new school; new movement
Refers to a new school of thought, artistic movement, or faction, often contrasted with an older, established school (旧派).
彼は新派の代表的な画家として知られている。
He is known as a representative painter of the new school.
He started a new school of literature.
文学界では旧派と新派の対立が続いた。
In the literary world, the conflict between the old school and the new school continued.
new drama; Shinpa
Specifically refers to Shinpa, a form of Japanese theater that emerged in the late 19th century as a modernized alternative to traditional kabuki.
新派の公演は明治時代に人気を博した。
Shinpa performances gained popularity in the Meiji period.
祖母は新派の芝居をよく見に行った。
My grandmother often went to see Shinpa plays.
新派 is the melodramatic, kabuki-descended theater style that arose in the late 19th century, while 新劇 is the later, Western-influenced realistic drama movement that reacted against 新派's conventions.
Compound of 新 (new) and 派 (school, faction). The theatrical sense is a specific historical application of the general meaning.