This year, the Speech & Drama section of the Croydon Performing Arts Festival 2026 is introducing a theme to guide and inspire students in their choice of literature for performance.

The chosen theme for this year’s Festival is “Bridges”

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— a straightforward word with rich and varied meanings. A bridge is known as a physical structure connecting two points, but it can also exist in the realm of ideas, linking the past to the present, one culture to another, or one person’s experience to someone else’s. Bridges can symbolise journeys, transitions, reconciliation, or the forging of new relationships.

Participants of the festival are invited to interpret this theme in their own way. 

At The Croydon Performing Arts Festival, we choose the theme of “Bridges” as it represents the very purpose of our event: bringing together performers of all ages to share the power of words, ideas, and performance. 

Participants are encouraged to choose a piece that is appropriate for their age group and resonates with the idea of “Bridges.”

We encourage all entrants to think broadly, read widely, and select a work that inspires them. Whether the bridge in your piece is built of stone, memory, imagination, or hope, we look forward to watching you perform in February.