Lead Writer/Creator: Afsaneh Gray
Co-Writer/Creator: Kelly Jones
Director: Natasha Haws
An immersive, episodic comedy-drama, riffing off classic soaps, Nail Bar is performed in a disused shop on Holloway Road. But this is not like any other nail bar on the street. Well Gel Nails is a space where those on the run can hide – including the owners themselves – who will do anything to protect what they've built.
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Pre-show and Access information for StoryFest shows will be updated throughout rehearsals.
StoryFest is National Youth Theatre’ annual new writing festival, premiering 10 new plays featuring over 100 young creatives in July at the charity’s north London home.
StoryFest 2026 is sponsored by STUDIOCANAL and Urban Myth Films and supported by Cockayne Grants for the Arts, a Donor Advised Fund, held at The Prism Charitable Trust, White Light and ODEON Luxe Holloway. We would also like to thank our principal supporters Arts Council England and Netflix and our Centre Stage Supporters, Investors In Talent and Friends. We would like to thank everyone who supports our national work with young people. Our full list of supporters
National Youth Theatre is a charity that relies on the generosity of people and organisations who enable us to work with young people.
Cast
SAM – Flo Ellis-Outhwaite
OLHA – Anastasia Kor
BAILEY – Kao Hove
HAMID – Amro Mahmoud
ALIYA – Aliye Baram
TSITSI – Takunda Muzondiwa
MELODY – Ameera Craig
BARBARA – Elle Hudson
MEI – Jade Chan
AHMED – Nestor Sharma
AHMED (21 & 24 Jul perfs) – Ya'Eesh Ghodiwala
ROMEO – James Malam
AMIR – Manpreet Gehlan
Team
Lead Writer/Creator – Afsaneh Gray
Co-Writer/Creator – Kelly Jones
Director – Natasha Haws
Designer – Philippa Brocklehurst
Associate Designer – Hannah Schmidt
Design Assistant* – Oli Sobey
Fight & Intimacy Director – Bex Wilson
Graphic Design – Nick Willis
Production Technician – Simon Callahan
Stage Manager – Alex Alexander
Sound Designer – Pouya Ehsaei
Associate Sound Designer – Anna Short
Lighting Designer – Lucy Adams
Associate Lighting Designer & Programmer – Shona M'gadzah
Costume Supervisor & Wardrobe Manager – Esmé Dann
Costume Assistant* – Kitty Cooke
Production Manager – Meghan Sorohan
Assistant Stage Manager* – Pidge Durrant
Wellbeing Worker – Jay Mailer
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with additional story ideas from the following NYT Members:
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Hywel Farrow-Wilton, Scarlet-Rose Elise, Jessie Williams, Youyang Song, Eddie Oliver and Tia-Channelle Slaney
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*NYT Member
