Students from a Nunhead school, many of whom have never appeared on a professional stage before, have been selected to perform a new play at the National Theatre next month.
On Friday 23 June, St Thomas the Apostle School and Sixth Form will appear at a festival at the National Theatre in Waterloo that celebrates young talent.
The school is one of ten companies representing the talent of young people across the UK at the 2023 Connections Festival.
They will perform Model Behaviour by Jon Brittain, which has been described as “a fast-paced comic ride through the rollercoaster of personal (playground) politics played out against the backdrop of the world stage.”
For many of the pupils, it will be the first time they have appeared on a professional stage.
Steph Biggs, group leader at the school, said: “Being part of the Connections Festival has been a wonderful opportunity for young people across the country to work in a professional theatre.”
The annual nationwide youth theatre festival, now in its 28th year, celebrates young talent with 5,600 young people aged 13-19 performing one of ten new plays from established and emerging playwrights.
Participants are involved in all aspects of the theatre-making process both on and off stage. This includes getting involved with costume, lighting and set design.
Kaisen Anderson, a young participant aged 15, said “Connections is a festival for everyone. It celebrates the diversity of the UK and gives young people a voice they never knew they had. The National Theatre has taught me the importance of engaging with young people that are different to me, and Connections is a testament to the National’s motto for showcasing diversity.”
All performances will be captioned.
Tickets are £5 each, or £8 for both shows each evening and are on sale now. To book tickets click here.
The play will take place on Friday, June 23 at 7 pm.
