This summer, a new play written by 17-year-old Enya Allinson from Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School in Ramsgate has been selected by the National Theatre to be read at its 2026 New Views Festival, representing the voices and creativity of young people from across the UK.
Enya’s A Trial on Gentle Hands will be directed by Mumba Dodwell (Associate Director of Les Liaisons Dangereuses) and staged as a rehearsed reading on the NT’s Olivier Stage on Friday 3 July, having been submitted as part of this year’s New Views programme, the National Theatre’s nationwide playwriting programme.
The New Views programme pairs students with a professional playwright who equips them with the skills to write their own original 30-minute play. Some 736 plays were submitted for New Views 2026 from 132 schools and groups across the UK.
The programme culminates in the New Views Festival with six plays selected to represent voices of young people from across the nation.
The Chatham and Clarendon students’ journey started after witnessing an example of new writing in action ‘Dear England’ at the Marlowe Theatre – thanks to the National Theatre’s generous free tickets offer as part of the programme. They were then mentored by professional playwright, Katrina Bennett, who supported them with a kick off workshop and one-to-one feedback on their first drafts.
Enya’s play traces Elias and Loretta’s epic journey along personal lines, from Trinidad to Tilbury and on to the defendant’s dock in a London courtroom. Elias is on trial for gross indecency. He and his wife Loretta came to England on the Empire Windrush and built a life here, navigating a racist postwar London where homophobia is state-sanctioned. It is an intimate study of identity and persecution, ambition and longing.
Enya, who was one of a group of CCGS students to take part in the theatre programme, said: “Often when writing, I find it difficult to decide on themes as there is so much I want to bring awareness to. Being intersectional is important to me, which is why I wished to highlight both homophobia and racism in my play.
“ A Trial on Gentle Hands is a period piece, focusing on ignored treatment of the Windrush Generation, but the oppression Elias and Loretta face transcends time. It exists in our current society more than people admit, and for this reason my work will always be political—we must look at the past to make connections to the present.
“New Views offered me an opportunity to write with a motivation. Writing can be difficult to get into, even if is a prominent passion of yours, so to be offered the opportunity to write within a requirement aids this creative process.
“My peers, my teacher and my mentor offered me valuable insight into the structuring of playwrighting, opening up a new world of writing that I never had explored before. This opportunity to write my first play has helped me to better understand my own aspirations and interests.”
Mr Smith, Head of Drama at CCGS, said: “When I read Enya’s first draft I was blown away by the quality and maturity of her writing. It was as if Arthur Miller had written ‘Small Island’. It completely threw me as I wasn’t expecting anything quite so polished in a first draft.
“And then I read the next student’s play, and the next one, and the next… all of our students write so brilliantly and had such unique insight and ideas. It shows the depth and variety of talent we have at our school, and opportunities like this have given other voices a chance to shine through drama and theatre.”
Kirsten Adam, Head of Participation at the National Theatre, said: “We are delighted to have Enya’s play read at the National Theatre at this year’s New Views Festival, representing the voices of young people across the UK.
“Each year, it is an honour to watch hundreds of young people develop the confidence to express themselves authentically through our New Views playwriting programme and find their voices to tell the stories that matter most to them.”
Having been selected for New Views, Enya will now be invited up to the National Theatre to attend a day rehearsal with Mumba Dodwell and a cast of actors who will prepare a rehearsed reading of her play to present at the festival which will then be followed by a Q&A. The other students who took part will also be joining her on the day and taking part in writing workshops and backstage tours before having the chance to see Enya’s play and attend a wrap party afterwards.
Mr Smith said: “We’re so proud that Enya’s play has been selected to feature at the festival this year and that the group can all go along to support her. It’s no more than they deserve, and such a fitting way to celebrate their involvement in the project too. “The overall standard of plays this year was strong and there are plans to feature some of them next year with HOUSELIGHTS – so make sure you are following @ccgshouselights on Instagram for further details.”
The New Views Festival returns to the National Theatre on 2-3 July and is a free ticketed event available to book via the NT website.
Other Chatham and Clarendon students and plays that took part in the project were:
Assist Me Once More – Amelia Strong
Glass Under Pressure – Lillian Dennis
Hidden Fragments – Dakota Denning
One Week – Ava Mackie
Safety Fostered – Kiera Malyn
Super Egos – Oliver King
What We Carry – Tia Johnson-Danton
Whatever Will Be Will Be – Amber Watts
What a fantastic achievement!
Well done!