On 1 May, 25 students from Years 8–13 took their production of Britney’s Lock to the Theatre Royal, where they performed as part of the prestigious National Theatre Connections project.

Connections is the National Theatre’s annual nationwide youth theatre festival, celebrating the creativity and talent of young people across the UK. For more than three decades, the programme has empowered the next generation of theatre-makers by commissioning brand-new plays for young performers. Each year, some of the UK’s most exciting playwrights are paired with over 250 youth companies and more than 6,000 young people from across the country.

Britney’s Lock follows a group of students sitting their mock exams. When one student buys a lock of hair supposedly belonging to pop icon Britney Spears, she begins to experience extraordinary luck, leaving the rest of the students desperate to get hold of their own strand from the mysterious “magical” lock.

After initially rehearsing and performing the piece in school, students spent a full day at the theatre working with professional lighting and sound teams, alongside experienced directors and theatre practitioners. The day culminated in an evening performance in front of a sell-out audience.

Throughout the visit, the students were a credit to the school, demonstrating professionalism, enthusiasm, and teamwork at every stage. Their final performance was truly exceptional.

We are incredibly proud of every student involved and of the passion, commitment, and dedication they brought to the project.