From 2011 to 2015, I produced National Theatre Connections, a programme designed to connect young actors aged 13-19 across the UK and Ireland with new, professional-quality plays. Established over 20 years ago, Connections responded to a demand for dynamic, challenging new writing for young performers. Since its inception, the programme has commissioned and published more than 200 original plays, giving youth theatre groups access to top-tier scripts and the chance to work as full-scale theatre companies.

Young people experience the full spectrum of theatre-making: they create marketing campaigns, design sets and costumes, manage technical elements, and perform at one of the regional Connections festivals. Each year, the Connections team travels nationwide to support drama teachers, youth theatre directors, and young theatre companies as they bring new plays to life, overcoming challenges with skill, creativity, and dedication.