NT Connections is an annual festival which develops strong links with young talent, raising the profile and awareness of youth theatre companies and their members. The three day festival, which took place at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff (only one of which I was privileged enough to attend) was packed full of short productions such as Simon Armitage’s Eclipse, presented by the Everyman Youth Theatre and Lucinda Coxon’s What are They Like, performed by West Glamorgan Youth Theatre Company.

Although I could only catch two of the nine productions featured in the festival; the diversity of plays and the thorough rehearsal of their excellent young casts was evident in both.

During the day there was also opportunities to participate in an extensive range of workshops. These workshops really made the atmosphere of a creative buzz and talent checking even further heightened. Some generally constructive such as an insight into review writing workshop with critic Jafar Iqbal of the Western Mail, others shedding light into current issues in the arts such as inclusivity. A particular highlight for attendants was the one off workshop from playwright Matthew Bulgo.

It was a great opportunity for bolstering support of local Welsh talent, and its place in the Sherman’s packed catalogue cements its place as one of the most active theatres in Wales .The venue doing all it can to heighten not only its already well regarded profile, but that of fresh talent and Welsh arts. Seeing new talent in a space evidently very invested in the future of theatre with so much packed into its tight schedule seems a must for anyone interested in looking out for the future landscape of Welsh Theatre.

http://connections.nationaltheatre.org.uk