Braunton Academy Students Take Centre Stage with the National Theatre’s New Views Programme

Students in Mr Carroll’s Year 10 Drama classes are embracing an exciting national opportunity this term as they take part in the National Theatre’s prestigious New Views playwright programme. Designed to inspire the next generation of theatre-makers, New Views invites young people across the UK to develop their own original plays under the guidance of professional playwrights.

This year, Braunton Academy is thrilled to be working with acclaimed writers Lorna French and Anna Wheatley, who have been supporting our students through the process of shaping powerful stories for the stage. Over the term, students have explored key elements of playwriting — from building compelling characters and crafting dialogue to structuring dramatic tension and refining their artistic voice.

This week, both Year 10 groups took part in a dedicated feedback workshop, where they received tailored guidance on their first drafts. The workshop offered students the chance to deepen their ideas, strengthen their scripts, and push their creativity even further as they prepare their final submissions.

The completed plays will be entered into the National Theatre’s UK-wide young writers’ competition in March. Each year, one winning script is selected to be fully developed, rehearsed, and performed by professional actors on stage at the National Theatre in London — an extraordinary opportunity for any young writer.

Mr Carroll is very proud of the imagination, commitment, and ambition our students have shown so far. With such inspiring stories taking shape, we look forward to seeing how their work continues to grow — and we wish them all the very best as they head towards submission.