This June, Manchester’s HOME Young Company was chosen to perform at the National Theatre in London, as part of the 30th anniversary of the National Theatre Connections Festival.

Produced by the National Theatre, Connections is a nationwide celebration of youth theatre, giving young people aged 13–19 the opportunity to perform specially commissioned new plays on professional stages. This year’s festival also marked the reopening of the Dorfman Theatre.

More than 5,000 young people from performance groups took part across the country. HOME Young Company’s selection is a significant achievement and a moment of pride for Manchester’s vibrant youth arts scene!

The Young Company’s version of Ravers was selected to be performed on the opening night. The play written by Rikki Beadle Blair MBE follows a rag-tag group of self-described “neeks” (nerds and geeks) as they gather for a “dry rave”. The ensemble weaves together friendship resolutions and a candid exploration of modern youth struggles—alienation, identity, belonging—and the creative power of coming together in a space that embraces being different.

HOME’s version of the play was based around celebrating the Madchester rave scene and the Hacienda whilst exploring the theme’s of gentrification and the loss of spaces such as this for young people in the city.

The group spent the whole day working with the team at the National, taking part in a professional technical rehearsal and networking with other young companies across the country. Whilst in London they got to see Back to the Future: the Musical and Romeo and Juliet at the Globe. For many of the group this fantastic experience was their very first trip to London.

“Bringing this play to life has been a beautiful experience that has pushed me as an actor and also led to me making my closest friends. I am forever grateful and proud of us.”

— Safa Khokhar, Young Company member

“I feel that HOME has given me a great opportunity to progress as a performer and a person.”

— Adam Wilson, Young Company member

“Working to create HOME Young Company’s production of Ravers with such a talented, enthusiastic and passionate cast of young performers has been incredible experience. It was an honour for us to be invited to perform at the national and for those in the cast who wish to pursue a career in the arts I believe this is just the start of a very bright future.”

— Sam Beagley, HOME’s Creative Engagement Theatre Practitioner

“Throughout long days, the young company were very professional, grateful and full of creativity on a trip that was packed full of opportunity and excitement for the next generation of creative makers!”

— Tabitha, Young Company Chaperone

Homes young company take’s place every Tuesday, is completely free of charge and has now opened its door to new applicants! If you or someone you know between the ages of 14-18 is interested in theatre and wants to meet like-minded people, send an email to sam.beagley@homemcr.org for an application form to start this September.