11/03/2026
What is National Theatre Connections, and why does it matter for Waterford Youth Arts?
Connections is the UK's National Theatre’s annual nationwide youth theatre festival, celebrating young people’s creativity and giving them the chance to perform brand new plays written especially for them. Every year, ten new scripts are commissioned from leading playwrights, and youth theatres and schools across the UK and Ireland create their own productions.
As part of the programme, each group stages the play locally and then at a partner theatre festival, with some companies later invited to perform at the National Theatre in London. It offers young actors, directors and backstage teams a genuine taste of professional theatre – from first rehearsal to performing under lights in a professional venue.
Waterford Youth Arts has a strong history with Connections, and in 2026 we’re delighted to take part again with The Animals by Sean Buckley, directed by Sinéad Hourigan. Our cast will rehearse and perform the play here at home before taking it to the Lyric Theatre in Belfast as part of the Connections festival.
For our young people, being part of Connections is about much more than one show: it builds confidence, teamwork, technical and creative skills, and connects them to a wider community of young theatre-makers across the country.
Catch The Animals by Sean Buckley at:
🎭 Garter Lane Arts Centre | 13-14 March, 8:00pm
🎭 Lyric Belfast | 28 March
Tickets: https://garterlane.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173664731
National Theatre
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