National Theatre Connections 2027

Kensington Arts (KA) is inviting young people (people aged 13–19) to get involved in National Theatre Connections 2027, the annual festival programme run by London’s National Theatre. NT Connections commissions upcoming contemporary playwrights to write new plays exclusively for youth theatres to perform, celebrating the creativity and talent of young people across the UK and British Isles.

🎭 Now in its 32nd year, National Theatre Connections is widely regarded as the largest youth theatre festival in the world. Since 1995, it has provided hundreds of thousands of young people with opportunities to perform new writing, develop theatre-making skills and collaborate with youth theatre groups across the UK and British Isles.

“We are excited to be bringing another National Theatre Connections production to the Isle of Man,” said Emma Goodson, Creative Development Co-ordinator at Kensington Arts. “Connections is much more than a production. It’s an opportunity for young people to work collaboratively with challenging new writing, build creative confidence and become part of a nationwide community of young theatre-makers.”

This year, Kensington Arts participants will be performing The Manhattan Project by acclaimed Swedish playwright Rasmus Lindberg. The play blends wartime adventure, detective noir and surreal comedy with imaginative storytelling. The production will be directed by David Dawson and Assistant Director James Doyle, leading a new company of young performers as they bring this imaginative and ambitious play to life.

“We are thrilled to have been allocated our 1st choice play, The Manhattan Project. Cleverly showing a story of a girl living in a volatile home as she escapes into dreams of fantasy, war and ‘film noir’,” said Dawson. “What makes Connections so special is the way it challenges young people to step outside their comfort zones, develop their skills and work together to create something extraordinary. I have been thrilled to have been apart of NT Connections for many years, and each year gives me a fresh thrill to see a new young company take on the challenge of a new play. I can’t wait to see what this year’s company brings to the play and experience this year.”

Young people interested in taking part are invited to attend one of two free introductory workshops, which will form part of the audition process:

• Friday 2 October 2026, 5.00pm–7.00pm
• Tuesday 6 October 2026, 5.00pm–7.00pm

Participants only need to attend one workshop, although attending both will provide additional opportunities to explore the play and demonstrate their skills.

Kensington Arts is also encouraging young people with an interest in the technical and creative aspects of theatre to get involved through its weekly Tech Crew programme. Meeting every Tuesday evening, Tech Crew members gain hands-on experience in lighting, sound, set design and stagecraft while supporting productions throughout the year.

For those who are cast, rehearsals will take place on Tuesday and Friday evenings throughout the project, leading to home performances at Kensington Arts in February 2027 and a regional festival performance in Blackpool in Spring. As part of the wider Connections programme, there is also the opportunity for the top ten productions nationally to be selected to perform at the National Theatre in London, an honour Kensington Arts has already experienced. In 2022, the company was selected to perform Hunt by Fionnuala Kennedy on the National Theatre stage.

✨👉 More details, including participation costs, are available on the Kensington Arts website: kensingtonarts.im/project/connections/

How to get involved: You do not need to register in order to take part in the workshops listed above, just show up! If you have any questions in the meantime, you can contact Emma via email on emma.goodson@gov.im.