre, The House, at the University of Plymouth on 12 April.

Following the festival, ten groups from across the UK will be invited to perform their version of one of this year’s plays at the National Theatre in as part of a finale for this year’s festival.

Janette Owen, NT Connections Project Manager at Theatre Royal Plymouth, said: “We’re thrilled to once again host the NT Connections Festival in our Drum theatre. It’s such a privilege to welcome local schools and theatre groups to our performance space and watch them thrive in front of a live audience. The shows are open to the general public so it’s an immense experience not only for the participants, but also the audience who get to be a part of this celebration, and help nurture this emerging, young talent.

Kirsten Adam, Head of Young People's Programmes at the National Theatre, said: "We are delighted to be celebrating the landmark 30th anniversary of National Theatre Connections with theatres across the UK. Whether this is the first rung on the ladder to a glittering career on the stage, or the mechanism that builds confidence in a young person to go on and embrace challenges later in life, youth theatre is the foundation that allows young people to flourish and develop. We can't wait to witness the talent and creativity that these groups will bring both on and off stage this spring".

Tickets for all performances in The Drum are available now and cost £8. For more information about the National Theatre Connections Festival at TRP and to book tickets, visit https://theatreroyal.com/whats-on/connections-festival/.

The 2025 Connections Festival plays are:

Tues 29 Apr

Atlantic Coast Theatre Co. Performing: No Regrets

The Mullion Collective Performing: Brain Play

Wed 30 Apr

Callywith College Performing: Ravers

Plympton Academy Company Performing: Saba’s Swim

Thu 01 May

Lipson Co-operative Academy Performing: Saba’s swim

Coombe Dean School Performing: Fresh Air

Fri 02 May

Fowey River Academy Performing: Brain Play

Bodmin College Performing: Fresh Air

Sat 03 May

Penzance Young People’s Theatre Performing: You 2.0

TRP Young Company Performing: No Regrets