Bedlington Academy Youth Theatre are delighted to have secured a position on the prestigious National Connections Festival 2022!
Each year the National Theatre commissions ten new plays for young people to perform, bringing together some of the UK's most exciting writers with the theatre-makers of tomorrow. Our performance group have been chosen to produce Hunt by Fionnuala Kennedy which explores the unwanted and anticipated transition from childhood to adulthood.
The festival encourages the cast and creative team to use their voices to shape the new piece of writing. Working closely with the National Theatre, the staff and student directors have attended the annual conference at the National Theatre to learn how to encourage creativity, led by professional artistic directors. Industry-led workshops are also delivered to the actors at various points within the rehearsal process, sometimes at partner theatres.
Once rehearsals begin, a series of performances will be scheduled here at Bedlington Academy, where we will be visited by professional directors who will then provide notes on how to improve prior to performing at a city entre venue. The Festival ends in London where a group of young performers will be selected to perform at the National Theatre.
Previously, as part of the Connections Festival, Bedlington Academy presented Stuff by Tom Wells which was then performed at Northern Stage in Newcastle. The rehearsal process and performance were a huge success. Our young people worked incredibly hard as a team, building communication skills, analytical thinking and resilience whilst enjoying the process. We look forward to seeing our students develop this time around!