THE ROYAL Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD) has secured nearly £500,000 in philanthropic funding to safeguard the future of its acclaimed NEW writing festival for the next three years, reinforcing its position as one of the UK’s leading champions of new theatrical talent.
The transformational pledge, made by a couple who have chosen to remain anonymous, will enable the College’s flagship festival to continue commissioning ambitious new work, amplifying diverse voices and providing invaluable professional opportunities for students entering the creative industries.
For more than a decade, NEW has been at the heart of RWCMD’s mission as Wales’ national conservatoire, bringing together emerging artists with some of the UK’s most respected playwrights and directors. The annual festival showcases original productions created in collaboration with the College’s Richard Burton Company, comprising all 36 graduating actors alongside student designers and stage managers.
Premiering in Cardiff before transferring to London’s New Diorama Theatre each June, the productions reach national audiences and industry professionals, offering students real-world experience while introducing innovative new theatre to the stage.
The College is recognised as a leader in commissioning original work within drama school training. Its fully funded model allows writers and directors the rare opportunity to develop new productions with dedicated rehearsal time, design budgets, technical support and in-house expertise.
Speaking about the funding, RWCMD’s Director of Drama Performance said: “It’s my first year of NEW so I’m excited to see what it can do. No other drama school commissions work on this scale with acclaimed writers and directors of such prominence. This generous new funding allows us to continue to support emerging talent, pairing actors with established artists who can act as mentors.
“New writing has always been central to the College’s drama training, and this includes our NEW Voices initiative, which enables actors with strong individual voices to be as confident in creating their own work as they are in working with classical repertoire. We are particularly proud to be showcasing the theatre makers of the future.”
The donors said they were drawn to the festival because of its commitment to original work and collaborative learning opportunities.
“We were really keen to support NEW writing at RWCMD because of its commitment to original work and giving students from all disciplines the opportunity to collaborate with leading playwrights and learn from the best,” they said.
“We can see how the outstanding RWCMD students benefit enormously from working in this way, and it just felt right to support this wonderful and unique initiative.”
Fresh Perspectives on Contemporary Issues
This year’s festival continues its tradition of responding to the cultural moment, with productions exploring themes including the fragility of life, fear, responsibility and redemption.
The 2026 programme features:
- Van Man by E.V. Crowe, directed by Stewart Laing
- Feral Threads by Rebecca Jade Hammond, directed by Patricia Logue
- XL Bully by Stef Smith, directed by Rob Watt
- That Last Summer by Azuka Oforka, directed by Lee Lyford, in collaboration with Sherman Theatre
Over its 13-year history, NEW has premiered more than 50 original plays and supported writers and theatre-makers who have gone on to make a significant impact across the UK theatre industry. Several productions have enjoyed successful lives beyond the festival, including Pomona by Alistair McDowall, Growth by Luke Norris, Blister by Laura Lomas and Albatross by Isley Lynn.
Julia Barry, Chief Executive of Sherman Theatre, praised the long-standing partnership between the organisations.
“2026 marks Sherman Theatre’s eleventh year working in partnership with RWCMD on the NEW festival, and we’re as proud of that partnership as ever,” she said.
“Each year they commission a Welsh or Wales-based playwright to write a new play for the festival. This year they chose the sublimely talented Azuka Oforka, and we look forward immensely to seeing her latest work, ‘That Last Summer’, as well as Stef Smith’s ‘XL Bully’, on our stages this June.”
Training the Next Generation of Theatre Makers
Alongside its professional productions, the festival’s NEW Voices programme gives four final-year students the opportunity to present their own original work through rehearsed readings performed by fellow students.
The initiative reflects the concerns and perspectives of a new generation of theatre-makers while helping students build relationships with established industry professionals.
Many graduates have gone on to secure professional opportunities through connections made during the festival. Among them, Isabel Thom landed her first professional role as Joan in Charlie Josephine’s I, Joan at Shakespeare’s Globe, while actor Annes Elwy, who appeared in NEW’s inaugural production of Pomona, later reunited professionally with director Ned Bennett in Yerma.
With its future now secured through significant philanthropic backing, NEW is set to continue nurturing emerging talent and shaping the future of British theatre for years to come.
