Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama's NEW: 2016 Set for A Nation's Theatre Festival

The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama present the Richard Burton Company's annual weeklong celebration of new writing. NEW returns for a third exciting year with another four world premieres at home in Cardiff before transferring once again to the Gate Theatre, a venue known to springboard the most exceptional new talent.

The Gate continue their collaboration with the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, The Royal Court Theatre and Paines Plough presenting three new plays by some of the most exciting new writing talent in the UK: Elinor Cook, Ali Taylor and Joe Ward Munrow. This year RWCMD are also delighted to be working with Sherman Cymru for the first time in commissioning a new play by Dafydd James, directed by the Sherman's Artistic Director, Rachel O'Riordan.

NEW: 2016 is a hugely ambitious project involving all 32 graduating actors as well as students from the design and stage management course, collaborating with some of the country's most exciting young writers and directors. Following the success of Alistair McDowall's Pomona from NEW:2014, RWCMD and the Gate are delighted that this year's NEW is to be presented as part of A Nation's Theatre.

Artistic Director of the Gate, Christopher Haydon, said today on programming NEW: 2016,

'The Welsh College is one of the most exciting drama schools in the country. Not only do they consistently produce fine actors and designers, they also have a knack for discovering the most exciting emerging writers - and it is a thrill to welcome four brand new plays each year as part of the NEW Festival.'

NEW: 2016 is part of the inaugural A Nation's Theatre Festival - a two month celebration of UK creativity. Theatre-makers from outside London will be presenting and developing shows across the capital in April-May 2016.. Venues across London are joining forces to shine a light on shows made by artists based in villages, towns and cities outside of London, with wildly different backdrops and personalities that colour the work they make.

All That I Am

A new play by Dafydd James

Directed by Rachel O'Riordan
In collaboration with Sherman Cymru

Dafydd James is an award-winning writer, composer and performer, working in theatre, radio and television in both English and Welsh. His first full-length play Llwyth [Tribe] became a Welsh-language cultural phenomenon and established him as one of the most exciting dramatists working in Wales. Recent credits include Crackanory, Psychobitches (winner of Rose D'or Award), Mother Courage (National Theatre Wales), Terrace (Radio 3) and Heritage (National Theatre Connections).

Conspiracy

A new play by Ali Taylor

Directed by Debbie Hannan
In collaboration with the Royal Court Theatre

You can't play at it. You can't fake it. You have to believe in it.

We need you to be completely committed.

Polly wants to make a difference. She's lost faith in politicians. Marching doesn't work.

So she's joining a direct action protest group. And they're planning their biggest and most dangerous action yet.

As the illegal occupation begins, secrets are uncovered which soon puts everyone's futures at risk.

An urgent new play about changing the world.

Ali Taylor is an award-winning writer, who has written for theatre, radio and television. Ali's first play Cotton Wool won the 18th Meyer Whitworth Award and was Critics' Choice in Time Out. Other theatre credits include Overspill, Sticks And Stones, The Machine Gunners, Hive 9, Slick and A Little Neck. His work for radio includes Eight Feet High And Rising and Cinders. His first piece for television was called Pure Evil.

Ten Weeks

A new play by Elinor Cook
Directed by Kate Wasserberg
In collaboration with Paines Plough

First things first, I just want to say to all of you -
Well done.
You've shown a lot of courage walking in here tonight.
You have.
Don't forget that.

Ten weeks, ten commandments, a ten million pound turnover.

It's Week One of a dizzyingly popular crash course in Christianity. There's pizza, live music, lively debate and - sometimes - there's insurrection.

A new play about faith, community and capitalism.

Elinor Cook was the winner of the George Devine Award 2013 for Most Promising Playwright. She wrote Image of an Unknown Young Woman, directed by Christopher Haydon in the Gate's 2015 ICONS and IDOLS season. Her theatre credits include The Boy Preference, The Girl's Guide To Saving The World and This Is Where We Got To When You Came In. Elinor also wrote an episode of The Secrets for the BBC.

Blue

A new play by Joe Ward Munrow

Directed by Jude Christian
In collaboration with the Royal Court Theatre

It's Anna's first day working at a mental health unit. It's Lucy's two hundredth and sixty third day within the unit. As Anna navigates her way round the building, Lucy is bound by her thoughts and memories. While Anna tries to get the measure of her colleagues, her patients and her new place of work; one quiet question keeps humming away at her.

Just how much is she helping?

Blue is a poetic play examining mental health, friendship and the smallest possible victories.

Joe Ward Munrow is a playwright, director and stand-up comedian based in Liverpool. His first play, The Laundry, won the Write Now 2 Award. His second play, Held, was produced by Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse in November 2012 and was subsequently shortlisted for the National Theatre Foundation Playwright Award. He is currently on attachment at Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse.