What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 6pm Tuesday 10am - 6pm Wednesday 10am - 6pm Thursday 10am - 6pm Friday 10am - 6pm

NSDF

NSDF exists to create new art, new artists and new communities. Open to all 16-26 year olds and mature students. Everything is free to attend.

Full details about NSDF 23 coming soon...

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https://www.nsdf.org.uk Details about NSDF 23 and how to take part coming soon. NSDF is the iconic festival for new theatre makers. It takes place over seven days in Easter. Every day at NSDF you’ll catch finished shows bursting with new ideas, check out works in progress coming alive for the first time ri

ght in front of you and then dive into debates, discussions and masterclasses. All the work made by some of the most exciting young talents in the UK. All the workshops and masterclass given by some of the best known names in the contemporary theatre. Come and see new art, new artists and join a new nation spanning creative community. At NSDF you can see the future now. And you can become part of it. And every single event at NSDF is free.

03/01/2026

Happy New Year from Team NSDF! 🥳

What a year 2025 was. Here’s our wrapped from NSDF25, as we gear up for NSDF26 not far ahead! A festival jam-packed with creativity, fun and knowledge to equip you with the tools you need to take your next step in theatre.

We’ve loved reading through your submissions so far and looking forward to selecting after the deadline closes on the 5th Jan. 🌟

02/01/2026

📣 3 DAYS TIL SHOW SUBMISSONS CLOSE!! 📣

Apply now at www.NSDF.org.uk. Submissions close at 5pm on Jan 5th.

29/12/2025

Introducing our amazing CEO ✨✨✨

Keerthi Kollimada is both the CEO of the National Student Drama Festival, and the Finance Director at Headlong Theatre. She’s also a freelance consultant for artistic organisations, with a love for volunteering. Keerthi is a Trustee at the Bush Theatre and Judith Dimant Productions, and she volunteers in mental health. She is also a writer.

Keerthi has worked in both subsidised and commercial theatre, and prior to her current roles, she was the Head of Finance at Mark Rubinstein Ltd and Complicité before that. She has worked on everything from West End Musicals & plays, to festivals, immersive theatre and touring – both in the UK and internationally.
Keerthi moved to London nearly 15 years ago to work in theatre. She loves the industry, and is especially passionate about inclusion, emerging talent, and how we create opportunities for access and representation in theatre and our creative communities.

24/12/2025

✨ Introducing another member of team NSDF26! ✨

Alex is the marketing manager of the National Student Drama Festival, as well as a freelance marketing, branding and events manager.

Growing up performing on Glasgow’s west end, and now a touring recording artist and songwriter, she is passionate about supporting organisations that are crucial to the accessibility of the arts for young people.

23/12/2025

Introducing our incredible Technical Manager, Rowan Read! ✨🌟

Rowan is a freelance lighting engineer based in Oxfordshire, and also works as a microelectronic engineer.

This will be her 9th NSDF, she is excited to continue supporting young technicians and creating the festival that boosted her into the industry. She’s worked at a range of theaters and live events across the country, from bigger festivals like Glastonbury to community events at her local theatres.

11/12/2025

🚨‼️ CALLING ALL ASPIRING THEATRE TECHNICIANS ‼️🚨

Applications are now open for NSDF26.
Apply now at www.nsdf.org.uk.

Applications close on Jan 5th 2026 at 5pm.

03/12/2025

Introducing the next member of team NSDF26!

The incredible Amy Lever, our administrative producer ✨

Amy is a writer, actor and producer from Manchester. As a writer her work includes: a script development scheme with Warner Bros and Wall to Wall, finalist for the Channel 4 Writing For TV Awards, Alpine Fellowship Prize for Playwriting Runner Up, being named “a writer to watch” by The Stage and most recently a UNESCO funded playwriting residency in China.

As an actor she has performed in BFI funded shorts, Edinburgh fringe productions and with the National Youth Theatre. As a producer she has worked for 42nd Street/ The Horsfall, Creative Youth alongside a range of theatre productions.  
We’re so excited to have you join us Amy!! 🌟

30/11/2025

Introducing the first member of team NSDF26…

Sophie Hack, our brilliant creative producer!

💡 Sophie is a passionate creative producer dedicated to artist development and community engagement. With a background spanning theatre, dance, and participation, she has produced innovative projects with companies such as Dante or Die, Open Door and In Good Company.

🎭 Sophie thrives on nurturing creative talent, building meaningful partnerships, and shaping inclusive artistic spaces. A Mountview MA Creative Producing graduate, she brings care, collaboration and imagination to every project she produces.

We’re so lucky to have you, Sophie! ✨

26/11/2025

🚨‼️ BIG NEWS ‼️🚨

Submissions are now open for NSDF26.
If you have a show or work-in-progress that you think could be performed or shared at next year’s festival, we want to hear from you.
Apply now at www.nsdf.org.uk.

Applications close on Jan 5th 2026 at 5pm.

01/11/2025

📣📣📣 Alumni news! 📣📣📣

Carrie Cracknell’s production of Carmen is back on stage at the Metropolitan Opera in New York til Jan 23rd 2026!

Congratulations Carrie and team ⭐️

13/10/2025

A huge congratulations to NSDF alumni Alex Jennings , starting in Ballad of a Small Player which just premiered at the 2025 BFI London Film Festival.

Directed by Edward Berger and based on Lawrence Osborne’s novel, the film tells the story of Lord Doyle (Colin Farrell), an extravagant British gambler living in Macau.

Out in the UK on the 17th October - we can’t wait to watch! ✨

26/09/2025

We are delighted to share that Teamboys by .chiplin, one of the incredible NSDF25 shows, has been BOTH long listed for the Theatre503 International Playwriting Award this year, and shortlisted for The Alpine Fellowship Theatre Prize 2025!

Huge congratulations to Rory and the team, who are currently working towards their next performance. ✨

Address

NSDF, LCB Depot, Rutland Street
Leicester
LE11RE

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 6pm
Tuesday	10am - 6pm
Wednesday	10am - 6pm
Thursday	10am - 6pm
Friday	10am - 6pm

Website

https://nsdf.org.uk/home

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