This weekend, the Oxford Playhouse Youth Theatre will perform in the National Theatre Connections Festival at the North Wall, Oxford.

The National Theatre's landmark annual nationwide youth theatre festival celebrates the creativity and talent of young people across the UK, pairing some of the UK's most exciting writers with the theatre makers of tomorrow.

Commissioned exclusively for Connections, the OP Youth Theatre will stage Sycamore Gap by Al Smith. Following a run of home performances at the Burton Taylor Studio, the production will now transfer to the North Wall where they will perform alongside seven other companies from across the region.

Directed by Lucy Findlay, and assisted by Caitlin Kirby, the play is a whodunnit about the felling of the Robin Hood Tree at Sycamore Gap. Set on the day after the felling, the local police are 'in school' conducting an investigation. The 13 members of the school's eco-club are held in a classroom, being taken out and interviewed one by one, until the culprit cracks and confesses.

While they wait for their turn, the pupils interrogate each other. Who could have done something so monstrous? What possible motivation could they have had? What impact will it have on their club and their community, now that the tree is gone? And will it be possible for any of them to move on?

Caitlin Kirby, Participation & Artist Development Coordinator at Oxford Playhouse, said:

"We are thrilled to be taking our Playhouse Youth Theatre's production to the North Wall. It's been a hugely rewarding experience to see the group develop from the start of rehearsals back in January to two brilliant performances in the Burton Taylor Studio, and we're excited to showcase this further on the North Wall's stage. Across the past two-terms, our Youth Theatre has dived head-first into exploring character and motive for this dramatic re-imagining of the famous Sycamore Tree felling in 2023. We're so proud of the company's hard work and commitment to this story and look forward to an even wider audience being brought along on the journey."

This is the second year that the OP Youth Theatre has participated in the nationwide festival, celebrating the incredible work that the company has achieved over the process. They are one of around 250 youth companies taking part in the National Theatre's programme, with 33 Partner Theatre festivals taking place across the country.

Tickets for Sycamore Gap are on sale now and can be purchased through the North Wall's Box Office.