THE National Theatre is inviting young theatre companies all over the country to join Connections, the largest youth theatre festival in the world, as it celebrates its 21st anniversary.

Each year, Connections offers a unique opportunity for youth theatres and school drama groups to stage plays specially written for young people aged 13-19 by some of the UK’s most exciting playwrights, and to perform them in leading theatres around the country – along with the chance of performing at the National Theatre itself.

Connections 500 will see the festival double in size to mark its 21st anniversary.

500 youth theatre companies involving 10,000 young people from every corner of the UK, working with 40 major regional theatres, will perform twelve outstanding plays drawn from the 150 works written by leading playwrights for young people since the festival began in 1995.

The festival is open to all secondary schools, colleges, youth theatres and voluntary organisations, ranging from experienced young companies to groups who have never staged a production before, and any group can apply to take part.

The twelve plays for 2016 are:

Bedbug by Snoo Wilson, Gary Kemp & Guy Pratt

Eclipse by Simon Armitage

Take Away by Jackie Kay

The Musicians by Patrick Marber

Citizenship by Mark Ravenhill

It Snows by Bryony Lavery and Frantic Assembly

Blackout by Davey Anderson

Bassett by James Graham

Children of Killers by Katori Hall

Gargantua by Carl Grose

I’m Spilling My Heart Out Here by Stacey Gregg

What Are They Like? by Lucinda Coxon

Applications to take part are now open and the deadline for applying is Wednesday, July 8.

Find out more online at connections.nationaltheatre.org.uk.