New Writing Festival 2023

3PM on Fri 30 June and Sat 1 Jul

An unmissable afternoon of theatre from the 2023 graduates of the MA Drama Writing programme, comprising 15-minute extracts from eight thrilling new plays.

Wish You Were Here by Hannah Hewer

A young woman with OCD embarks on a stay-at-home journey of self-discovery, antagonised by a cruel and unwanted houseguest. Unapologetically honest, brutal yet hopeful.

Hannah is a Welsh writer who often creates intimate, character-driven stories that take on a sense of heightened realism. She has a passion for poetry and lyricism and hopes to further delve into the world of audio drama.

A Bomb We Called Sam by Max Kyte

Trapped inside Newcastle’s beating heart, three friends stumble through bad ideas, love, and an active bomb as they chase a past which has long since abandoned them.

Max is a theatre, screen, and radio writer from Newcastle. Training at the BOVTS, NYT, and BFI Academy, he enjoys a curiosity for juxtaposing rhythmic dialogue with grounded character stakes to hone his writing style.

THE FUTURE IS BEIGE by Hannah Ali Khan

When the Council announces the end of racism in future Britain amidst increasingly oppressive rules, people must decide what they’re willing to sacrifice for equality.

Hannah Ali Khan is a writer for stage and screen whose work focuses on the issues present in the lives of herself and those around her, exploring these in a dramatic, insightful and thought-provoking way.

Non Ducor by Nicole Darvill-Batten

Bring your leotard – it’s about to get ravenous. Non Ducor is an autobiographical play exploring generational abuse in dance schools and beyond.

Nicole is a writer from the south west endeavouring to bring untold stories to the stage in a way that makes you laugh and cry. This includes shedding light on faith, queerness and love.

DIRTY by Han Morgan (they/them)

Enslaved workers daydream, fantasise, and tell stories to avoid the truth. But when stories aren’t enough, what will they do to survive? Playful, perilous, powerful.

Han is from Birmingham, and wrote their first play for the Young REP at the Birmingham REP. Since then, they’ve started writing for grown-ups, making political theatre, and probing themes of injustice, power, and revolution.

Stag by Madeleine Farnhill (she/her)

The Scottish Highlands. A deerstalker tracks an elusive harte. 300 years later, a GP begins stalking her patient. A visceral, muscly and subversive twinned tale.

Madeleine is a playwright from Yorkshire. Her first play The Hunger completed a sold out debut run in 2021 and a tour in 2022. Madeleine primarily writes regional, female-led folk-horror, speculative fiction and magical realism.

Nothing Compares 2 U by Mark Fenton

Utilising poetic language, soaring beats and honest storytelling, Nothing Compares 2 U is a piece of rave theatre about heartbreak, dance music, and Sinéad O’Connor. It is a play to dance to.

Mark Fenton is a writer who utilises lyricism, music and stagecraft to create exhilarating live experiences exploring love, joy and the human condition. Previously showcased at Southwark Playhouse, Theatre503 and, today, the Bristol Old Vic.

855-FOR-TRUTH by Eva Hudson

Somewhere in the woods between Hilldale, Utah and the End of The World, an 18-year-old cult member and a budding climate scientist collide. Can love be the most radical choice in the face of chaos?

Eva is a playwright and director. Her work examines searching, often philosophical themes of identity, and is always female-led. A recent UCL graduate, her work has been performed at theatres across London, and most recently at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival.