Performers from the Marlowe’s Youth Theatre showcased their National
Theatre Connections production at the Canterbury theatre last Sunday.

It was the first time the nine youngsters, aged between 15 and 21, had performed Jonathan Harvey’s play Tomorrow I’ll Be Happy in front of an audience.

The company comprised Alex Baines, Vicky Baines, Abraham Brown, Simon Garlinge, Alex Jesperson, Max Mena, John Otterson, Maisie Eli Parsons, and Helena Vannerley.

This is the first time the Marlowe has been involved in National Theatre Connections, which will see the Marlowe work with eight youth
theatres (including its own) to bring together a festival which it will host from Monday, May 6 to Thursday, May 9.

The youth theatres are offered up to 10 plays to produce and perform during the festival, all commissioned by the NT from leading contemporary writers. As well as Jonathan Harvey, the list includes Lenny Henry, Howard Brenton and Jim Cartwright.

The NT Connections team will then visit all partner venues, including the Marlowe, to select a production of each play for performance at the National Theatre in June.

Danny Lipman, the Marlowe’s head of creative projects, directed Tomorrow I'll Be Happy. He said: “The most incredible aspect of our young people’s production was their ownership and investment over all parts of the process and performance. We are all extremely proud of what our future theatre-makers have achieved. There is no better way for the Marlowe Theatre to start producing work than by giving complete support and control to the young people of Kent.”

For more details or to book tickets visitwww.marlowetheatre.comor call 01227 787787.