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  • National Theatre Connections Partner Festival 2024

    • National Theatre Connections Partner Festival 2024

    14 Feb 2024

    This year Gulbenkian has been selected to host the National Theatre Connections Partner Festival!

    What is Connections?

    Connections is the National Theatre’s annual, nationwide youth theatre festival. Every year, Connections commissions new plays for young people to perform. The programme brings together some of the UK’s most exciting writers with the theatre-makers of tomorrow. In 23/24, the National Theatre are working with nearly 270 youth companies from every corner of the UK.

    Our Company

    The Gulbenkian Young Company will be taking part in connections, working closely with 30 young people in the cast and tech crew to perform Wind/Rush Generation(s) by Mojisola Adebayo on Sun 10 & Mon 11 March and again at Trinity Theatre Tunbridge Wells on Sat 20 Apr!

    A play about the British Isles, its past and its present. However, if you think you know about British history, Empire, slavery, economics, racism and humanity, then this play might get you to think again. Set in a university common room, a group of students are troubled by a noisy ghost. So they do what any self-respecting and intelligent students would do in such a situation – they get out the Ouija Board to try and lay them to rest.

    What is the Partner Theatre Festival?

    After all groups and companies have performed their play at their home venue, companies will then transfer their show to their local partner theatre. Between Fri 3 – Wed 8 May we will be hosting 8 companies from across Kent and welcome them to perform 7 new plays commissioned by the National Theatre on the Gulbenkian stage. There are 4 nights of the festival with 2 companies performing per night.

    The Partner venues themselves are exciting and elevating stages for young companies to perform on, but also the teams within each venue hold a wealth of expertise in operating their theatre spaces that will be shared with the young people. We are delighted and grateful to work with them all as we invite them to our theatre!

    Captioning 

    This year we are delighted to announce that all performances will be fully captioned to make the festival inclusive and accessible for everyone to enjoy!

    Who is the line up?

    Night One – Fri 3 May

    Back in the Day by Yasmeen Khan  performed by Folkestone School For Girls

    Orchestra by Charlie Josephine performed by Towers School and Sixth Form

    Night Two – Sat 4 May

    Your Name is Dead by Elgan Rhys performed by Trinity Youth Theatre

    The Sad Club by Luke Barnes with music by Adam Pleeth performed by TheatreWorks Deal

    Night Three – Tue 7 May

    Replica by Titas Halder performed by Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys

    Age is Revolting by Abi Zakarian performed by Spires Academy

    Night Four – Wed 8 May

    Kiss/Marry/Push Off Cliff by Josh Azouz  performed by Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School

    Age is Revolting by Abi Zakarian performed by Brockhill Park Performing Arts College

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    ART31

    ART31 takes its name from Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child, which states that ‘Children have the right to relax and play, and to join in a wide range of cultural, artistic and other recreational activities’.

    ART31 is a vision created with, by, and for young people in Kent, championing the belief that all children and young people have an entitlement to access high quality arts and culture, to empower them to achieve their creative potential, and to genuinely engage young people as equal partners in any decision making that affects them.

    The ART31 Youth Board is made up of young people from across Kent aged 13-25 who steer its governance, and influence policy and practice across the county and beyond, challenging the creative sector to examine existing ways of working and integrate young people into the core of their practice.

    Our projects with young people

    GENFest Young people posing in a cardboard Instagram frame

    ART31 Generate

    ART31 Generate is made up of young people from across Kent aged 13-25. They steer ART31's governance, influence arts policy and practice, and programme the annual GENFest Youth Takeover Festival.

    Youth Theatre

    Fantastic and fun sessions for ages 13-18 years, encouraging creativity and theatre-making skills.

    Live Streaming film equipment.

    SCREEN31

    Screen31 is a group for young people aged 15-25 interested in developing their film-making skills.
    TECH31

    TECH31

    TECH31 provides free practical training in technical theatre for ages 13 - 25
    Two actors laughing.

    National Theatre Connections – Gulbenkian Young Company

    NT Connections is the National Theatre’s nationwide youth theatre festival. Each year it offers a unique opportunity for youth theatres and school theatre groups to stage new plays written for young people by some of theatre’s most exciting playwrights, and to perform in leading theatres across the UK.
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    Gulbenkian Uncovered

    Are you enthusiastic, committed and creative? Gulbenkian Uncovered gives University of Kent students the chance to programme films and run events.

    Square Pegs 1

    Square Pegs Arts

    Square Pegs Arts are an award winning charity who provide drama groups, music projects and other accessible Arts opportunities for children and young adults who have learning disabilities and autism, and produce original, inspiring, challenging Theatre. Difference is celebrated and everyone is supported to shine in their own way.
    A selection of images arranged on a wall

    KRAN Fam

    KRAN Fam is a drama group in partnership with Kent Refugee Action Network for young refugees and asylum-seekers.

    Accessible Film Club

    Relaxed Screenings

    Monthly film screenings that are open to all, especially those with autism and learning disabilities.

    Young People - Screen31 ARTY31

    ARTY31

    Gulbenkian’s ARTY31 group is for young people aged 8-12 with a wide variety of arts interests.

    Film tickets

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