New Views isn’t just about writing scripts. It’s about exploring ideas, building confidence, and learning what it takes to turn a single thought into a full production. This year, as part of our enrichment programme, students from Year 7 through to Year 12 have embraced every aspect of the creative process: from scriptwriting and directing, to staging and performing. In our exclusive behind-the-scenes video, you’ll meet some of the pupils and staff involved — including Ana-Hibah, Szaira, Leonard, Shira and others — as they share honest reflections on what New Views has meant to them.

For some, like Y12 student Szaira, it’s been a journey from writing to leadership. As the writer of Snufflebag, Szaira has grown into the role of guiding younger students, while developing her own voice as both a writer and a director. Leonard, who wrote A Hundred Zeroes, describes the challenge of turning raw ideas into a finished play and the pride that comes with seeing it performed.

The experience is not without its challenges. As Ana-Hibah shares: ‘The most challenging part of New Views is the amount of dedication and commitment you have to put in. It’s something you have to keep working at tirelessly to get a good result.’ Yet, that commitment pays off. Whether it’s helping a Year 7 student find their footing on stage or debating how to set up an unconventional performance space, the sense of collaboration and pride is palpable.

 ‘It’s helped me learn how to work with people of different abilities.’ says Shira, ‘In our group, we’ve got every{one} from Year 7s to Year 10s. It’s really nice seeing them learning from each other’.

Ms Murray, who has been instrumental in bringing New Views to the School, describes it as an enrichment experience that goes far beyond drama lessons. ‘The students get amazing experience in how to construct a play, developing their writing, directing and acting skills’ she says.

Each group has brought something unique to the stage, blending humour, emotion, and thoughtful reflection. From the initial draft to final performance, our students have shown resilience, imagination, and a genuine passion for storytelling. As Szaira put it: “When I leave school, I don’t know if I’ll still be writing plays — but I’ll definitely be able to keep the ones I’ve already written as tangible things that I have done, and I think that’s the most amazing thing.’

We couldn’t agree more.

To learn more about the National Theatre’s New Views programme, visit: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/learn-explore/schools/new-views/