By Vickie Donoghue
Fresh Air
Students from a Pupil Referral group are made to go orienteering in what they discover is England’s most haunted woods. Stalked by eery ghost children determined to keep them there forever, they must learn to confront the here and now to unlock the key to their futures.
In 2025, our Platform Company proudly took part in the 30th Anniversary of the National Theatre Connections Festival.
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We were thrilled to be given Fresh Air by Vickie Donoghue to perform for the festival, especially as the play is set in Langdon Hills, Essex, and written by a local playwright. It felt incredibly special to bring a local story to the stage.
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As part of our preparation, we took a research trip to Langdon Hills—often described as “the most haunted woods in England.” There, we explored the woodland setting and even rehearsed sections of the play, helping the story come alive for our cast.
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Fresh Air was performed at both the Clifftown Theatre in Southend and the Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch. We were honoured to have Vickie Donoghue attend both performances, and were especially grateful that she stayed to meet and speak with our cast after the Southend show.
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This year was particularly meaningful for us, as our young people fully immersed themselves in a play rooted in local history and storytelling.
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Although we were not selected to perform at the National Theatre, we still enjoyed a fantastic trip to the Dorfman Theatre to watch the company who were chosen. It was an inspiring experience and a wonderful way to celebrate being part of the Connections Festival.
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Photos by: Film Free Photography
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