New Views

Write about what switches you on.  A nationwide playwriting competition for 15-19 year olds. Please see the New Views website: www.new-views.tv for more information.

New Views 2011/12
From October 2011 the NT will work with 60 schools and colleges across the UK to establish a new network of student writing groups.  Students taking part will receive online and in-person tutorials in playwriting from some of the UK's finest writers, see NT productions in London or via NT Live, and explore key and challenging issues for contemporary society raised by those plays.

Out of this process of research, discussion and tuition, students will write their own 30minute, one-act plays, to be submitted to the NT in May 2012.  Rehearsed readings of a selection of plays from each UK nation and region will then be held at the NT and one play chosen from among these will be staged in Parliament's Westminster Hall with NT Company members, in July 2012.

New Views has three core components:

WORK WITH THE PROFESSIONALS
Students follow our online course, led by NT playwrights; see NT productions - in London or in local cinemas via National Theatre Live - and one-to-one workshops with professional writers (October 2011-March 2012)

WRITE
Students write half-hour plays about the real-life issues that matter to them, stage readings of their work in school and have a chance to see their play performed by National Theatre actors in the Houses of Parliament (April - July 2012)

TRAIN
Teachers get training and support to establish thriving extra-curricular writing groups in school or college (October 2011)

Who can take part?

• New Views will work with a total of 60 schools and colleges, representing each UK nation and region
• Any school can apply to take part in the programme, although schools in areas of high social deprivation and/or with low progression to HE will be given preference.
• Each school will establish a student group of 5-10 students, making a total of 600 students taking part.
• The programme is aimed at sixth formers although younger students may take part at the discretion of individual schools.

What will students gain from the New Views programme?
Through taking part in the New Views programme students will have a unique and exciting opportunity to:

• Explore their talent and develop their enthusiasm for taking an active role in their communities
• Sharpen their approach to research, as well as their ability to develop and articulate ideas on key ethical questions and dilemmas
• Develop a sense of connection to the arts, a lifelong enthusiasm for theatre and an understanding of the power of theatre to engage audiences in serious debate
• Develop their transferable skills for employment and further study including self-management; team working; communication -application of literacy; problem solving; independence and critical engagement with subject material

Sign up
To sign up please download the application form in the download sidebar and email it to learning@nationaltheatre.org.uk

Please note that there are still a few places left on the programme. If you would like to sign up please contact us as soon as possible.

Further information
If you would like more details about the programme objectives and session content, please contact Mark Londesborough on 020 7452 3318 or mlondesborough@nationaltheatre.org.uk.