Drama students from Rye Studio were delighted to be selected to participate in The National Theatre’s Connections Festival 2016. This national, youth drama festival invited youth drama groups to apply to perform one of ten plays commissioned by the National Theatre since the event started twenty one years ago. The successful Rye Studio company were joined by gifted younger students from Rye College and performed It Snows by Bryony Lavery and Frantic Assembly at The Marlow Studio on Saturday. The play was extremely well received by the audience of family, friends and the cast of another youth company who performed their own play later that evening. A director from The National Theatre praised the actors: ‘Your very characterful and charismatic company created an effective and affecting production of the play’ (Jonathan Humphreys). Director Sarah Wall and choreographer Leah Greenough would like to thank Charlie, a year 13 student for co-directing the piece and cast members Felix, Kasia, Dominic, Bradley, Lucy, Maria, Holly, Niamh, Shanni, Isobel, Jodie, Frankie, Isabel, Abi and Josh. The ensemble cast all demonstrated skilful voice and movement technique in this physical theatre play, with especially notable performances by Parisa, Andras, Charlie and David.