National Theatre beckons for The Point Eastleigh’s youth ensemble
Annual nationwide youth theatre festival brings together the theatre-makers of tomorrow
A youth theatre ensemble from Eastleigh will be given a national profile next year – and they’ll be welcoming new members to join them on the journey.
The Point Eastleigh’s Ensemble performing arts company have been selected to take part in the National Theatre’s Connections 2024 festival, following on from the success of their participation in the 2023 festival with their production of Simon Longman’s (Circle Dreams Around) The Terrible, Terrible Past.
Connections is the National Theatre's annual nationwide youth theatre festival that brings together the theatre-makers of tomorrow. The programme has been established for 29 years and champions the talent of young people from across the UK. Each year, Connections commissions ten new plays for the participating youth companies to choose from, with a chance for one production of each play to be performed on stage at the National Theatre.
The Point Ensemble has been partnered with Southampton’s MAST Mayflower Studios for the 2024 festival and will be performing a new work created by one of the UK’s most exciting writers. The National Theatre Connections 2024 festival has commissioned new plays from a stellar line-up of award-winning playwrights and practitioners including Abi Zakarian, Hosh Azouz, Titas Halder, Luke Barnes and Yasmeen Khan (a regular screenwriter for BBC’s Eastenders).
The Point Ensemble, in association with BearFace Theatre Company, is a performing arts company for young people aged 14 to 18 who create their own work. The group expand their performance skills and techniques working with a professional mentor, telling stories and bringing inspiring performance to audiences across Eastleigh and beyond.
The Point Eastleigh is owned and operated by the Borough Council. The Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Social Policy, Councillor Tonia Craig, said: “Being selected to take part in the National Theatre’s Connections 2024 festival is a brilliant reflection of The Point Eastleigh’s reputation in the world of youth theatre and the Borough can be very proud of this achievement. We’re looking forward to seeing them perform on this national stage.”
Charlotte Hall, Artistic Director at The Point Eastleigh, said: “It is so exciting that teenagers living locally can be involved in this fantastic project and explore issues relevant to them whist developing their confidence and creativity. We have no doubt that performing at both The Point Eastleigh and MAST Mayflower Studios will create memories to last a lifetime and we can’t wait to see what they produce in collaboration with the brilliant BearFace Theatre.”
Existing Ensemble members and new participants will have the opportunity to work towards this exciting festival during the new autumn term which begins on Monday 11 September 2023. Find out more - www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk