Old Vic New Voices launches new festival

As Kevin Spacey's 11-year tenure as Old Vic artistic director comes to end, Old Vic New Voices (OVNV) has announced a new festival to celebrate emerging playwrights.

Running on the Old Vic's main stage from 19 June to 24 July 2015, the festival will be produced, directed and performed by an array of rising talent.

The programme will include a new musical and work from developing American and British playwrights.

The cast, many of whom are OVNV alumni, includes Richard Madden (Game of Thrones), Jeremy Irvine (War Horse, Great Expectations), Pippa Haywood (Mr Selfirdge), Calum Callaghan (Mr Selfridge), Georgina Lamb (Whitechapel, Hollyoaks), Carly Bawden (My Fair Lady), Marc Elliot (EastEnders), Rebecca Scroggs (EastEnders) and Michael Fenton Stevens (Benidorm, My Family).

Playwrights include: Daniel Andersen; Jon Barton; Chad Beckim; Thomas Bradshaw; Lucinda Burnett; Jake Brunger (Adrian Mole, Leicester Curve); Zoe Cooper; James Fritz (Four Minutes Twelve Seconds – 2015 Olivier nominee); Cat Jones (Doctors, Waterloo Road); Steven Hevey; Nessah Muthy and Emily Schwend.

Directors include: Derek Bond; Caroline Byrne; Jessica Edwards; Elgiva Field; Richard Fitch; Debbie Hannon; Alice Hamilton; Kate Hewitt; Jamie Jackson; Julia McShane; Kirsty Patrick-Ward; Jack Sain; Melanie Spencer and Jessica Swale.

Neil Darlison, director of theatre at Arts Council England, which is supporting the festival, said: "The Old Vic New Voices programme has supported a diverse range of young artists and innovative projects over recent years and the new festival element will help to build on the success achieved to date."

Tickets to the event are free and will be available via a ticket lottery – for more information visit oldvictheatre.com