Writers: Vickie Donoghue and Rikki Beadle-Blair
Directors: Emilie Dobson (Fresh Air) and Sam Beagley (Ravers)
Returning to the National Theatre, the Connections Festival 2025 marks two occasions this year; first its own 30th anniversary of engaging with schools and youth groups all over the country with new plays written especially for these performances, and the reopening of the Dorfman Theatre following an indistinguishable refurbishment. Starting with a double bill of Fresh Air by Vickie Donoghue performed by the Islington-based Central Foundation Boys’ School and Rikki Beadle-Blair’s Ravers by Manchester HOME Young Company, this important annual festival is an important showcase for young talent.
Donoghue’s play sends a group of boys from a pupil referral group to the woods for an orienteering session with no phones and only a map to guide their way, and although a group of ghost boys from a 1920s sanatorium haunt the woods, this turns out to be the least of their troubles. Donoghue creates connection between two generations of young men looking for acknowledgement and friendship, many of whom have had barely any childhood, with both eras launching the characters into adult responsibilities before they are ready.
Performed by Central Foundation Boys’ School, director Emilie Dobson creates plenty of atmosphere in the spooky woods and potentially dangerous zombie tuberculosis victims with enjoyable ghastly make-up for the intimidating ghost boys. In a large ensemble cast – a feature of the Connections pieces – there is plenty of character distinction from Daniel Hornton’s Mickey devastated to have mud on his coat, Yeves Vann’s bullying Lee who eventually finds camaraderie and Josh Adelke’s Harry whose anonymity is the key to it all.
The second play, Ravers, is performed by a dedicated Young Company at HOME Manchester, and Beadle-Blair’s play also explores the desire for contact between a group of young “neeks” (nerds and geeks) going to a sober rave. The play follows different groups as they prepare to attend the event at a building site, helping to establish characterisation and giving each performer a speaking role, before covering the rave itself. Finally, in an over-extended final segment that takes the running time to nearly 80 minutes, some friendship resolutions occur and the assembled group riff on the problems of being a young person today.
Directed by Sam Beagley, there is great energy in this part of the evening, incorporating a number of 90s classics and a great deal of nostalgia for the Hacienda Club in Manchester. Each character group is introduced by a different piece of music, and the eventual rave sequences are fantastic, combining storyline with live music performance, including a great cover of The Clash sung by Cameron Overshott, along with plenty of ferocious dancing. Situating their tale entirely in Manchester, this Young Company also uses video of them around their theatre to enhance the concept, helping to associate the performers with the challenges and enthusiasms of their characters.
There is clear association between Donoghue and Beadle-Blair’s pieces in the isolation felt by their characters delivered by two notably urban ensembles. With eight companies still to perform, the National Theatre Connections’ 30th anniversary week is off to an insightful start.
Reviewed on 24 June 2025
The National Theatre Connections Festival runs until 28 June 2025
