First-rate reviews for performing arts students in National Theatre Connections Festival

Performing Arts students from New City College Epping Forest had the opportunity to be part of the National Theatre Connections Festival 2023, working and collaborating with experienced actors and stage technicians – and culminating with a performance at a professional theatre.

The students, all studying the Level 3 Performing Arts Extended Diploma at the campus in Borders Lane, Loughton, took to the stage at the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, to perform a new play called Innocent Creatures by Leo Butler.

It was a fantastic success with stunning visuals, captivating performances and thought-provoking story-telling and received really great feedback from the audience and from the professional actors who supported the students.

One said: “As a partner theatre with the National Theatre Connections Festival, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch were thrilled to welcome five companies over three days, including New City College Epping Forest, to present their work.

“The festival was a resounding success and the students’ performance was top class. It is always rewarding to be involved and to champion the talent of up-and-coming young actors.”

Before the evening performance the students spent the day behind the scenes at the theatre, gaining technical experience with lighting, costumes and props and rehearsing for the show.

A few weeks beforehand the students had the chance to workshop with National Theatre directors, including Joanna Bowman, who visited the Epping Forest campus to watch the ‘home performance’ of the play.

Tania Edwards, Performing Arts teacher at Epping Forest campus, said: “Being part of the National Theatre Connections Festival at the Queen’s Theatre was fantastic for our students. All the staff were helpful and welcoming – and being able to perform on their stage was a great experience.

“The whole day was fun while giving them a real insight into how a professional theatre runs. It also offered them a rare chance to create a completely original piece and gain professional feedback on their work.”

Innocent Creatures is a sci-fi play set in the near and distant future and features characters who are robots or part android.

Here’s the scenario:

Soon, very soon, Big Ben will be underwater, surrounded by ice floes.

Enid and Mia wait to be rescued from the rising floodwaters and taken to a Holiday Inn to be reprogrammed. In this world, robots are in charge and Mia and Enid must decide whether they too want to live forever or take their chances in the icy waters.

Will they decide that Earth’s last sunset is worth hanging around to see?

Connections is an annual nationwide youth theatre festival run by the National Theatre. The programme has been established for 27 years. Every year, the National Theatre commissions 10 new plays for young people to perform, bringing together some of the UK’s most exciting writers with the theatre-makers of tomorrow.

Don’t miss out on opportunities like this – if you’re a budding actor, dancer or musician, apply for our Performing Arts courses today!