Jamie Foulkes

The National Youth Theatre (NYT) has released production images for its West End production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Matt Harrison working in association with Kneehigh and abridged by Kate Kennedy, which runs at the Criterion Theatre until 17 January 2020, with its official press matinee taking place on 10 December, marking the final production in the 2019 NYT REP Season.

The National Youth Theatre revamp Mary Shelley's masterpiece and update it for a modern audience in what should be a cutting-edge production at Southwark Playhouse. Carl Miller's rewriting of the first ever science fiction novel looks more like a translation for the 21st century rather than a faithful adaptation, setting the story in a nondescript future that doesn't look too far away. Director Emily Gray leads the stylish retelling: Garth (Sonny Poon Tip) corresponds with his sister Bob (Natalie Dunne) via radio, who details the rescue of Doctor Victoria Frankestein (Ella Dacres) in the Arctic and the obsession that's led her to that point.

Opening the 2019 National Youth Theatre REP season is Neil Bartlett's adaptation of Great Expectations. With director Mumba Dodwell at the helm, this new take on the novel uses ensemble storytelling to great effect.

The National Youth Theatre (NYT) today announces full casting for its 2019 REP Season which opens this month with the London premiere of Neil Bartlett's adaptation of Great Expectations followed by an Artificial Intelligence-inspired and female-led production of Frankenstein both at Southwark Playhouse (18 October to 30 November). A third production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, will run at the Criterion Theatre (6 December to 17 January 2020) directed by Matt Harrison working in association with Kneehigh. This year's season will also see the NYT REP stage relaxed performances for the first time and features the most number of performances ever in its seven-year history. The 2019 company of 16 actors, aged 18-25, includes newcomers Guy Clark, Ella Dacres, Natalie Dunne, Jordan Ford Silver, Jamie Foulkes, Alice Franziska, Billy Hinchliff, Jadie Hobson, Bede Hodgkinson, Tiwalade Ibirogba Olulode, Julia Kass, Sarah Lusack, Jemima Mayala, Joseph Payne, Sonny Poon Tip, Raj Singh.

Fourteen year old Vovochka idolises president Putin and seeks to put the world to rights after learning about homosexuality in school. He terrorises his neighbourhood and pledges to do his work in the name of his great leader.

Fourteen year old Vovochka idolises president Putin and seeks to put the world to rights after learning about homosexuality in school. He terrorises his neighbourhood and pledges to do his work in the name of his great leader. A Little Hero presents the difficult reality of being gay in Putin's Russia with a literal interpretation of this sentiment - a surreal crematorium disguised as an experimental 'treatment' device.

Following a recent nationwide survey revealing fears around the ageing process, a new ticket initiative is today announced offering free tickets to care workers for Bruntwood Prize winner and Olivier Award nominee James Fritz's topical new play The Fall, which explores the prospect of aging in a country in the midst of a crisis of care. Carers will be given free tickets to the production through Carers UK, a charity supporting people caring unpaid for older and disabled people, and Southwark Carers. There will also be a Q&A panel to discuss the themes of the play on Thursday 10 May, with panellists including Neil Coyle, MP for Bermondsey & Old Southwark and Helena Herklots, Chief Executive of Carers UK. The production will run at Southwark Playhouse until 19 May. Tickets can be reserved by carers by emailing info@nyt.org.uk.