Tim Howe, Senior Manager Youth and Community at the Torch Theatre will direct the Torch Youth Theatre’s production The Sycamore Gap. We wanted to find out more about the drama and what audience members can expect. Read the Tim interview below.

Describe Sycamore Gap in three words ...

Intriguing, Provocative, Unexpected

What’s the play all about?

Like so many good stories, this play isn’t what we think it’s about. On the surface, it’s a murder mystery of sorts: there’s been a ‘murder’ (the felling of the Sycamore Gap Tree), and all the suspects are gathered in one place. One by one, they’re led out to be interrogated by the police. There’s classic misdirection—people lie to cover up other lies, and the truth gets lost until the big reveal of ‘the killer’.

But there’s so much more going on. Along the way, the characters share their deepest worries and anxieties. Delving into their alibis uncovers contemporary issues such as mental health, loneliness, toxic masculinity, and environmental concerns. There are also some quite pointed moments that explore ideas about the state of the nation, police brutality, and the dangers of online echo chambers.

What makes this most exciting is that these ideas come from young people. They are not parroting opinions they’ve learned but expressing them in ways that make sense to them and challenge how we, as adults, think they think.

Ultimately, the play finishes with quite a hopeful tone, reflecting on what we do for the people we care most deeply about – and the lengths we go to even when justice looks like revenge.

How many young people will be taking part?

This year we have 17 young people taking part in the production.

What will be the highlight of the play?

There are all sorts of different exciting moments in the play and my personal highlight has changed so much from the first reading, through to starting rehearsals and I know it will change again. So, I think the best thing about the play is that it will celebrate the talents of each one of the young people involved. We’re trying out some new techniques with this play including object animation – which is like puppetry but with everyday objects (like litter or scrap paper) become characters … all will be revealed. That also excites me.

Will there be much singing and dancing?

None. This is a dramatic play. That’s not to say that there are not any funny moments! There’s quite a few of those to enjoy. And there might be a bit of unaccompanied singing but this is not a musical.

Tell us a bit about the main characters.

There isn’t really a ‘main character’ in the play. What I really enjoy about the NT Connections plays is how balanced the writing is to allow all the young people involved to have their moment to shine. The cast can be broken down into two distinct groups: The Eco-Club and the Court of Public Opinion. The latter of these represents the dangers of that online echo chamber. Their dialogue is initially made up of things that were said online in the days after the Sycamore Gap tree was cut down. There are some interesting characters in there! By comparison the Eco-club is made up of your usual eclectic mix of people. Some who need to be there, perhaps they’re waiting for a lift home or completing part of their D of E, or their boyfriend goes and they want to keep an eye on him and the popular girl…. This great mix of personalities and characters is exciting for the young people to explore and we’re having a lot of fun in rehearsals creating them all.

Does the play have a serious message?

Yes, I think that anything young people have to say about our world is serious – after all they’ve got to live in it long after we’re gone! The play really digs down into the root of what it is to love and be loved. What does that look like and what lengths will we go to cover up a crime committed in the name of love. I think the most provocative message the play asks of its audience is to say, ‘Is collective silence greater than honesty?’ Good luck trying to untangle your thoughts on that!

You’ll be taking the play to Aberystwyth, tell us more.

We’re incredibly lucky and excited that part of the NT Connections program is that we take our play ‘on tour’ to Aberystwyth Arts Centre. In May we make the journey northward and perform Sycamore Gap for the audience up in Ceredigion.It’s such a brilliant opportunity for the young people of our company to develop new skills and embrace the challenges of touring theatre.

Sycamore Gap can be seen on the Torch Theatre stage from Wednesday 25 February to Friday 27 February 2026. Ticket price: £10 | £8 Cons. For further information visit the Torch Theatre website www.torchtheatre.co.uk / phone the Box Office on (01646) 695267 or click here.