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Theatrical memories

TWENTY-one years ago teachers and directors began telling the National Theatre that they wanted relevant and challenging new plays for young actors.

We responded by launching Connections, our flagship youth theatre festival.

Since then the NT has commissioned more than 150 plays for Connections, giving young people aged 13-19 across the UK and Ireland access to the very best new writing for theatre.

We want you to join us to celebrate Connections in our anniversary year.

We hope to hear from people who have taken part in Connections plays over the last 21 years. Whether you’re Kevey Bow, from UROCK who performed in Remote at last year’s festival, or Roy Weise, now a trainee theatre director at the Royal Court Theatre (‘Chatroom’ by Enda Walsh in 2004) or Hollywood actor John Boyega (‘Six Parties’ by William Boyd in 2009), we’d love to hear about your Connections experience.

Performing and working backstage as part of a brilliant youth theatre can be a transformative, life-changing experience and we want you to tell us how it changed you.

Wherever you are now get in touch at yourconnections.nationaltheatre.org.uk and share your Connections memories with us to help celebrate 21 years of the biggest youth theatre festival in the world.

RUFUS NORRIS

Director

National Theatre of Great Britain

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EU has given us peace

IN A week which marked Europe Day, an annual celebration of peace and unity in Europe, we saw some debate over whether it is NATO or the EU which has kept the peace in Europe.

NATO is a military alliance which works on the premise that to ensure peace you have to prepare for war.

It has neither the doctrine, personnel, tools, budget or institutions to undertake nation building or assist in the transition to democracy, the rule of law, or human rights.

The EU, on the other hand, has helped countries overcome dictatorship and democratise, reform their constitutions and improve public services.

Indeed, in 2012 the European Union was awarded the Nobel Peace prize for helping transform Europe from a continent of war to a continent of peace and for advancing reconciliation, democracy and human rights.

Peace is achieved through determination and action, not through the threat of military might.

The EU’s democratic nations working together can, and do, achieve this. This year, more than any other, we would be wise to remind ourselves of the legacy of peace the architects of the EU have left us and defend it by remaining a part of the EU.

MOLLY SCOTT CATO

Green MEP, South West England

European Parliament, Brussels

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Leave or we're doomed

MAY I take this opportunity to thank R Albrighton, Adver, May 11 for his excellent common sense letter and his kind words.

Regarding his comments, that I write what most people think. I wish I had £1 for every time someone has told me that.

Charity would be receiving a very large donation if I had.

During the treachery of the Blair government, this country changed beyond recognition as our borders were effectively dismantled.

Many people voted the Labour government out because of this.

What has the coalition or the present government done to justify the electorate’s confidence in the tide being turned to selective immigration as promised by David Cameron?

Nothing, because they cannot, under the jackboot of the European Disunion’s insane policy on open borders.

During the Blair years, when I openly discussed this with my friends I was told, "keep your voice down Bill, you don’t know who is listening".

People were terrified of being branded racists when they were stating an honest opinion in a free democratic country, which has been fought and died for by our ancestors over the centuries.

Racist I am not, nor have I ever been.

I heard the words on many occasions, "we want our country back".

But we are now in the last chance saloon.

If we don’t vote to leave this disastrous failed political experiment, in the words of John Laurie in the sitcom Dad’s Army, we are doomed, and we will go down with this sinking ship.

It's quite clear to anyone with any common sense that David Cameron simply has lost the plot regarding this issue.

It is due to his desperation to please his business pals and rich friends, not to mention his political cronies.

He is keeping us in this failing enterprise to increase their profits at the expense of British workers.

And this is regardless of the fact that they are destroying our infrastructure, our culture and our traditions, ruining the NHS, affecting our children’s education and creating a nightmare with the lack of housing.

BILL WILLIAMS

Merlin Way

Covingham

Swindon

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A serious housing crisis

MANY people are predicting what Britain’s future would be if we remain or leave the EU.

Instead of predicting the future we should be considering what is happening now.

At the present time there are 1.4 million people waiting for a council house.

Very few of the young generation can afford to buy or rent a house in the private sector.

There is a serious housing crisis. Young people will have to live with parents for as far as we can see into the future.

We don’t have to be able to predict the future to see that the EU is not working for the hard working families in Britain.

TERRY HAYWARD

Burnham Road

Swindon