The Dryden Society is the resident performing arts society at Trinity College. We put productions on in Trinity itself, and provide some financial support for shows at other venues in Cambridge, the Edinburgh and Camden Fringe, and touring groups. Recent productions include 'Ghosts' (2025), 'Bloody Poetry' (2025), 'Copenhagen' (2025), 'Timon of Athens' (2024), 'Yerma' (2024), and 'Romeo and Juliet' (2024).
Of late, we have been delighted to welcome former Artistic Director of the National Theatre Sir Richard Eyre (2025), Old Vic Artistic Director Rupert Goold (2025), playwright Juliet Gilkes Romero (2024) and director Rebecca Frecknall (2024).
The Dryden Society recently led the inaugural Arts Week at Trinity (2025), which will be returning in 2026. We lead on a variety of events during the week and have been involved with the LGBTQ+ Arts Night in the Chapel, joint with the TCSU, since its inception.
We also host a New Writing 'Scratch Night' each Michaelmas term. This is hosted by our Shaffer Playwright in Residence who selects a 'winner': this individual will then be able to redeem funding from the society should they wish to stage a full-length production of their show in Cambridge.
We are both a social society and a producing society. All of our shows must have 'significant Trinity involvement' so do bear this in mind if you contact us with a funding application. The funding awarded may be proportional to the degree of Trinity involvement.
The committee is aware that student theatre in Cambridge has been taking a somewhat commercial turn of late. We are therefore keen to support shows by lesser-known playwrights, or bold and innovative productions of classics. We strongly believe that University is a time for experimentation, risk-taking and learning: students who think similarly and are passionate about their proposed piece are encouraged to contact us! We are also happy to explore funding for original writing.
Upcoming projects include Women's Arts Night (9th Mar, 2026), 'Amadeus' (Mar, 2026), 'Like Rabbits' (ET, week 3), and I, the Boar (Camden Fringe, Summer 2026).
Email address - drydensoc@gmail.com
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PRESIDENT
Jaysol Doy (jd2061)
SECRETARY
Daisy Simpson
SENIOR TREASURER
Professor Adrian Poole
JUNIOR TREASURER
Georgie Vassiliades
EVENTS OFFICERS
Zach Foster
Theo Parkin
PROJECTS OFFICER
Dylan Stewart
PUBLICITY OFFICER
Georgie Vassiliades
FRESHERS’ REPS
Cressida Massey-Cook
Edwin Fletcher
Marcus Smith