New Views playwriting competition co-winners announced

Two young playwrights have been crowned the winners of this year’s New Views programme – the National Theatre’s annual playwriting competition for young people. 

Seventeen-year-old Luke Fields from Belfast won with his play House on Fire, which is a comedy following recently elected Head Boy and Girl, Stephen and Caitlin. Their school has broken into a riot following their election; this comedy comments on the politics of today.

Emnyr Strudwick, aged 19 and from South Wales, won with their play Teulu – a text that follows the world of Owen, a teenage boy dealing with the grief of losing his mother and connecting with his father. Set in Wales, the play is a portrayal of community, family and support. 

The winning pieces will be presented as staged readings, followed by post-performance discussions with the writers and directors in the National Theatre’s Gorvy Rehearsal Room on 4 and 5 July, as part of the free New Views Festival. 

The winners will also have the opportunity to develop their plays for the stage, with NT director Rufus Norris directing Teulu and theatre director Emily Burns directing House on Fire. 

The competition is for students aged 14-19; participating schools work with a professional playwright to mentor students in writing theirt own original 30-minute play. 500 plays were submitted for the 2024 competition, entering from 90 schools across the UK.

‘I found it an incredible experience’, said Fields. ‘Getting to advance my own skills whilst interacting with like-minded students and having the chance to read and see their work and what inspires everyone else was really special and exciting. I am overwhelmed with shock and surprise.’

Strudwick added: ‘I was genuinely shocked: although I believe in the message of this play, I did not believe that my writing would be appreciated by other people. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and excited to see how this play will develop.’

Norris said ‘I am so excited to be supporting this year’s winning writers as one of the directors in my final year at the National Theatre.

‘New Views is a wonderful platform for young people across the UK to be empowered to share their perspective on topical issues as well as develop their creativity and writing skills, helping to nurture the next generation of theatre makers and writers while encouraging creative self-expression in whatever they choose to do in life.’