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School drama group takes to the national stage

Jack Conlon & Jessica Bayley
BBC News, Yorkshire
Foteini Christofilopoulou Four students performing on stage - three girls and one boy. The girl on the left is wearing a white t-shirt. A boy has a striped t-shirt with "Chicago Bulls" written on it. Another girl is wearing a white t-shirt, and a fourth is dressed in blue. The girl on the left is holding a sign saying, "Make a Change Now".Foteini Christofilopoulou
The students from Leeds performed in London as part of the Connections Festival's 30th anniversary

A proud drama teacher has praised her "amazing" pupils for taking time out from their studies to tread the boards at the National Theatre in London, as part of a youth arts programme.

Twenty students from Abbey Grange Academy in West Park, Leeds, showcased Satinder Chohan's play Mia and the Fish at the Connections festival.

Connections, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, offers young people across the UK the chance to experience live theatre.

Ros Greaves, Abbey Grange's subject leader for drama, said it was "exhilarating" to see the teenagers take to the stage on Wednesday.

The festival is open to companies of young people aged between 13 and 19 - including schools, youth theatres and voluntary groups.

Since 1995, more than 125,000 students have been involved in the production and performance of new plays as part of the initiative, the National Theatre said.

Listen: The Connections project gives students the chance to experience all aspects of live theatre

Ms Greaves said: "It's a scary moment but also an exciting moment and an opportunity a lot of other people wouldn't get.

"I've never performed at the National Theatre and I would have loved to at that age, so I've just been pushing them to enjoy it."

Mia and the Fish is a modern adaptation of the ancient Indian myth Manu and the Fish.

It explores issues including climate change and bullying through the story of young refugee Mia, who befriends a talking fish.

Abbey Grange Academy School students in a rehearsal room. They are standing in rows on a wooden floor, watching a teacher at the other end of the room.Abbey Grange Academy
The students from Leeds first performed the play at a youth event in York

The play was written by award-winning playwright and journalist Chohan specially for the festival.

Abbey Grange first performed it at a youth theatre event in York in March, before being asked to take it to London.

"When I got the phone call about London I was just aghast and when I told the students they didn't believe me, they thought I was joking," said Ms Greaves.

"We've been working on this since October, initially just building up to performing in York and we thought that was it, so we had to pick it back up again.

"I've been amazed at how they've stepped up, especially as some of them are in year 11 and have been sitting exams at the same time.

"Connections is a celebration of young people and their contribution to the arts, and I think they are an amazing example of that."

Abbey Grange Academy A group of teenagers standing outside the National Theatre in London. The teenagers are standing in rows, with those at the front kneeling or sitting down. They are wearing casual clothes.Abbey Grange Academy
Twenty students from Abbey Grange Academy travelled to London for the performance

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