National Theatre Connections 2026

National Theatre Connections 2026 draws together eight new plays for young people to perform, from some of the UK's most exciting and popular playwrights. These are plays for a generation of theatre-makers who want to ask questions, challenge assertions and test boundaries, and for those who love to invent and imagine a world of possibilities. The plays offer young performers an engaging and diverse range of material to perform, read or study. Wrestling with themes like the Youth Custody Service, conspiracy, the climate crisis, exam pressure, grief and friendship, this collection lays bare a rich and complex terrain in which students can fully immerse themselves, explore and discover. This 2026 anthology represents the full set of eight plays offered by the National Theatre's 2026 programme, as well as comprehensive workshop notes that give insights and inspiration for building characters, running rehearsals and staging a production.

Alexandra Wood is a playwright from London. She is a past winner of the George Devine Award and has been a Playwright-in-Residence at Paines Plough. Her plays have been translated into Turkish, Slovenian, French and Cantonese. She holds a PhD from University of Roehampton and teaches playwriting and theatre, currently for NYU in London.

Head of Participation Introduction Connections Dramaturg Introduction Connections 2026 Synopses The Animals by Sean Buckley Character Plot Main Narrative Beats Workshop Notes Britney's Lock by Alexandra Wood Character Plot Main Narrative Beats Workshop Notes Cloud Busting by Helen Blakeman (based on the novel by Malorie Blackman) Character Plot Main Narrative Beats Workshop Notes Fishville by Afsaneh Gray Character Plot Main Narrative Beats Workshop Notes Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth by Kirsty Housley Character Plot Main Narrative Beats Workshop Notes Ride or Die by Florence Espeut-Nickless Character Plot Main Narrative Beats Workshop Notes Sycamore Gap by Al Smith Character Plot Main Narrative Beats Workshop Notes Wildfire Road by Eve Leigh Character Plot Main Narrative Beats Workshop Notes Participating Companies Partner Theatres National Theatre Connections Team Performing Rights