Thomas Clarkson Academy students taking part in National Theatre’s largest youth theatre festival

A group of Thomas Clarkson Academy drama students will take part in the country’s largest youth theatre festival.

Drama teacher Julie Wilcox has won a bursary to take part in the National Theatre’s connections programme which will see 500 schools and theatre groups perform new plays by some of the country’s top playwrights.

Mrs Wilcox said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for our students as they will get to perform a new play by one of the country’s top playwrights.

“I will take part in a workshop next month and then we will start our rehearsals.”

Mrs Wilcox had to nominate three of the 10 new plays to perform. The National Theatre will then assign a play, which the students will perform at The Garage Theatre, Norwich in May.

All of the plays are issue based and relate to experiences that young people may face.

The best performances will be chosen to stage their version at a national theatre in London in July.