Future stars take lead in celebration of theatre

Join the talented graduates of BOVTS for a Summer Festival of dynamic work at Bristol Old Vic, writes NATALIE BANYARD

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EIGHT plays, four weeks, one venue; Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (BOVTS) heads to Bristol Old Vic's Weston Studio for an exciting 19th Summer Festival season.

Taking place at the King Street Theatre from May 22 to June 14, the Summer Festival is a celebration of collaboration and creativity, which sees BOVTS's graduating students taking the artistic reins across four double bills.

The talent includes those who have studied acting, directing, design and tech ahead of their move to work pro-fessionally in the industry. It gives Bristol audiences a chance to see professionals at the start of their career, some of whom will go on to become leading industry figures and potentially household names.

From dystopian farms and clinical drug trials, to absurdist friendships and revolutionary politics, BOVTS graduating students will present a smorgasbord of contemporary brilliance penned by a pool of outstanding writers from the UK and beyond.

"The Summer Festival is a wonderful celebration of all the work we do at BOVTS," says director of drama Ali de Souza, "pulling together the incredible talents of our directing, design, production arts, costume and acting students.

"It’s a great opportunity for audiences to see exciting contemporary plays in a festival that is solely led by our students."

The festival kicks off with Foxfinder and The Effect from May 22 to 24.

Winner of the 2011 Papatango New Writing Prize, Dawn King’s Foxfinder follows farmers Judith and Samuel at the brink of desperation.

England is in crisis. Fields are flooded, food is scarce and fear grips the land. Judith and Samuel's fragile existence is upended when William Bloor, a “foxfinder”, arrives to investigate a suspected infestation of foxes. As the hunt progresses, William's presence uncovers more questions than answers...