NT Shell Connections, The Studio, York Theatre Royal, April 27-May 8

In a new partnership with the National, the Theatre Royal will play host to more than 20 performances over two weeks in The Studio this spring.

Each year the NT Shell Connections scheme commissions ten new plays written for young people by established professional writers.

This year, playwrights include Patrick Marber, Richard Nelson, Philip Ridley, Avril de Angelis and Bryony Lavery, whose play Discontented Winter/House Remix was performed by York Youth Theatre's senior group in a three-night preview last month.

York Youth Theatre will perform the play - a latterday Richard III set five minutes in the future - at this month's showcase, most likely on the opening night of April 27.

The YYT troupe will be joined by four other companies from York, plus youth theatres and school groups from Leeds, Bradford, Scarborough, Rotherham and Middlesbrough.

All have been rehearsing since December in readiness for the Studio showcase and, in all, 250 groups are seeking selection for the final 12 in the National Theatre showcase.

Theatre Royal artistic director Damian Cruden is delighted by the strides being made by York Youth Theatre.

"I watched our youth theatre performing Disconnected Winter last week and what struck me was how they had matured amazingly since we set up the company," he says. "That is partly because they're older, and partly because they're finding their voice working with directors Sarah Brigham and Jill Adamson."

He looks forward enthusiastically to the Shell Connections fortnight: "I am really pleased that this will be our first year hosting the regional showcase. It will be wonderful to have lots of theatre from the city and across the region in our Studio in this celebration of young people's theatre."

NT Shell Connections, The Studio, York Theatre Royal, April 27 to May 8. Tickets: £3.50 to £5, £10 festival voucher; ring 01904 623568.

Updated: 09:22 Friday, April 02, 2004