YOUNG actors are taking to the Swan Theatre stage in Worcester as part of a major festival’s 30th anniversary celebrations.
Throughout this year’s National Theatre Connections Festival young people aged 13 to 19 will be invited to perform at 33 theatres across the country.
And the Swan Theatre at The Moors is one such venue, hosting performances from SHS Acting Company, TDMS Collective, Stagedoor Learning, Halesowen College, Bournside Ensemble, Central Youth Theatre, Perfect Circle Youth Theatre, The Courtyard Youth Theatre, Evolve Performance Hub and Worcester Theatres’ very own Young Rep company.
Over 5,500 young people from 275 companies and schools will have the chance to perform on professional stages throughout the spring, culminating in a festival at the National Theatre in June.
Over 125,000 young people nationwide have taken part in Connections over the past three decades, giving young people firsthand experience in all aspects of staging and performing a new play.
Esteemed alumni include David Oyelowo, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Callum Scott Howells and Keira Knightley. Each year ten new plays are commissioned that explore contemporary themes relevant to young people, creating a cannon of over 235 scripts specifically for young people to perform. Previous playwrights include Alice Birch, Chris Bush, James Graham and Lenny Henry.
Sarah-Jane Morgan, chief executive officer and artistic director at Worcester Theatres, said “Worcester Theatres and the Swan Theatre are really proud to be a partner venue for the NT Connections Festival again this year, especially as the festival celebrates its 30th anniversary.
“At Worcester Theatres we are really passionate about providing a professional performance space such as the Swan Theatre to enable this opportunity in Worcestershire for youth theatres and schools to perform on our stage with full technical, sound and stage lighting supported by our fully professional team.
“Over the past three years we have had exceptional reviews from our attendees, and we are proud to have embedded the festival as a significant part of our annual participation programme for the year. We look forward to welcoming all our groups to the festival and to continuing celebrating the talent of the Midlands alongside the rest of the UK.”
Visit www.worcestertheatres.co.uk for tickets to the performances which run from Friday April 11 to Sunday April 13.
