Debut 2022: 'Hutchy the Hare' & 'Flowers in a Dark Room'

Debut Festival is a pioneering event dedicated to the staging of new plays by graduating students on our BA Acting & Contemporary Theatre course.

Past Debut plays have transferred to professional production in Britain and abroad, winning awards such as the Edinburgh Comedy Award, The Stage Best Ensemble, Scotsman Fringe First, Best New Musical and BFI Best Short Film. 12+

Hutchy the Hare

Written by Ed Cooke
Directed by Giulia Hallworth
Video Director - Sonny Howes
Composer - Joseph Wood

Hopes! Dreams! This isn’t going to end well.

You know his name… 

He’s a celebration! He’s a TV sensation! He’s your friend and mine, Hutchy the Hare! Now starring in his very first theatre show, and YOU’RE invited! 

Meet Beaver, Frog, and Peregrine Falcon, three of Hutchy’s biggest fans! In a small workshop these good friends happily co-exist, spending their days tailoring dresses for a mysterious overseer, and their nights having tea parties and playing games. 

Join our optimistic heroes on their thrilling journey to achieving their dreams, and along the way learning the importance of working hard. Because working hard is important. In fact it’s rule one… 

And you wouldn’t want to break Hutchy’s rules now, would you? 

Children’s television by way of Yorgos Lanthimos, Hutchy the Hare combines theatre and film in this warped adult fairy tale about growing up, or refusing to…

Content Warning: Blood, Violence/Murder, Sudden loud noises (gunshot).

Flowers in a Dark Room

Written by by Kira Hayes
Directed by Katriona Stidston
Music by Kira Hayes

This night has no chance in hell of running smoothly. 

You join us for Thanksgiving, 1930. ‘I have racked my brain over what happened this night; what I did wrong, how I could change what was to come.’ Vermont is finally home, in St. Louis, Missouri, for Thanksgiving, but perhaps he has arrived too late. His sister, Iris, has a story to tell, but she can’t tell it alone. In this family musical drama, Tennessee William’s meets Dr Seuss in a spiral of unfolding tragedy, tensions, and unexpected visitors. The Richardson family tale is told through song, poetry, and narration.

Content Warning: Themes of suicide, mental illness, and domestic violence.