Two young writers have been announced today as the winners of this year’s New Views programme, the National Theatre’s annual playwriting competition for young people.
House on Fire by Luke Fields, 17, from Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School in Belfast and Teulu by Emyr Strudwick, 19, from Merthyr College in South Wales, will be presented as staged readings, followed by a post-performance discussion with the writers and directors in the Gorvy Rehearsal Room at the National Theatre on 4-5 July, as part of the free New Views Festival. Luke and Emyr will have the opportunity to develop their plays from page to stage alongside Director of the National Theatre Rufus Norris (Nye), who will direct Teulu, and theatre director Emily Burns (Dear Octopus), who will direct House on Fire.
New Views is the National Theatre’s nationwide playwriting programme for students aged 14-19. Participating schools work with a professional playwright to mentor students in writing their own original 30-minute play. 500 plays were submitted for New Views 2024 from 90 schools across the UK.