Stars of the future may be among the young actors and crew from schools, colleges and drama groups in the Eastern region, chosen to perform in a showcase of new works for the Shell Connections drama festival during April 2005. One of the largest celebrations of youth theatre in the UK, the festival offered 11 to 19-year-olds the chance to work on challenging new plays, both on stage and behind the scenes. Over the course of the festival, more than 150 performers took to the stage, with a large supporting cast of stage crew and volunteers. Fourteen by four Staged at The Garage and the Norwich Playhouse, the students will present 14 performances in just four days. "We're pleased and excited to be co-hosting the festival alongside the Norwich Playhouse," said Gill Dean, assistant manager of The Garage. "It's refreshing to see plays written specifically for young people that address issues that are relevant and important to them. It will certainly make for a week of thoroughly enjoyable and diverse entertainment. "The youth groups participating in the festival have all been working very hard and have produced some wonderful work that matches the high quality of the plays themselves," she added. The Connections programme helps thousands of young people to develop their skills and build their confidence through theatre. "We're proud to again be working with the National Theatre on Shell Connections and helping thousands of young people from across the country get involved in this inspiring programme," said James Smith, the chairman of Shell UK. "Whether performing or behind the scenes, the new responsibilities and challenges the young people face, and teamwork they are part of, should be a great boost to their confidence and motivation," he added. The festival is one of 16 regional showcases being held across the country. The performances will all be judged and regional winners will be selected to perform their plays at the National Theatre's festival later in the year. New plays for festival The specially commissioned one-hour plays are written by some of today's best contemporary playwrights. The subject matter ranges from a rollicking satire on contemporary justice and the world of the internet chat-room, to a teenage murder and the kids faced with the daily dilemma of which route to take to school. "Shell Connections is a boom of activity that challenges and pushes the boundaries of theatre on an enormous scale," said Nicholas Hytner, director of the National Theatre. "Fuelled by some of the best writers around, the extraordinary energy, commitment and imagination of young people and their directors spans the whole of the country," he added. The Shell Connections Drama Festival takes place from Tuesday 12 - Friday 15 April, 2005. For tickets call 01603 598598, visit The Garage website for performance details.
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Preview: NYMT presents Les Misérables | The groups taking part in the Shell Connections festival are: Broadland High School, Norfolk
Caister High School, Norfolk
City College, Norwich
Classworks Theatre Company, Cambridge
College of West Anglia, King's Lynn
The E.045 Theatre Company at West Suffolk College
The Far East Theatre Company from Paston College, Norfolk
King Edward VI Upper School, Bury St Edmonds
Methwold High School, Norfolk
Park High School , King's Lynn
Thomas Lord Audley Schoo, Colchester
Whizz Kids, Cambridge
The plays to be performed are: Just, Blooded, Lunch In Venice, Burn, Chatroom, Mugged, Through The Wire, Citizenship and Samurai. |
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