NT New Connections

National Theatre New Connections Festival 2009

Lyceum Youth Theatre are once again taking part in the National Theatre's New Connections Festival. This annual celebration of youth theatre is coming to Scotland and will take place at the Lyceum from 9-13 June 2009.

New Connections is the National Theatre's annual festival, in which brand new plays by established contemporary playwrights are performed for the first time by young people.

The Lyceum is proud to host the Scottish leg of the festival, alongside partner theatres across England and Wales. This is a very special event where the combination of vibrant, original, challenging new writing and young people performing, supported by directors from across Scotland and from the National Theatre promises to be explosive. 

Performances take place from Tuesday 9 to Saturday 13 June 2009 and tickets are available from the Lyceum Box Office on 0131 248 4848 at £8/£5 (conc.) for a double bill

Each evening begins at 7.30pm

Tue 9 June               George Heriot’s School    Blackout 
                                    Falkirk Youth Theatre       The Things She Sees

Wed 10 June            Largs Youth Theatre                Blackout  
                                    Oslo International School        Blackout                                           

Please note that some performances contain strong language and so would be more suitable for young people aged 14 and up. Please ask at the box office for more details.                     

For a synopsis of each of the plays, please click here to visit the Connections website.       

SUCCESS by Nick Drake

as part of the National Theatre's New Connections Festival

A metropolitan, poetic tale of luck, money, values, false friends and true love.

Tom Rakewell is a lucky man. In one mid-summer night he makes a fortune and meets Lucy, the love of his life. Suddenly, Tom is catapulted into the vibrant city life of the elite and surrounded by well-wishers, led by the charming, if slightly dubious character, Nick Shadow.

 I can guide you through the pitfalls of super-wealth; I know who the con-men are, in their off the peg suits and cheap shoes, and the High Street girls with their eyes the colour of maxed-out credit cards.

I can open up my secret book for you. And everyone will want you. You’ll be the man of the night, the flavour of the month - but stick with me, and you can be the success of the year.

But at what price success? Just when Tom thought he had it all, he finds himself falling into the dark heart of the city where everyone is struggling to survive. What he finds there - from the anarchic pizza delivery boys Ping and Pong, to the all-seeing Kid in the rusty shopping trolley - shows him a world that is stranger than he ever imagined. 

Inspired by Hogarth's The Rake's Progress, in Success the 18th and the 21st centuries collide. LYT bring you this tale of magical realism, in their trademark cutting edge style and scored with an eclectic soundtrack and live music.

Directed by: Steve Mann 

Technical and Stage Manager: Paul Rodger

Produced by: The Lyceum Youth Theatre and young people's production team 

"The Lyceum Theatre's formidable youth company" The Scotsman

"Brimming with confidence and rising to every challenge" Edinburgh Evening News

 

For more information please visit the National Theatre's website.