SCHOOLS and young people’s theatre groups will get the chance to shine as part of the National Theatre’s Connections Festival, which will be running at Salisbury Playhouse in May.

Each year ten new plays are written exclusively for Connections by some of the most influential British playwrights, giving young people aged 13 to 19 from all over the country access to the best new writing for theatre.

Salisbury Playhouse will present five different plays by eight different schools and young theatre groups.

The five plays will be:

* Same by Deborah Bruce – presented by Portal Theatre Company from Godolphin School, Salisbury, and Ascendance Theatre Arts, Cardiff.

* Horizon by Matt Hartley – presented by Berry Youth Theatre, Eastleigh.

* The Wardrobe by Sam Holcroft – presented by Salisbury Playhouse and Wiltshire College’s BTEC Performing Arts (Acting) students, Nuffield Youth Theatre, Southampton and St Swithun’s School, Winchester.

* Angels by Pauline McLynn – presented by The Arnewood School, New Milton, Hampshire.

* Heritage by Dafydd James – presented by BAC Stage from Bridport Arts Centre.

The NT Connections Festival runs at Salisbury Playhouse from Wednesday, May 7 to Saturday, May 10 with two different performances each night.

Tickets cost £9 and are available from the box office on 01722 320333 or from salisburyplayhouse.com.

* ACTING students have been visiting local schools to perform as part of their course.

BTEC students on the course run by Salisbury Playhouse and Wiltshire College took their latest production, African Tales, to Manor Fields Primary School and St Mark’s Junior School.

The performance was for World Day of Theatre for Children and was part of their extended diploma course.

A Playhouse spokesman said African Tales had a great response from the pupils, especially during the audience participation segments.

The BTEC students will be at the Salberg Studio at the Playhouse in May as part of the National Theatre Connections Festival.