New Views is the National Theatre’s playwriting programme for 14-19 year-olds. Every year, hundreds of students from across the UK learn about playwriting from some of the finest writers in the industry, and write their own 30-minute plays.
One play will then be selected to be produced by the National Theatre with a professional cast and crew, alongside rehearsed readings of the shortlisted plays.
Epsom College has 15 Drama scholars taking part, from Middle Fourth to Lower Sixth. Our partner playwright is Ryan Craig whose plays usually probe both social norms and ethical issues. He is also a writer for screen, television and radio.
The pupils will have multiple writing workshops, across this term and Lent term, delivered by Miss Rhiannon Johnson, with feedback received from Mr Craig. The pupils will each develop and write their own 30-minute play, which will be entered into the competition in April 2021. The winning play will be produced by a professional cast at the National Theatre.
The first two-hour virtual workshop was held on Tuesday afternoon via Teams. Miss Johnson was impressed by the pupils’ focus, commitment and outstanding imaginative ideas.
Epsom has also partnered with and sponsored St Mary’s School, a state secondary school in Croydon, so they can take participate alongside us.
