NSDF

For over 50 years, the National Student Drama Festival has been at the heart of the UK Theatre world - discovering, nurturing and promoting the very best new talent.

National

NSDF is a truly national festival with productions, participants and professionals from across the UK creating a unique week of workshops, performances, discussions and training.  

I had an incredible time at NSDF, it was absolutely brilliant meeting so many people my age doing the same thing. The opportunity to watch some of the best student work from around the country was amazing. The feedback I got from visiting artists, selectors and my contemporaries alike taught me a huge amount about my strengths and weaknesses, and I learnt a great deal about how I can improve as a director. The advice I received on how to continue directing post-university was also invaluable. (George Ransley, University of Edinburgh, Director Amadeus NSDF11)

Student

This festival is for anyone aged 16 to 25. It’s your festival. You don’t have to be studying drama you just have to enjoy it and want to watch it and make it.

Above all, for me, NSDF11 was about hope: it was a week in which my desire to be involved in theatre was rekindled, my ambition reborn and my confidence renewed. Through meeting an abundance of passionate industry professionals and through discussing my work openly with them, that which seemed previously a pipe dream, a one-in-a-million chance, suddenly became attainable and appeared real. I felt again that I could do it.  (George Chilcott, University of Leeds, Director of Dealer’s Choice NSDF11)

Drama

The NSDF accommodates all forms of live theatre performance including dance, mime, physical theatre, music theatre, site-specific work, comedy, clowning, devised work, new writing and classical and modern drama, as well as film, television and radio.

I was very taken by the whole organisation and it's holistic nature. Such and extraordinary opportunity for young people to exchange, explore and share in the intimate setting of workshops and in the theatre whether watching or in dialogue. I was struck daily by the skills base in my groups. so vivid and immediate and always ready to present. Being a voice man it's always a joy to hear a well placed voice with range, power and commitment to text and the space. A huge testimony to the training that is going on in the colleges and the universities. (Michael Corbidge, RSC, Visiting Artist NSDF11)

Festival

60 performances, 180 workshops, 6 discussions, 7 late night events and over 650 students. NSDF is a celebration of young talent as well as an introduction to the pathways into the profession.

Totally selfishly it is exactly what I needed and wanted. A blast by young people who believe in the power of Theatre and bring to it all their commitment and their energy and your wonderful group of Selectors and Visiting Artists, each of whom cares so deeply and many of whom are greatly skilled. It was a total joy for me. I wish it could have gone on longer and that I had more time to meet more of them. (Mannie Manim, Judge NSDF11)