New Connnections, produced by the National Theatre and supported by Bank of America, commissions new plays for and about young people from some of the best contemporary playwrights, for performance by schools and youth theatres from all over the UK and Ireland, both in their home venues and at regional partnership theatres.

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Director Steve Archdale took part in the training weekend which launched New Connections at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough. He met and took part in workshops with Jack Thorne, the writer of Burying Your Brother in the Pavement, which he has chosen from the ten plays on offer this year.

SMYT will be performing it at Garforth Green Lane Primary School on Thursday, March 20 and Friday, March 21, (7.30pm), then at a regional showcase.

New Connections culminates at a celebratory Festival in July at the National Theatre in London, where an example of each play is chosen to be performed on the Olivier and Cottesloe stages.

This year the National Theatre announced a new partnership with Bank of America as supporters of New Connections, enabling the programme to involve young people outside mainstream education, such as those with special needs or young people at risk, in addition to the hundreds of schools and youth groups who regularly participate.

Nicholas Hytner, Director of the National Theatre, said: "Bank of America's generous support will enable New Connections to develop into an even more exciting programme. It promises to fire the imaginations and aspirations of everyone involved."

Burying Your Brother in the Pavement by Jack Thorne
Tom's brother is dead. He was killed by a broken bottle to the neck. This has upset a lot of people but it hasn't upset Tom. Or, rather, it has upset him, but in ways he can't explain. Tom really didn't like Luke, but without him… This is a play about grief, and looking at someone that little bit more closely

Jack Thorne's plays for stage include When You Cure Me (Bush, Radio 3's Drama on Three, Barrow St Theatre, New York), Fanny and Faggot (Pleasance, Edinburgh, Finborough & Trafalgar Studios 2007) and Stacy (Tron, Arcola & Trafalgar Studios). His TV writing includes episodes of Skins, Shameless and The Spastic King. Jack is currently Pearson Writer-in-Residence at the Bush.