How Connections works

• high levels of deprivation;
• engaging young people who are not in education, employment or training
• a lack of access to artistic and creative opportunities;
• working with young people with special needs, physical disabilities or English as a second language; and
• when working in school settings, number of young people eligible for free school meals.

How much does it cost, and are bursaries available?
The cost for companies taking part in Connections 2025 will be £500. Bursaries are given on a case-by-case basis, and the bursary application forms a section of the initial application form. You will be expected to write a brief summary indicating why cost may be a barrier to your participation, and how a bursary might be used. You will find out if you have been successful in your bursary application when you are notified of your place on Connections 2025.

Other than the fee, what other costs are involved?
The costs incurred will vary from company to company. These could include travel, accommodation, rehearsal and production costs and venue hire. There is advice on fundraising in your Connections Handbook.

When can I apply for Connections 2026?
Applications for Connections 2026 will open in Spring 2025.

Register your interest in Connections 2026 here

Can I enter two or more groups?
We will accept more than one application from the same company. However, we won’t necessarily select both applications.

Which Partner Theatre will I be working with?
We will let you know when we confirm your place on Connections which Partner Theatre you are paired with.  When pairing companies, we look at the nearest Partner Theatre to your company, as this will have an impact on travel time/cost, audience numbers for your performance, and the likelihood of forming a lasting relationship with your local theatre. As a general rule, we aim to ensure companies are within two hours travel time from their Partner Theatre, although this is not always possible. For returning companies, we cannot guarantee that you will be paired with the same Partner Theatre as you have been before.

What happens if I’m not accepted on to Connections?
We’ll let you know in July 2024 whether your application has been successful. Even if you were unsuccessful in your application for Connections 2025, we would encourage you to apply again for future Connections cycles. Unless you state otherwise, we will also add you to a waiting list should any companies withdraw their application before the Directors’ Weekend.

Can international companies take part?
International companies are able to attend the directors’ weekend. But you may not receive a visit from a Connections director, development notes, or the opportunity to perform at a Partner Theatre Festival. If you would like a Connections director to attend and are able to finance their trip yourself, then we are happy to administrate this. If possible, we will also try to accommodate your company at a Partner Theatre Festival, but priority will go to UK companies. The fee for international companies is the same as for UK companies.

Can I make changes to the play text?
Any changes must be discussed in advance with the Connections team, as the playwright will need to know. This includes cuts, edits, or extra material such as improvisation, dance sequences, music etc.

Can my students use Connections as part of a course they are studying?
Yes. Many companies use the play as part of their BTEC, A-levels or Arts Award. This is something which must be arranged through your school/college. National Theatre Connections is not linked to exam boards. Performances must still fall in the time frame for Connections. For more information you should contact your Arts Award regional coordinator.

I work with young people with Additional Support Needs and the play may be difficult for them – what are my options?
We aim to make Connections as accessible as possible and, as such, every part in each play can be played by a D/deaf or disabled performer. If you feel there are aspects of your chosen play that your cast would struggle with, please get in touch and we’d be more than happy to discuss adapting or abridging the text to support this.

How do I acquire the rights to the plays?
The National Theatre holds the rights to Connections commissioned plays for two months after the Connections Festival (in June). If the National Theatre produces a professional play then we hold exclusive performance rights for the full duration of the run. If the National Theatre does not produce a professional production, the rights are then released back to the writer. Until the option period or run has ceased the National Theatre cannot release the rights for any of the plays.  After the end of either of these periods, you must contact the writer’s agent to obtain the rights to perform a past Connections script. Each year new Connections plays are published in an anthology that also contains details of writers’ agents.

When staging a Connections play, the following credit should be used: [TITLE OF PLAY] by [WRITER] was first commissioned and produced by National Theatre Connections in [YEAR OF PRODUCTION] .

How do you recruit Mentor Directors?
The Connections Mentor Directors we work with are experienced, professional theatre makers. Their role is to offer advice, write development notes, and to support companies at Partner Theatre festivals. If you are interested in becoming a Mentor Director, please email the Connections team with a copy of your CV, where in the UK you are based, and why you would be interested in working on Connections.

1. Application and Payment

1.1    The deadline for applications to participate in the Connections 2025 cycle is  Monday 8 July 2024 at 12pm.   

1.2    Once your Company has been accepted onto Connections 2025, you will be invoiced for your fee.  For Connections 2025, if a Company cancels their involvement in Connections before  11 October 2024, they will receive a full refund of their fee.  If a Company cancels their involvement in Connections between 11 October and 31 December 2024, they will receive a refund of 50% of their fee. There will be no refund payable for cancellations after December 31 2024. Please note: all invoices must be paid by 11 October 2024.    

Please note there is an additional fee of £75 for any Company bringing a second director to attend in person at the Directors’ Weekend, this sum is payable before the Directors’ Weekend and bursaries are available.   

1.3    The NT will accept a maximum of 250 UK-based applications for Connections 2025.  

1.4    If the NT receives more than 250 applications, it will select companies to ensure a balance of participating groups by age range, type of group and geography, and between those who are new to Connections and those who have taken part before. It will also consider how Companies intend to involve young people in backstage and off-stage roles. The allocation of places is at the National Theatre’s discretion, and its decision is final.  

Due to restrictions on capacity and resources we can only offer places to 250 Connections companies for the 2025 cycle. Every year we are significantly over-subscribed with applications and our policy is to prioritise offering places to state schools and youth theatre groups, in order to reach young people who may not have previously had much opportunity to see, make and take part in theatre. Where independent schools can demonstrate in their application that they are partnering with other state schools in their area in a meaningful way, we will take this into consideration.  

1.5    Connections companies will consist of young people aged between 13 and 19 years old, and up to 26 years old for groups with additional needs. 

1.6    You must provide one main Company Contact, through whom all communication will be sent.  

1.7    All Companies who apply will be notified about whether their application has been successful by the end of August 2024.  

1.8    Successful Companies will be sent further information upon receipt of payment.

2. Scripts 

2.1    Scripts will be available to download as soon as you have been accepted on Connections 2025. This access is for your Company only. The Scripts may only be copied for use by the Company and must not be passed on to any other person or organisation. An online form will be available for you to select your two preferred Scripts. This must be completed and returned to the NT by early-September 2024. The NT will confirm your script allocation with your Company Contact shortly after this.   

2.2    Companies will be selected to perform each Script to ensure variety at Partner Theatre festivals. The NT will do everything possible to ensure you receive one of your preferences; however, there may be some instances where this is not possible.  

2.3    The NT strongly encourages each Company not to start rehearsing their Script until after the Directors’ Weekend as the Weekend will assist in making artistic decisions in line with the writer’s intentions for the piece.  

2.4    If, because of conversations at the Directors’ Weekend, a new version of the Script becomes available, this will be emailed to the Company Contact. 

3. Child Licensing 

Where required by the local authorities of all the young people in your Connections company, the Connections Director is responsible for obtaining all necessary licenses for company members taking part in both your Home Performances and Partner Theatre Festival performance.

4. Directors’ Weekend - Friday 18 to Sunday 20 October 2024

4.1    Attendance at the Directors’ Weekend is compulsory for your Company’s Director. If your Company’s Director fails to attend the Directors’ Weekend the NT may, at its discretion, terminate the Company’s involvement in Connections 2025. In such circumstances, no refund shall be paid.  

4.2    If you would like a second Director to attend the Weekend and we are able to accommodate this there is an additional fee of £75 which must be paid before the Directors’ Weekend.  

4.3    Each Company will arrange and pay for travel and accommodation for their Director to attend the Directors’ Weekend.

5. Home Performances 

5.1    Involvement in Connections 2025 entitles your Company to the performance rights of your selected Script for up to five performances at your school or youth theatre between 1 February – 30 April 2025. Your Production cannot be performed for any purpose outside of the Connections 2025 Cycle. If your preferred home performance date falls outside this range, please contact the Connections team.   

5.2    Your organisation will be responsible for the costs incurred when staging your Production.  

5.3    Each Company will specify its choice of Home Performance dates. The NT must be notified of the Company’s performance dates by Monday 9 December 2024 to allow the NT good time to arrange a Connections Mentor Director to attend your Production. If a Connections Mentor Director cannot attend your selected Production date, a suitable alternative date will be sought. If the NT has not received your Production dates by the deadline of Monday 9 December 2024 it may not be possible for a Connections Director to attend your Production.   

5.4    Your Company Contact will receive Development Notes approximately seven days after your Production. 

6. Partner Theatre Festivals 

6.1    The NT will allocate the Company to a Partner Theatre, the allocation of Partner Theatres is at the NT’s discretion and the NT’s decision is final.  

6.2    The NT and the Partner Theatres will endeavour to enable all Companies to perform once at a Partner Theatre festival.  

6.3    If a Connections Director has not attended the Company’s Home Performance due to late notification of dates, it may not be possible to transfer to the Partner Theatre festival.

6.4    If it is not possible for your Company to perform due to theatre scheduling or other restrictions, the NT will discuss alternative options with your Company Contact.  

6.5    If performing at a Partner Theatre festival, you must adhere to all guidelines, health and safety and other policies requested by the theatre and theatre manager.  

6.6    You will be responsible for coordinating travel arrangements and covering all costs incurred when performing at your Partner Theatre festival.

7. National Theatre Festival 

7.1    The NT festival will take place in June / July 2025.  

7.2    The National Theatre will select one Production of each Script to be performed as part of the festival, chosen to represent an overall picture of the talented young people involved. You will be notified directly if your Company has been selected to perform by early June 2024. The NT will confirm which Companies are invited to take part after the Partner Theatre Festivals season. The decision is at the National Theatre’s discretion, and the NT’s decision is final. Companies will be informed of the Companies selected to perform at the NT prior to the public announcement.   

7.3    The NT will liaise directly with your Company Contact to discuss possible financial arrangements for the transfer of your production to the NT.

8. International Companies 

If your Company is based outside the UK or Ireland, it will not be possible to provide you with a  Mentor  Director visit to your Home Performance, Development Notes or the opportunity to perform at a Partner Theatre Festival.

9. Credits and Publicity 

9.1 Any reference or promotion of your Production, the Script, the NT, Connections, and any sponsors of Connections must be accredited correctly. Please liaise with the NT if you are unsure of the relevant guidelines at any time. Guidelines will be provided in the Company Handbook. All publicity materials (including digital) must be approved by the NT before use.  

9.2    You shall notify the NT’s press office in good time prior to giving to the media any interview or press release with any reference to the NT, the Production or any other part of the Cycle.  

9.3    If requested by the NT, you shall allow the NT access to your Production for the purpose of photography or filming.  

9.4    The NT shall have the right to authorise the televising or sound broadcasting of any Production during the Connections 2025 Cycle for the purposes of publicity or promotion, provided that no such excerpts shall exceed five minutes’ total running time.   

9.5    The NT shall have the right to take photos and make an audio-visual recording of any Production during the Connections 2025 cycle for archive purpose.

10. Data Protection 

The NT will collect, use, store and disclose your personal details in accordance with our Privacy Policy. The Privacy Policy is accessed from the Theatre’s website homepage. 

11. National Theatre Terms and Conditions 

By applying to take part in Connections you agree to these terms and conditions and also to the National Theatre’s general terms and conditions which can be found here. 

Definitions: 

Company: the group of young people aged 13 – 19 years old, and up to 26 years old for groups with additional needs, who will perform the chosen Script. The Company can be formed from a youth theatre, school or youth group.

Company Contact: this is the main point of contact for your Company that NT will communicate with during the Cycle. This individual must be over 18 years old and must be responsible for payment and registration. The Company Contact does not have to be the Director.  

Connections Director: the NT representative who will attend a performance of your Production at your Home Performance venue – in your school or theatre – and work with your Company at the Partner Theatre.  

Cycle: the Connections 2025 Cycle which commences on 1 August 2024 and culminates with a festival at NT in June/July 2025.  

Development Notes: this is the report the Connections Director writes after attending your Production. The report will contain comments and feedback on areas of your Production that could be developed before performing at your Partner Theatre.  

Director: the person responsible for the Company, needs to be over 18 years old.  

Directors’ Weekend: a weekend that takes place between  Friday 18 to Sunday 20 October 2024  and will be a mixture of in-person and digital activity. It is compulsory for all Directors to attend and Directors will workshop their chosen Script on Saturday 19 October.  

Fee: a fee of £500 per Company which is required to participate in the Connections 2025 cycle.  

Home Performances: the performance(s) of your Script at your school, theatre or Home Performance venue. Home Performances must take place between 1 February and 30 April 2025.  

NT: the Royal National Theatre, a registered charity (no: 224223) and registered company limited by guarantee in England (no: 749504) with its registered office at Upper Ground, London SE1 9PX.  

Partner Theatre: the professional theatre venues throughout the UK and Ireland where you will have the chance to perform your Production.  

Production: your Company’s production of your selected Script.  

Scripts: the ten scripts commissioned by NT. Companies select one Script to perform during the Cycle.