Bishop’s New Plays Festival 2026 Returns with Its Largest Lineup of Student Originals in Years

LENNOXVILLE, September 30th 2026 – Bishop’s University’s New Plays Festival is bringing student creativity to the stage with its largest lineup in years. This year’s festival features nine original student plays, along with a new Saturday reading series designed to give even more writers an opportunity to share their work.

The productions cover a wide range of styles and themes, including physical comedy, realism, absurd theatre, relationships, mystery and queer stories. Students are involved in nearly every part of the festival, from writing and directing to lighting, set design and coordination. Much of the work is volunteer-based, making the event a major collaborative effort across campus.

Student coordinator Fiona Tremblay Snellgrove and drama professor Taylor Marie Graham emphasized that the festival welcomes students from different programs and even includes a Champlain College student this year. Graham said the event has also built lasting connections with alumni and the wider Lennoxville and Sherbrooke communities.

For audiences, the festival offers an opportunity to experience emerging local theatre while supporting students at the beginning of their creative journeys. The festival takes place at Bishop’s University’s Turner Studio Theatre, For schedules, ticket information, the festival trailer and other announcements, audiences can follow the BU Drama Instagram page, which organizers identified as one of the main sources for festival updates.

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