New Writing Competition Hits The West End

For the very first time, the London Student Drama Festival (LSDF) will be hitting the West End with their annual new writing competition. Having recently hosted the UK's largest student-led theatre festival, the LSDF is excited to be returning for its 6th year to champion student theatre in London.

Starting at the University College London Bloomsbury Theatre in 2013, the LSDF has brought together over 2000 students over the years in the name of new writing. With workshops, theatre trips and performance opportunities across London's stages, the LSDF has been offering opportunities to university students with the support of organisations such as the Young Vic, Jerwood Space, Mousetrap Theatre Projects, Society of London Theatre and Nimax Theatres.

The annual new writing competition sees London's university drama societies submit 25 minute plays, written by current students, to perform in the semi finals. Held over two nights at the Pleasance Theatre, a panel of judges offer feedback and choose the top 5 shows to go through to the finals.

This year, the coveted finals will be held at the Duchess Theatre, currently home to Mischief Theatre's 'The Play That Goes Wrong', on Monday 19th March, thanks to the generous support of Nimax Theatres. A panel of industry professionals will choose winners for Best Performance, Best Direction and Best Writing. Already lined up to judge the finals is the famously anonymous 'West End Producer'.

It is an exciting move for the Festival as it promises to prove that student theatre deserves a place on London's biggest stages.

Finals (Duchess Theatre, 19th March): https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/shows/london-student-drama-festival-new-writing-finals/
Semi Finals (Pleasance Theatre, 13th & 15th March): https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/london-student-drama-festival-semi-finals
LSDF: https://www.facebook.com/LSDFestival