National Theatre Connections Festival 2023

Every year, National Theatre Connections Festival commissions new plays for young people to perform. Theatr Brycheiniog are proud to welcome and bring together creatives, exciting writers, and the theatre makers of tomorrow for what is guaranteed to be an inspiring, energetic, moving, and transformative weekend for all.

Connections is the National Theatre’s annual, nationwide youth theatre festival. The programme is 28 years old and has a history if championing the talent of young people from across the UK.

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 2021/2022, they worked with 260 youth companies and over 8.000 young people from every corner of the UK.

Connections is open to any company of young people aged 13-19. You can be a school, a youth theatre, or a voluntary organisation. You can have lots of experience staging plays or none at all. Whoever you are, your group can apply to be part of the National Theatre Connections Festival.

Our festival will see us welcome performances by Actors Workshop and Everyman Youth Theatre – based in Cardiff, Caerphilly Youth Theatre, Merthyr College, and our very own Ghost Light Young Performers from Brecon.

See below our incredible and inspiring line-up for the National Theatre Connections Festival!

The College, Merthyr Tydfil – Is my Microphone on?

Friday 5^th May 2023

Ghost Light Young Performers – Innocent Creatures

Friday 5^th May 2023

Caerphilly Youth Theatre – Tuesday

Sunday 7^th May 2023

Everyman Youth Theatre – Model Behaviour

Sunday 7^th May 2023

Actors Workshop – Strangers Like Me

Sunday 7^th May 2023

For further information about the National Theatre Connections Festival 2023 please visit www.nationaltheatre.org.uk 

Young Music Promoters Present: Sorry Stacey and Guests

Saturday 6^th May 2023

This month our Young Music Promoters gig night features the amazing Sorry Stacy and guests. The event promises to be a great evening of music and fun for 12–18-year-olds, organised by young people, for young people.

Here at Theatr Brycheiniog we are always looking for new ways to engage with our community and offer projects that bring new and exciting ideas and opportunities to our audiences. Last year Theatr B! were successful in receiving funding from Anthem Music Fund through its Atsain Fund. Wales enabling a young group of people, with a keen interest in music, to meet on a regular basis and co-produce a range of gig nights at Theatr Brycheiniog.

With Local Brecon band Northern Ruins acting as house band for the events. The Young Music Promoters themselves have provided amazing feedback regarding the gig nights and experience as a whole:

“Coming up with an idea and seeing it all come to life has been the best part of the whole experience… Smaller town gigs bring young people and communities together, especially in towns that don’t have massive events for young people over a primary school age but under 18” – Teagan.

“I like seeing the different types of genres that the bands experiment with and I [like] expanding my music taste” – Samuel.

“it’s cool seeing the same people turn up for every show because it lets us know we have supporters that are excited to come back and see what we’ve got going on” – Joe.

“it’s not something I would have usually done, a bit out of my comfort zone but I’m glad I’ve joined” - Jack.

All performances listed above will take place at Theatr Brycheiniog between Friday 5^th May – Sunday 7^th May. For further information on all upcoming performances and events (including full list of prices and concessions), please contact Box Office on 01874 611 622 where a member of our Visitor Experience Team will be more than happy to help. You can also keep up to date with all the latest news and book tickets online at www.brycheiniog.co.uk