When This Is Over (NHB Modern Plays)

A group of teenagers, their lives shaped by billions of seemingly random events going back to before they were born, come together onstage to share stories about their past, their present, and what might lie ahead. When This Is Over is a uniquely personal, theatrical celebration of hope, possibility and imagination. It's about how we can work with chaos, and embrace our collective imagination as we prepare for a deeply uncertain future - together. Originally conceived by Company Three - and developed alongside more than fifty other youth theatres across the UK - When This Is Over is a play designed to be created and performed by teenage casts, drawing directly on their own life experiences and the stories they want to tell. As with Company Three's widely performed youth-theatre play Brainstorm, the script is a blueprint for an amazing theatrical adventure. This published edition contains a series of exercises and activities for schools, youth-theatre groups and community companies to create and perform their own unique productions, and also features the complete script of Company Three's version, which was performed at The Yard, London, in 2022. When This Is Over was named Community Project of the Year at The Stage Awards, and Outstanding Drama Initiative at the Music and Drama Education Awards.

Ned Glasier is the founder and artistic director of Company Three, a London-based theatre company working with young people. He has created more than forty plays with young people, including Brainstorm at the Park Theatre, National Theatre and BBC iPlayer, Boat at Battersea Arts Centre and two major international projects during the COVID pandemic: The Coronavirus Time Capsule and When This Is Over. Alongside his work making plays with young people, Ned leads training in the practice of co-creation, teaches on university courses, and works as a consultant supporting organisations to listen to, support and enable young people.