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Connections 2023: Old Times

by Molly Taylor

A group of four young people in an orange and yellow glow sands in a group, three facing inwards and looking to the floor, while one turns over their shoulder to face the front. The National Theatre logo is written at the top of the image in white text. The play title and name of writer are written across the bottom of the image in white.

Performed by Bourne Academy, Lincolnshire

A play about stigmatism, friendship and justice.

Stefi and Zafer are twins about to turn 18, they have finally reached adulthood. However life is throwing up complications; Zafer is fighting illness, and Stefi is scared the past is about to turn around and bite them.

Five years ago, when they were 13 years old, their old school crew were involved in a crime. Except only one of them was accused and convicted, well-known trouble-maker and ‘bad kid’ Tom Joy. The rest of the gang kept stum and weren’t even implicated, but it tore their friendship group apart, and the town has never forgotten the notorious crime.

So when Stefi hears Tom Joy has been released from prison, and she starts receiving spooky calls from an unknown number, she knows it’s time to get the group back together so they can plan strategy, talk survival, and get their story straight.

Stefi has a plan to protect them all. But when she gathers the seven friends back together under false pretenses, the ghosts from the past are reborn. Who was really responsible for the crime? Who betrayed who? Do they deserve retribution? And will they ever be able to move on?

Tuesday 20 June 2023, 8.30pm

Tickets on sale from 11am, Friday 19 May
£5 for one performance
£8 when you book for Old Times and Circle Dreams Around by Simon Longman in the same order

Book tickets

Dorfman Theatre
National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 9PX
Get directions

Suitability

Content guidance

  • Recommended for ages 14+
  • References to cancer.
  • Moderate language and two instances of strong language.
  • Reference to the stabbing of a character (unseen, offstage).
  • A brief reference to substance abuse.
A group of young people rest in a circle, looking out and away from the group, with a soft pink and green glow effect over the image. One young person in the centre wears glasses and looks directly into the camera. The National Theatre logo and Connections 2023 logo are written at the bottom of the image in white.

Connections 2023

The UK’s biggest youth theatre festival – see all ten new plays being performed this year.

Connections 2023

Our Funders

The Mohn Westlake Foundation supports nationwide Learning programmes for young people.

Nationwide learning is supported by Buffini Chao Foundation, Clore Duffield Foundation, Tim & Sarah Bunting, MFPA Trust Fund for the Training of Disabled Children in the Arts, Behrens Foundation, Cleopatra Trust, and The Andor Charitable Trust.

Connections is supported by The Mohn Westlake Foundation, Buffini Chao Foundation, The EBM Charitable Trust, Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, Katie Bradford Arts Trust, Susan Miller & Byron Grote, Mulberry Trust, Tuixen Foundation, The Peter Cundill Foundation, The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, The Woodward Charitable Trust and The John Thaw Foundation.

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