NT Connections 2025 Heads to Pitlochry Stage

This April, Pitlochry Festival Theatre will be one of only two Scottish venues to host the 2025 National Theatre Connections Festival, now in its 30th year. This nationwide youth theatre programme will bring together seven groups from across Scotland and the Isle of Man for three days of new writing and performance, taking place from 10 to 12 April.

This marks the third consecutive year that Pitlochry Festival Theatre has participated as a host venue for Connections, reinforcing its growing reputation as a centre for youth theatre and new writing in Scotland. The theatre joins Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock as one of Scotland’s two official partner theatres in the annual scheme, which sees more than 250 youth companies stage new work across 33 venues throughout the UK.

Spotlight on Emerging Talent

This year’s participants in the Pitlochry leg include Spotlights Community Youth Theatre (Forfar), Crieff High School, Oldmachar Academy (Aberdeen), Open Door Drama Youth (Shetland), The Mill Youth Theatre (East Lothian), Kensington Arts (Isle of Man), and Pitlochry Festival Theatre Young Company. Each company will present the Scottish première of one of the 2025 Connections plays, written by a lineup of contemporary UK playwrights.

Fresh Air by Vickie Donoghue
YOU 2.0 by Alys Metcalf
Mia and the Fish by Satinder Chohan
No Regrets by Gary McNair
Brain Play by Chloë Lawrence-Taylor and Paul Sirett
Ravers by Rikki Beadle-Blair
Saba’s Swim by Danusia Samal

These original plays span themes from identity and mental health to community and climate, aiming to reflect the complexity and energy of the generation performing them. Young people aged 13–19 will be involved in every aspect of production, including acting, directing, costume, lighting, and set design.

Three Decades of Youth Theatre

Since its inception in 1995, National Theatre Connections has involved over 125,000 young people, with a strong record of launching careers in the arts. Previous participants include Keira Knightley, John Boyega, Callum Scott Howells, and David Oyelowo. Connections has also commissioned major playwrights such as Liz Lochhead, James Graham, and Bryony Lavery to write for the next generation of theatre-makers.

Sam Hardie, Associate Director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre, said:

“We are thrilled to be welcoming seven young companies to perform at the NT Connections Festival at Pitlochry Festival Theatre this spring. It’s our third year hosting this amazing nationwide festival and we are delighted to say it’s our biggest year yet, welcoming young companies from across Scotland, the Isle of Man, and our very own Pitlochry Festival Theatre Young Company. The festival champions young people and celebrates their brilliant work which will be showcased in our Studio theatre. We are very excited for the festival and know it will be a highlight of our year!“

Kirsten Adam, Head of Young People’s Programmes at the National Theatre, said:

“We are delighted to be celebrating the 30th anniversary of National Theatre Connections with Pitlochry Festival Theatre. Over 125,000 young people have taken part in this nationwide youth theatre festival over the past three decades, staging and performing new plays across the breadth of the UK. We can’t wait to witness the talent and creativity that these seven groups will bring both on and off stage this April.”

NT Connections at Pitlochry

The National Theatre Connections Festival will take place at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 10–12 April 2025. Tickets and programme information are available at pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com or via the box office on 01796 484626.

Featured Image: Photography by Tami Aftab. Art direction and design by National Theatre Graphic Design Studio