By Kate Vandermeulen, Director of Marketing and Communications

As the fall semester starts back up, students are thrown into everything new: new professors, new courses, new apartments and now, thanks to the annual drama festival, new plays!

The New Plays Festival will take place Sept. 26-29 in Turner Studio, with three plays being performed each night. Each play is student-led from start to finish; with scripts written by students in the Playwriting course, scenes being directed by students, casts being made up entirely by students and the festival itself being coordinated by two students.

One of these students, 3rd-year music student Emmett Tinning, is in charge of coordinating the festival. He expressed his excitement about the upcoming productions, saying that “New Plays is an incredible experience for drama and non-drama students alike (especially students new to Bishops) to try their hand at all that goes into putting on a festival. The people and experiences have all contributed to an invaluable and engaging few weeks!” 

The process of putting on a single show started over the summer, with student playwrights submitting their scripts for consideration. Once shows had been chosen, it was up to students to sign up to direct. Auditions took place on Sept. 7, and each cast has been fervently rehearsing since to ensure that their show is stage-ready by the 26th. 

3rd-year Musical Theatre and Drama student Sonoma Brawley, who plays the role of  ‘Elizabeth’ in Night B show ‘Popped’, weighed in on her experience being part of the festival: “As a drama student, I love having the chance to be in Turner Studio performing with my friends and peers”. She elaborated on how being part of a student-run project has enriched her campus life: “It’s incredibly rewarding as we all work together to make it possible to produce our shows. Theatre is an incredibly collaborative art form and New Plays encapsulates what it means to be in conversation with one another to create something together”. 

From hilarious comedies, to dramas that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat, the festival will have a play for every type of audience-goer. Night A (Sept. 26 & 28) will feature (in show order) “Off the Deep End” by Malcolm Armstrong, “Shafted” by Tomas Peck and “The Attic” by Michael Gearey. Night B (Sept. 27 & 29): “Popped” by Kate Vandermeulen, “Ghosts” by Carly Wagschal and “Together at Last” by Mia Williams. 

Interested in participating in a production, or cheering one on from the audience? Don’t miss out on next semester’s TheatreActiv festival- follow @bu.drama on Instagram for updates!

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Kate Vandermeulen is the Playwright/Director of the New Plays show ‘Popped’.