THE sea in all its beautiful, dangerous and unpredictable drama is the focal point of the New Waves Festival, two reimagined classics and a new piece, performed by students of Theatre Royal Bath Theatre School at the theatre’s Egg space, from Friday 10th to Saturday 18th April.

Brimming with imagination, energy and creative ambition, the festival brings together The Odyssey, in a version by acclaimed dramatist Hattie Naylor, Shakespeare’s The Tempest, edited by Aileen Gonsalves and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and a devised piece, The Aquarium of Impossible Things.

In The Tempest, for ages 12 and over, Prospero’s island is reawakened with bold imagination and fresh energy, as the students reshape the text through their own voices and perspectives. The result aims to be an exciting and irreverent production that celebrates a classic for a new generation. The theatre school has been given permission to use this version of The Tempest, as seen on a UK tour in 2017.

For audiences aged six years and over, The Aquarium of Impossible Things a visually rich and playfully inventive devised piece created in the rehearsal room by the students and directing team. It invites audiences into a mysterious underwater world, alive with extraordinary creatures and eccentric creations. Inspired by classic folk tales, it celebrates curiosity and the joy of discovering that the world may hold far more than we ever imagined.

The final play is The Odyssey, on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th April, for audiences 12 years and over. It aims to take audiences into a thrilling collision between myth and modern life. Monsters, heroes and the raw forces of nature surge into the present day, inviting us to navigate stormy seas, confront extraordinary creatures. Hattie Naylor’s play asks what it means to find your way home in an ever-changing world.

The Egg’s participation programme producer Anna-Louise Fleet says: “Our young people and dedicated creative teams have spent the past ten weeks bringing their ideas vividly to life. Each production feels like a true reflection of the individuals behind it.”

Theatre Royal Bath Theatre School, based at The Egg, has supported young people aged five to 18 for more than 35 years, offering a space to build confidence, connect and explore theatre. Through weekly sessions, productions and creative projects, it provides expert training and insight into on-stage and behind-the-scenes work.