We today announce two creative participation projects taking place at the Crucible in late March and early April. Connections Festival is a National Theatre youth project that runs across the UK, with 10 new plays commissioned especially for the theatre-makers of tomorrow to perform. Launchpad is a local group run by us for adults aged 18+ with learning disabilities and/or Autism, where a piece of performance is created together in a series of workshops with artists.
We've run Launchpad for the past five years, helping people with learning disabilities and/or Autism to develop new skills. The project brings theatre professionals and local individuals together, to create a unique performance. This year’s show is called The Garden of Hope; a story of two worlds, one watching as the other falls apart. There is just one fruitful garden left – but someone has their eye on it. There are two performances; Friday 1 April at 2.45pm and 4.45pm in the Studio Theatre.
National Theatre Connections Festival has featured at Sheffield Theatres since 2011, enabling young people from the ages of 13-19 in local theatre groups to perform brand new plays at the Studio Theatre. This is part of National Theatre’s nationwide youth theatre festival which takes place every year. The plays are commissioned for young people with themes that are relevant to their lives, such as relationships, class, climate change, activism, and power in the digital age.
The next generation receive an opportunity to perform cutting-edge work together, hosted by us, and allowing educators, parents and members of the public to enjoy this celebration of young people’s voices. Connections Festival will run across three days with a double bill of plays each night at the Studio Theatre, from Thursday 24 - Saturday 26 March at 7:15pm.
Emily Hutchinson, Learning and Participation Manager, said:
“We’re so excited to host these talented young people from local groups at the theatre for the Connections Festival, and to share our Launchpad performance. The Connections Festival is a vital celebration of the next generation’s creativity, and we’re looking forward to bringing these different youth theatre groups together in the building. The Garden of Hope will be a brilliant performance by this year’s Launchpad group, and we’re really proud of what they’ve created.”
Launchpad’s performance of The Garden of Hope will be held on Friday 1 April in the Studio Theatre. Connections Festival runs from Thursday 24 to Saturday 26 March in the Studio Theatre. Tickets are available to buy by calling the Box Office on 0114 249 6000 or at the links below.
