News

Winners of Henley Drama Festival

9 May 2026

What a weekend.

We are thrilled to announce that our festival production, The Aviary, was the Overall Winner at the Henley Drama Festival 2026.

We were also honoured to receive:

• Best Original Play
• Best Stage Presentation
• Best Actress for the fantastic Megan Kaliniak

— and a Best Actor nomination for Liam Badcoe too.

Adjudicator Dr Tristan Marshall said of the production: “Some people laugh in the face of danger. I think Brightlight Theatre poke danger in the eye and steal its car.”

The Aviary has been an enormous creative leap for us - ambitious, physical, fast-paced, theatrical and deeply collaborative - and we could not be prouder of what this cast and creative team achieved together.

Huge congratulations to all the other companies who performed across the festival, and sincere thanks to Henley Drama Festival for such a warm welcome.

Now we turn our attention to Welwyn Drama Festival on Monday. There’s no rest for these birds.