The Howard Theatre
DDS Festival of New Writing
12 - 14 March 2026
The annual Festival of New Writing, established in 2014 and now a central and prestigious feature of the Cambridge drama scene, returns in Lent 2026 to showcase the best of the writing talent the student body has to offer.
Students of all disciplines and from all over Cambridge submit one-act plays to be read and assessed over the Christmas holidays. A select few are chosen to be staged over the three nights of the Festival, directed and performed by students. At the end of each evening, the playwrights are invited to join a panel of top theatre practitioners to discuss their work-in-progress and take questions from the audience.
The Festival provides students with the opportunity to engage with industry professionals, a unique learning experience, and brings a wonderful theatrical spectacle to the Howard stage. DDS is proud that many FoNW alumni have gone on to forge successful careers in the Performing Arts as actors, writers, and directors.
Performances start at 7.30pm in the Howard Theatre on:
- Thursday 12 March
- Friday 13 March
- Saturday 14 March