The LeftBehinds
Co-created by Ned Bennett and Ross Willis
Booking and details
In schools, nationwide
From the start of 2025, the National Theatre will return to UK schools with a tour of The LeftBehinds, a new play co-created by Bristol playwright Ross Willis and director Ned Bennett. This follows last year’s hugely popular secondary schools tour of Jekyll & Hyde, which was performed for 10,000 young people nationwide.
The apocalypse has left nothing but dust, danger and loss. The LeftBehinds, a group of orphaned survivors led by Kit, must embark on a desperate mission to find the remaining pieces of an ancient android.
Their quest takes them across a perilous wasteland, but time isn’t their only enemy— a vengeful ghost from Kit’s childhood is hot on their heels. With the fate of the planet hanging in the balance, they must rebuild the android before it’s too late.
A gnarly, adrenaline-fueled adventure, The LeftBehinds is an unforgettable journey of courage, friendship, and the fight for a future.
This new play will embark on a national tour, visiting secondary school halls in 11 areas nationwide across ten weeks in partnership with local theatres.
Suitability
Age 12+
Please be aware that this play explores themes of ecological disaster and parental loss. It contains scenes of violence and intensity, guns and some mild swearing and scatological humour.
Cast
To be announced
Production team
Ross Willis
Writer
Ross Willis
Ned Bennett
Director
Ned Bennett
Georgia Lowe
For the National: Grenfell: in the words of survivors, All of Us, Dick Wittington, Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear – the Musical!, An Octoroon (also Orange Tree) and Pomona (also at the Orange Tree and and Royal Exchange, Manchester)
Jessica Hung Han Yun
Lighting Designer
Jessica Hung Han Yun
Giles Thomas
Sound Designer and Composition
Giles Thomas
Funders
The Mohn Westlake Foundation supports nationwide Learning programmes for young people.
Secondary Schools Touring is supported by The Mohn Westlake Foundation, Delta Air Lines, The Ingram Trust, The Constance Travis Charitable Trust, Susan Miller & Byron Grote, The Anthony and Elizabeth Mellows Charitable Settlement, The Britford Bridge Trust, William A. Cadbury Charitable Trust and The Dow Clewer Foundation.
Nationwide learning is also supported by Buffini Chao Foundation, Clore Duffield Foundation, Crevan O’Grady & Jane McClenahan, MFPA Trust Fund for the Training of Disabled Children in the Arts, The Kartik Foundation, Behrens Foundation, Marlow Trust, Cleopatra Trust, and The Andor Charitable Trust.
