13 February 2018
Newsdesk
The Royal Court Theatre announces new season of work. The programme includes 10 world premieres, a collaboration with BBC4, and the reopening of the Samuel French Bookshop in the Royal Court Balcony Bar.
Commenting on the new season Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone said;
“Our new season for 2018 combines a thrilling range of playwrights and theatre artists, fearlessly, angrily and often very humorously exploring power and control, identity and gender, and the major failure of the echo-chamber of liberalism. We have a mix of experienced writers returning, plays by debut writers and writers new to the Royal Court, major US and international artists pushing form and offering a place for debate and reflection and story.
From Thomas Eccleshare’s darkly comic play exploring the failure of modern parenting, to Cordelia Lynn’s painfully astute exposé of liberal fear, to Lies Pauwel’s joyous and provocative work about young people and gender identity, to a major new work by the ever brilliant debbie tucker green exploring the brutal effects of institutional and systemic racism, the writers are once again enabling us to see the world we live in through open eyes. Mark Ravenhill finally returns to our stage with a brilliant play about the consequences of control and how we will no longer remain silenced after years of normalised power games.
We are delighted that Anthony Neilson is back to look at the state of sex of a couple in a long term relationship and what it means to stay the same in a world which is ever-changing. Debris Stevenson challenges the form of theatre with her grime show about growing up and the influences that made her, and Ellie Kendrick’s debut play, written whilst in a Royal Court writer’s group, is a wild rage against what it is to be woman in today’s universe. Rory Mullarkey’s play is a funny and challenging journey through all that it is to be surviving England in these times. Rob Evans’ darkly brooding and mesmerising play opens up a complex and adventurous psychological world to us.
We have invited brilliant young theatre-maker Ola Ince to continue the radical and exploratory work which has been so successful in The Site by programming a season in our third space.
Following on from the success of Mark Gatiss’ Queers, we are thrilled to be in collaboration with BBC4 to create a series of work looking at 100 years of women whose voices have not been heard written by an extraordinary group of female playwrights to be announced shortly.
We are looking forward to welcoming you to the new Samuel French Bookshop in the Balcony Bar which means that future generations can continue to benefit from this theatrical institution.
I am also delighted to confirm that we will be programming Abhishek Majumdar’s beautiful play Pah-La in 2019 and we will also be hosting an event with PEN to discuss censorship and freedom of speech in today’s times, to commemorate the Royal Court’s role in the Theatre Act 1968 and the ending of theatre censorship.”
In chronological order:
· SAMUEL FRENCH BOOKSHOP to reopen in Royal Court Theatre’s Balcony Bar Friday 5 March, 2018. See full details here.
· Thomas Eccleshare’s Royal Court debut, INSTRUCTIONS FOR CORRECT ASSEMBLY, directed by Royal Court Associate Director Hamish Pirie will run in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs from Saturday 7 April 2018 - Saturday 19 May 2018
· Anthony Neilson returns with THE PRUDES which he also directs. It will run in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Wednesday 18 April 2018 – Saturday 2 June 2018.
· The Royal Court Theatre partners with LIFT for their 2018 festival: Belgian theatre maker Lies Pauwels creates HAPPINESS ALWAYS, a new work with a cast of gender non-conforming young people and a professional dancer exploring the paradox of the world we are living in from the perspective of gender and sexuality. A co-production between Royal Court Theatre, LIFT and Het Nationale Theater (The National Theatre in The Hague). Full details of this and a second project by a major US artist will be announced as part of LIFT 2018 in late February.
· Cordelia Lynn returns to the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs with ONE FOR SORROW directed by James Macdonald. It runs Wednesday 20 June 2018 – Saturday 11 August 2018.
· Rory Mullarkey returns to the Royal Court for his Jerwood Theatre Downstairs debut with PITY, directed by Royal Court Associate Director (International) Sam Pritchard. It runs Thursday 12 July 2018 – Saturday 11 August 2018.
· Robert Alan Evans returns to the Royal Court with THE WOODS. Directed by Royal Court Associate Director Lucy Morrison in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Wednesday 5 September 2018 – Saturday 13 October 2018.
· Poet, musician and dancer Deborah ‘Debris’ Stevenson presents her new work in a co-commission between the Royal Court Theatre and 14-18 NOW, as part of Represent supported by Jerwood Charitable Foundation. In association with Nottingham Playhouse and Leicester Curve. Running in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs Friday 21 September 2018 – Saturday 6 October 2018
· debbie tucker green returns to the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs with EAR FOR EYE running Thursday 25 October 2018 – Saturday 24 November 2018
· Ellie Kendrick makes her Royal Court writing debut with new play HOLE. With direction by Helen Goalen and Abbi Greenland from award-winning company RashDash. It runs in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs Wednesday 28 November 2018 – Saturday 12 January 2019.
· Mark Ravenhill returns to the Royal Court with the world premiere of THE CANE directed by Royal Court Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, Thursday 6 December 2018 – Saturday 26 January 2019.
· Director Ola Ince has been invited to programme The Site, the Royal Court’s third space, in the autumn of 2018.
· Just announced: Broadway transfer of Jez Butterworth’s THE FERRYMAN directed by Sam Mendes announced for October 2018. Tickets will go on-sale on Monday 5 March through Telecharge.com. The Ferryman was originally produced at the Royal Court Theatre, by Sonia Friedman Productions, Neal Street Productions & Royal Court Theatre Productions.
· Looking ahead to Spring 2019: in April 2019 PAH-LA by Indian playwright Abhishek Majumdar will play in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs. Full details to follow.
· In a collaboration with BBC the Royal Court will commission a number of female playwrights to work on a project to mark the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918 which will be broadcast on BBC4 this summer.
· In collaboration with PEN, the Royal Court will host a joint event on censorship and freedom of voices to mark fifty years since the Theatres Act 1968.
· The Royal Court Theatre’s second series of PLAYWRIGHT'S PODCAST with playwrights interviewed by Royal Court Associate Playwright Simon Stephens continues with a new episode each week. Available to download in full
· Tickets for the new season go on sale to Friends on Wednesday 14 February 2018 at 10am and to the general public on Friday 16 February 2018 at 10am 2018 020 7565 5000 / www.royalcourttheatre.com
Samuel French Bookshop to reopen at the Royal Court Theatre.
The Royal Court Theatre and Samuel French announced today that it will reopen a specialist theatre bookshop in the Royal Court Theatre’s Balcony Bar on Monday 5 March 2018.
Samuel French closed its much-loved bookshop in Fitzroy Street, London in April 2017.
Customers will be able to browse and read play texts in the bookshop, as well as enjoy a coffee and meet playwrights at author events. The shop will be open Monday through Saturday from 11am-5:30pm. On nights when Royal Court performances are taking place, a smaller bookstall will be open on the lower ground floor from 6pm to curtain.
The new Bookshop has been designed by Haworth Tompkins, who oversaw the redevelopment of the theatre in 2000, and Citizens Design Bureau, who worked on the refurbishment of the theatre’s Bar and Kitchen three years ago.
There will be an official opening for industry contacts on Friday 16 March, 5pm.
Douglas Schatz, Managing Director of Samuel French in the UK, said:
“Samuel French is thrilled to re-open a theatre bookshop in London, especially here at the Royal Court, the home of new playwriting. The new bookshop will serve as a unique resource and space, where throughout the day and before shows customers will be able to browse a wide range of play texts and theatre books, as well as enjoy a coffee, sit and read, or attend a live author event”.
Lucy Davies, Executive Producer at the Royal Court Theatre adds;
“This is an exciting and significant new partnership which allows us to re-imagine and share the loveliest public space in our building – our Balcony Bar – giving audiences, readers and writers a very special new resource. We are delighted that Samuel French’s legendary bookshop can move into a new era with us here in Sloane Square.”
Samuel French has been publishing plays and musicals, and licensing them for performance in the UK since 1830. Today its theatrical catalogue comprises 6000 titles.
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Instructions for Correct Assembly
Written by Thomas Eccleshare
Directed by Hamish Pirie
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
Saturday 7 April 2018 – Saturday 19 May 2018
Thomas Eccleshare’s play will be performed in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs. Royal Court Associate Director Hamish Pirie will be directing. The production runs Saturday 7 April 2018 – Saturday 19 May 2018 with press performances at 7pm Friday 13 April, 2018 and 7.30pm Saturday 14 April 2018. The reviews are embargoed until 11.59pm on Saturday 14 April 2018.
“Maybe turn down the ‘opinionated’ dial?”
Hari and Max weren't satisfied with their first attempt at parenthood, so they're giving it a second go.
Only this time they've got a 30-day money back guarantee and an easy-to-follow construction manual.
They’re certain, as long as they follow it step-by-step, he’s going to be perfect.
“This might be a little more complicated than the bed but still, I’m sure it’s the kind of thing we can crack on our own.”
Thomas Eccleshare (Writer)
Theatre includes: Pastoral (& Hightide Festival), I’m Not Here Right Now (Soho); Heather (Tobacco Factory/Bush); 6.0: How Heap… [co-writer](Dancing Brick).
Awards include: Verity Bargate Award; Catherine Johnson Award.
Thomas is co-artistic director of Dancing Brick.
Hamish Pirie (Director)
For the Royal Court: Goats, Primetime 2017, Human Animals, Violence & Son, Who Cares, Teh Internet is Serious Business.
Other theatre includes: Shibboleth (Abbey, Dublin); I’m With the Band (Traverse/Wales Millennium Centre); Quiz Show, Demos, 50 Plays for Edinburgh (Traverse); Love With a Capital ‘L’, 3 Seconds, Most Favoured, The Last Bloom (Traverse/Òran Mór); Bravo Figaro (Royal Opera House/Traverse); Salt Root & Roe (Donmar/Trafalgar Studios); Stacy (& Trafalgar Studios), Purgatory (Arcola); Pennies (nabokov); Paper House (Flight 5065).
Hamish trained as Resident Assistant Director at Paines Plough and at the Donmar Warehouse. He was previously Associate Director at the Traverse Theatre. Hamish is an Associate Director at the Royal Court.
Listings Information:
Instructions for Correct Assembly
Written by Thomas Eccleshare
Directed by Hamish Pirie
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS
Saturday 7 April 2018 – Saturday 19 May 2018
Monday – Saturday 7.30pm
Thursday & Saturday matinees 2.30pm
Captioned Performance Tuesday 8 May 2018 7.30pm
Audio Described Matinee Saturday 28 April 2018 2.30pm (Touch Tour 1pm)
Relaxed Performance Monday 30 April 2018 7.30pm
Press Performances 7pm Friday 13 April, 2018 and 7.30pm Saturday 14 April 2018. The reviews are embargoed until 11.59pm on Saturday 14 April 2018.
Standard Tickets £12 - £49 (Mondays all seats £12 available from 9am online on the day of performance)
First Look Tickets** £12, £16, £25, £35
Concessions* £5 off top two prices (available in advance for previews and all matinees)
Under 26s £15 (available in advance for previews and all matinees)
Access £15 (plus a companion at the same rate)
*ID required. All discounts subject to availability.
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The Prudes
Written and directed by Anthony Neilson
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
Wednesday 18 April 2018 – Saturday 2 June 2018
Anthony Neilson returns to the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs with his new play The Prudes. He also directs. The production runs Wednesday 18 April 2018 – Saturday 2 June 2018 with press performances at 7pm Tuesday 24 April 2018 and 7.45pm Wednesday 25 April 2018. The reviews are embargoed until 11.59pm Wednesday 25 April 2018.
"They say you should look older than your genitals"
They haven’t “done it” in a year.
Now they're coming together in a last-ditch effort to re-boot their sex life and save their relationship. But a lot has changed in that year; for them and for the world.
Will the old moves still work?
Leave your car-keys in the bowl. You are invited to watch.
WARNING: This production may NOT include graphic sex.
Anthony Neilson (Writer/Director)
For the Royal Court: Unreachable, The Get Out, Narrative, Get Santa!, Relocated, The Wonderful World of Dissocia (& National Theatre of Scotland), Heredity, The Lying Kind, The Censor, Penetrator (Traverse).
Other theatre includes: Realism (National Theatre of Scotland); Edward Gant’s Amazing Feats of Loneliness (Headlong/Drum, Plymouth); Stitching (Traverse/Bush); The Night Before Christmas, (The Red Room), Normal (Edinburgh Festival Fringe).
Film includes: The Debt Collector, Deeper Still.
Awards include: Critics’ Award for Theatre in Scotland, TMA Award for Best Production (The Wonderful World of Dissocia); Time Out Award for Best Fringe Production, Writers Guild Award for Best Play (The Censor); Time Out Award for Best Off West End Production (Stitching).
Casting to be announced.
Listings Information:
The Prudes
Written and directed by Anthony Neilson
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS
Wednesday 18 April 2018 – Saturday 2 June 2018
Monday – Saturday 7.45pm
Thursday & Saturday matinees 3pm
Captioned Performance Wednesday 9 May 2018 7.45pm
Press Performances 7pm Tuesday 24 April 2018 and 7.45pm Wednesday 25 April 2018. The reviews are embargoed until 11.59pm Wednesday 25 April 2018.
Standard Tickets £25 (Mondays all seats £12 available from 9am online on the day of performance)
First Look Tickets** £20
Concessions* £5 off top two prices (available in advance for previews and all matinees)
Under 26s £15 (available in advance for previews and all matinees)
Access £15 (plus a companion at the same rate)
*ID required. All discounts subject to availability.
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One for Sorrow
Written by Cordelia Lynn
Directed by James Macdonald
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
Wednesday 20 June 2018 – Saturday 11 August 2018
Cordelia Lynn returns to the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs with her new play One For Sorrow. James Macdonald directs. The production runs Wednesday 20 June 2018 – Saturday 11 August 2018 with press performances at 7pm Tuesday 26 June 2018 and 7.45pm Wednesday 27 June 2018. The reviews are embargoed until 11.59pm Wednesday 27 June 2018.
“You’ve endangered us. You’ve endangered your family.”
During an attack on London, 20 year old Imogen joins a campaign offering refuge to victims. Before her family have even had a chance to have a reasonable discussion, John is at their door.
He is different to them. He isn’t what they expected. And although they’d never admit it to themselves, he isn’t necessarily what they want.
“You will do anything, in the end, to keep the people you love safe.”
Cordelia Lynn (Writer)
For the Royal Court: Lela & Co.
Other theatre includes: Best Served Cold (Vault Festival); Believers Anonymous (Rosemary Branch); After the War (UK & International tour).
Opera includes: Miranda (Opera Comique, Paris); The White Princess (Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, France); you’ll drown, dear (Manifest, Centquatre, Paris).
Cordelia was part of the Royal Court Young Writers Programme in 2012 and was the recipient of the 2017 Pinter Commission.
James Macdonald (Director)
For the Royal Court: The Children (& MTC/Broadway), Escaped Alone (& BAM, NYC), The Wolf from the Door, Circle Mirror Transformation, Love & Information (& NYTW), Cock (& Duke, NYC), Drunk Enough to Say I Love You? (& Public, NYC), Dying City (& Lincoln Center, NYC), Fewer Emergencies, Lucky Dog, Blood, Blasted, 4.48 Psychosis (& St Anne’s Warehouse, NYC/US & European tours), Hard Fruit, Real Classy Affair, Cleansed, Bailegangaire, Harry & Me, Simpatico, Peaches, Thyestes, Hammett’s Apprentice, The Terrible Voice of Satan, Putting Two & Two Together.
Other theatre includes: John, Dido Queen of Carthage, The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other, Exiles (National); Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, The Father, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Changing Room (West End); The Tempest, Roberto Zucco (RSC); Wild, And No More Shall We Part, #aiww - The Arrest of Ai Weiwei (Hampstead); The Father (Theatre Royal Bath/Tricycle); Bakkhai, A Delicate Balance, Judgment Day, The Triumph of Love (Almeida); Roots (Donmar); The Chinese Room (Williamstown Festival); Cloud Nine (Atlantic, NYC); A Number (NYTW); King Lear, The Book of Grace (Public, NYC); Top Girls (MTC/Broadway); John Gabriel Borkman (Abbey, Dublin/BAM, NYC); Troilus und Cressida, Die Kopien (Schaubuehne, Berlin); 4.48 Psychose (Burgtheater, Vienna); Love’s Labour’s Lost, Richard II (Royal Exchange, Manchester); The Rivals (Nottingham Playhouse); The Crackwalker (Gate); The Seagull (Crucible, Sheffield); Miss Julie (Oldham Coliseum); Juno & the Paycock, Ice Cream/Hot Fudge, Romeo & Juliet, Fool for Love, Savage/Love, Master Harold & the Boys (Contact, Manchester); Prem (BAC/Soho Poly).
Opera includes: A Ring A Lamp A Thing (Linbury); Eugene Onegin, Rigoletto (Welsh National Opera); Die Zauberflote (Garsington); Wolf Club Village, Night Banquet (Almeida Opera); Oedipus Rex, Survivor from Warsaw (Royal Exchange, Manchester/Hallé); Lives of the Great Poisoners (Second Stride).
Film includes: A Number.
James was an Associate and Deputy Director at the Royal Court for 14 years and was also a NESTA fellow from 2003 to 2006.
Casting to be announced.
One For Sorrow was the 2017 Pinter Commission, an award given annually by Lady Antonia Fraser to support a new commission at the Royal Court Theatre.
Listings Information:
One for Sorrow
Written by Cordelia Lynn
Directed by James Macdonald
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS
Wednesday 20 June 2018 – Saturday 11 August 2018
Monday – Saturday 7.45pm
Thursday & Saturday matinees 3pm
Captioned Performance Saturday 28 July 2018, 3pm.
Press Performances 7pm Tuesday 26 June 2018 and 7.45pm Wednesday 27 June 2018. The reviews are embargoed until 11.59pm Wednesday 27 June 2018.
Standard Tickets £25 (Mondays all seats £12 available from 9am online on the day of performance)
First Look Tickets** £20
Concessions* £5 off top two prices (available in advance for previews and all matinees)
Under 26s £15 (available in advance for previews and all matinees)
Access £15 (plus a companion at the same rate)
*ID required. All discounts subject to availability.
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Pity
Written by Rory Mullarkey
Directed by Sam Pritchard
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
Thursday 12 July 2018 – Saturday 11 August 2018
Rory Mullarkey returns to the Royal Court for his Jerwood Theatre Downstairs debut with new play Pity. Royal Court Associate Director (International) Sam Pritchard directs. The production runs Thursday 12 July 2018 – Saturday 11 August 2018 with press performances at 7pm Wednesday 18 July 2018 and 7.30pm Thursday 19 July 2018. The reviews are embargoed until 11.59pm Thursday 19 April 2018.
“Two bombs in one day is a foul coincidence”
“Don’t forget the lightning strike”
A normal day.
A person stands in the market square watching the world go by.
What happens next verges on the ridiculous.
There’s ice cream. Sunshine. Shops. Some dogs. A wedding. Bombs. Candles. Blood. Lightning. Sandwiches. Snipers. Looting. Gunshots. Babies. Actors. Azaleas. Famine. Fountains. Statues. Atrocities.
And tanks. (Probably).
Rory Mullarkey’s new play asks whether things really are getting worse. And if we care.
“[Someone screaming]: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH”
Rory Mullarkey (Writer)
For the Royal Court: The Wolf from the Door, Remembrance Day [translation].
Other theatre includes: Saint George & the Dragon (National); Cannibals, Single Sex (Royal Exchange, Manchester); Each Slow Dusk (Pentabus/UK tour); The Grandfathers (NT Connections/Bristol Old Vic/National); On the Threshing Floor (Heat&Light Company/Hampstead); The Oresteia [adaptation] (Globe).
Awards include: Abraham Woursell Prize [co-winner]; Pearson Playwrights’ Bursary for the Royal Exchange; Harold Pinter Commission for the Royal Court; George Devine Award for Most Promising Playwright [co-winner]; James Tait Black Prize for Drama.
Sam Pritchard (Director)
For the Royal Court: Grimly Handsome [co-creator], B.
Theatre includes: Pygmalion (Headlong/West Yorkshire Playhouse/Nuffield & National tour); There Has Possibly Been an Incident (Royal Exchange, Manchester/Soho/Edinburgh Festival Fringe/Theatertreffen, Berlin); Fireface (Young Vic); Galka Motalka (Royal Exchange, Manchester).
Sam was the winner of the JMK Award for Directors in 2012. He is the Associate Director (International) at the Royal Court.
Casting to be announced.
Listings Information:
Pity
Written by Rory Mullarkey
Directed by Sam Pritchard
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS
Thursday 12 July 2018 – Saturday 11 August 2018
Monday – Saturday 7.30pm
Thursday & Saturday matinees 2.30pm
Captioned Performance Tuesday 31 July 2018 7.30pm
Audio Described Matinee Saturday 4 August 2018 2.30pm (Touch Tour 1pm)
Press Performances Wednesday 18 July 7pm and Thursday 19 July 7.30pm 2018. The reviews are embargoed until 11.59pm Thursday 19 April 2018.
Standard Tickets £12 - £49 (Mondays all seats £12 available from 9am online on the day of performance)
First Look Tickets** £12, £16, £25, £35
Concessions* £5 off top two prices (available in advance for previews and all matinees)
Under 26s £15 (available in advance for previews and all matinees)
Access £15 (plus a companion at the same rate)
*ID required. All discounts subject to availability.
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The Woods
Written by Robert Alan Evans
Directed by Lucy Morrison
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
Wednesday 5 September 2018 – Saturday 13 October 2018
Robert Alan Evans returns to the Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Upstairs with his new play The Woods. Royal Court Associate Director Lucy Morrison directs. The production runs Wednesday 5 September 2018 – Saturday 13 October 2018 with press performances at 7pm Tuesday 11 September 2018 and 7.45pm Wednesday 12 September 2018. The reviews are embargoed until 11.59pm Wednesday 12 September 2018.
“Why you always got to dig things up?”
A cabin deep in the woods.
A lost boy buried in the snow.
A lone woman.
And her wolf.
“You think you could keep him?
You know where that ends up.
Don’t you.
You no good with kids.”
Robert Alan Evans (Writer)
As writer, for the Royal Court: A Girl in a Car with a Man.
As writer, other theatre includes: Crumble’s Search for Christmas (West Yorkshire Playhouse); The River (LAMDA Long Project); Little Boxes (Theatre Centre); Peter Pan [adaptation],The Sleeping Beauties (Sherman Cymru); Mikey & Addie (London 2012 Festival); The Voice Thief, Kes [adaptation], Caged, Pobby & Dingan, Pondlife, Kappa (Catherine Wheels); Pinocchio [adaptation] (Northampton Theatre Royal); Mr Snow, The Night Before Christmas (MacRobert Arts Centre); Beautiful Cosmos (Tron).
As director, other theatre includes: Crumble’s Search for Christmas (West Yorkshire Playhouse); Mr Snow, The Night Before Christmas (MacRobert Arts Centre); Aruba (& UK, Ireland & US tours), Fish Story (People Can Run); Naked Neighbour Twitching Blind (Tramway).
As writer/director, dance pieces includes: Little Red, Tiger, Tiger Tale (Barrowland Ballet/Tramway).
As co-writer, television includes: Thieving Bastards, Get Together; Carshare.
As writer, radio includes: The Cracks.
Awards include: CATS Award for Best Production for Children & Young People (The Voice Thief); TMA Award for Best Show for Children & Young People (Pobby & Dingan); Prix d’Orpheon Award (Simon la Gadouille)
Robert is a writer, director and devisor working across the UK. He is currently part of the European PUSH project to experiment with gender and sexuality in work for young people.
Lucy Morrison (Director)
For the Royal Court: Lights Out/It's All Made Up/The Space Between (The Site Programme), Plaques & Tangles, Live Lunch Series, Who Cares, Pests, Product (& Clean Break/Traverse/European tour).
Other theatre includes: Elephant (Birmingham Rep); Billy the Girl, This Wide Night (Clean Break/Soho); Little on the Inside (Clean Break/Almeida/Latitude); it felt empty when the heart went at first but it is alright now (Clean Break/Arcola); Fatal Light, Doris Day (Soho).
Lucy is Associate Director at the Royal Court.
Casting to be announced.
Listings Information:
The Woods
Written by Robert Alan Evans
Directed by Lucy Morrison
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS
Wednesday 5 September 2018 – Saturday 13 October 2018
Monday – Saturday 7.45pm
Thursday & Saturday matinees 3pm
Captioned Performance Friday 5 October, 7.45pm 2018
Audio Described Matinee Saturday 13 October, 3pm 2018 (Touch Tour 1.30pm)
Press Performances 7pm Tuesday 11 September 2018 and 7.45pm Wednesday 12 September 2018. The reviews are embargoed until 11.59pm Wednesday 12 September 2018.
Standard Tickets £25 (Mondays all seats £12 available from 9am online on the day of performance)
First Look Tickets** £20
Concessions* £5 off top two prices (available in advance for previews and all matinees)
Under 26s £15 (available in advance for previews and all matinees)
Access £15 (plus a companion at the same rate)
*ID required. All discounts subject to availability.
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Debris Stevenson
Co-commissioned by 14-18 NOW and the Royal Court Theatre. Part of Represent supported by Jerwood Charitable Foundation. In association with Nottingham Playhouse and Leicester Curve.
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
Friday 21 September 2018 – Saturday 6 October 2018
Deborah ‘Debris’ Stevenson is a young poet, musician and dancer who has performed her unique work everywhere from BBC Radio 3’s The Verb to London’s Roundhouse. Thirteen years after encountering the early days of London’s grime scene, Stevenson uses music, movement, lyrics and poetry to recall how it gave her permission to redefine success and become a poet – but what has she forgotten along the way?
What happens if you fight against the odds, against the opinions and attitudes that surround you, to achieve the life you want – and then realise it’s not what you need?
Step into a pirate radio station, a teenage bedroom and a house party as an outsider battles to find her voice.
With direction by Benji Reid and music and composition from Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante.
This piece has been co-commissioned by the Royal Court Theatre and 14-18 NOW, in association with Nottingham Playhouse and Leicester Curve and is part of Represent, a series of artworks inspired by the Representation of the People Act 1918. While the act gave the vote only to women over 30, Represent invites young female artists to explore democracy, equality and inclusion in contemporary Britain. The production runs Friday 21 September 2018 – Saturday 6 October 2018 with press in from 7.30pm Tuesday 25 September 2018. 14-18 NOW is the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary
Debris Stevenson is a White, British-Italian, often perceived as racially ambiguous, technically Jewish, Ex-Mormon, pansexual, writer, grime-poet, dyslexic, working-class, academic, dancehall freestyling social activist. (She gets confused too). After leaving Mormonism as a child, Debris found a new home and family in Black British Culture and now makes work that explores the intersectional and the unexpected. At secondary school 2002 – 2008 Debris was educated through the evolution of Grime, finding poetry in the mouths of the teenagers around her. Nurtured by the Roundhouse, Debris was then followed by Chanel4 for a year (Yeardot), published by organisations such as, Louis Vuitton, Oxford University, BBC Radio 4 and Flipped Eye with her debut pamphlet, Pigeon Party. A social carrier pigeon, Debris has performed, written and taught poetry in over 20 countries and 10 American States. Her passion for nurturing and educating poetic communities started with The Mouthy Poets, the biggest poetry collective in the East Midlands, teaching young people; creative writing, performance and event coordination as emotional, professional and creative life skills. Debris has since been awarded over £250,000 by Arts Council England to develop young talent. Debris is now working on her debut grime-poetry show at the Royal Court Theatre commissioned by 14/18 NOW supported by Jerwood Charitable Foundation. (She can also often be found dancing sober to Grime, Soca, Afrobeats and Dancehall for organisations such as The Heatwave and Red Bull Music Academy).
Benji Reid (Director)
As performer, dance includes: 1985 GLC Break-Dance Champions with Broken Glass Street Crew; European Body-Popping Champion & 2nd in the 1986 World Dance Championships, Soul II Soul
In theatre Benji has worked widely with David Glass Ensemble, Trestle Theatre, Theatr Clwyd and Black Mime Theatre.
Benji is a creative producer, devisor and director. He trained as a dancer with the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and as an actor with David Glass and Double Edge Theatre. Following his years as a freelance performer he formed Breaking Cycles.
For over 25 years Benji has been creating Hip Hop Theatre and physical theatre. His vision as a performer and creative director has made him an award winning and senior contributor to the Black Physical Theatre canon. He has produced and performed over 20 cultural works for leading international cultural institutions led by the National Theatre, Birmingham Rep, PS122 (New York) and Sydney Opera House. Benji is currently Associate Artist at the Royal Exchange Manchester.
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Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante (Music Director and Lead Composer)
Michael is a producer, composer, singer, dancer and DJ who is at the forefront of the UK urban music scene. Co-Founder & Co-Artistic Director of Boy Blue, who are an Associate Artist at the Barbican, he is a leading UK producer of live events,
Recent releases, include George the Poet's Wotless with production and musical direction for George's sold out Search Party tour; and engineering and production on Kano's critically acclaimed album Made In the Manor (Mercury Prize and BRIT nominated, and winner of the MOBO Best Album Award) with whom he has collaborated extensively on the albums Home Sweet Home, London Town and 140 Grime Street. Mikey is currently collaborating with the new Sony/ Plan B signing Ryan De La Cruz.
Past production credits include Delilah’s Inside my Love (From The Roots Up), Raleigh Ritchie’s Stay Inside, Mikey J and the female All-stars, Estelle’s Back to Love Remix and Mz Brat Get Dark.
Michael has produced music for TV, theatre and film including Boy Blue’s Olivier Award nominated production, Blak Whyte Gray, The Five & the Prophecy of Prana, Olivier Award winner Pied Piper: A Hip-Hop Dance Revolution, Touch, Legacy as well as the UK box office hits Street Dance 3D and All Stars.
In 2012, Michael worked closely with Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, director Danny Boyle and Musical Directors, Underworld, creating musical compositions for the Frankie and June say thanks Tim… section of London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.
14-18 NOW is a five-year programme of extraordinary arts experiences connecting people with the First World War. Working with partners all across the UK, they commission new artworks from leading contemporary artists, musicians, designers and performers, inspired by the period 1914-18.
Co-commissioned by 14-18 NOW and the Royal Court Theatre. Part of Represent supported by Jerwood Charitable Foundation. In association with Nottingham Playhouse and Leicester Curve.
Listings Information:
Debris Stevenson
Co-commissioned by 14-18 NOW and the Royal Court Theatre, supported by Jerwood Charitable. In association with Nottingham Playhouse and Leicester Curve
Written and performed by Debris StevensonJerwood Theatre Downstairs, Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS
Friday 21 September 2018 – Saturday 6 October 2018
Monday – Saturday 7.30pm
Thursday & Saturday matinees 2.30pm
Press Performances press in from 7.30pm Tuesday 25 September 2018.
Standard Tickets £12 - £25 (Mondays all seats £12 available from 9am online on the day of performance)
Access £15 (plus a companion at the same rate)
*ID required. All discounts subject to availability.
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ear for eye
Written and directed by debbie tucker green
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
Thursday 25 October 2018 – Saturday 24 November 2018
debbie tucker green returns to the Royal Court Jerwood Theatre downstairs with her new play ear for eye. The production runs Thursday 25 October 2018 – Saturday 24 November 2018 with press performances at 7pm Wednesday 31 October 2018 and 7.30pm Thursday 1 November 2018. The reviews are embargoed until 11.59pm Thursday 1 November 2018.
“Marchin' days is over man.”
Patience is running out, times have changed.
And progress isn’t enough.
Black British. African American.
Here. There.
Now.
“Change don't give-a-fuck
change gone do its thing with or without you.”
Produced in association with Barbara Broccoli.
debbie tucker green (Writer/Director)
For the Royal Court: a profoundly affectionate, passionate devotion to someone (-noun), hang, truth & reconciliation, random, stoning mary.
Other theatre includes: nut (National); generations (Young Vic); trade (RSC/RSC at Soho); born bad (Hampstead); dirty butterfly (Soho).
Film & television includes: second coming, random.
Radio includes: Assata Shakur – The FBI’s Most Wanted Woman [adaptation], lament, gone, random, handprint, freefall.
Directing includes: hang, nut, truth & reconciliation (theatre); second coming (feature film); random (film); Assata Shakur – The FBI’s Most Wanted Woman, lament, gone, random (radio).
Awards include: Radio Academy Arias Gold Award (lament); International Film Festival Rotterdam Big Screen Award (second coming); BAFTA for Best Single Drama (random); Black International Film Award for Best UK Film (random); OBIE Special Citation Award (born bad, New York Soho Rep. production); Olivier Award for Most Promising Newcomer (born bad).
Casting to be announced.
Listings Information:
ear for eye
Written and directed by debbie tucker green
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS
Thursday 25 October 2018 – Saturday 24 November 2018
Monday – Saturday 7.30pm
Thursday & Saturday matinees 2.30pm
Captioned Performance Tuesday 13 November 7.30pm
Audio Described Matinee Saturday 17 November 2.30pm 2018 (Touch Tour 1pm)
Press Performances 7pm Wednesday 31 October 2018 and 730pm Thursday 1 November 2018. The reviews are embargoed until 11.59pm Thursday 1 November 2018.
Standard Tickets £12 - £49 (Mondays all seats £12 available from 9am online on the day of performance)
First Look Tickets** £12, £16, £25, £35
Concessions* £5 off top two prices (available in advance for previews and all matinees)
Under 26s £15 (available in advance for previews and all matinees)
Access £15 (plus a companion at the same rate)
*ID required. All discounts subject to availability.
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Hole
Written by Ellie Kendrick
Directed by Helen Goalen and Abbi Greenland
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
Wednesday 28 November 2018 – Saturday 12 January 2019
Ellie Kendrick makes her Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Upstairs debut with her new play Hole, directed by Helen Goalen and Abbi Greenland from RashDash. The production runs Wednesday 28 November 2018 – Saturday 12 January 2019 with press performances at 7pm Tuesday 4 December 2018 and 7.45pm Wednesday 5 December 2018. The reviews are embargoed until 11.59pm Wednesday 5 December 2018.
“We're harpies.
We're a three headed bitch.
We've been guarding the gates.
Now we're throwing them open.”
A hole in the ground. Three women are forcing their way out.
They’re singing. They’re moving. They’re taking up space. And they refuse to apologise.
“This is a take over. We're taking over.
You came here to look.
We're giving you something to watch.”
Using word, music and movement in equal parts, Ellie Kendrick’s debut play asks how power is created and is directed by Helen Goalen and Abbi Greenland from the award-winning company RASHDASH.
Ellie Kendrick (Writer)
At the Royal Court, Ellie took part in the Young Writers’ Programme, Studio Group and an invitational group led by E.V. Crowe in 2016, during which this play was written.
Helen Goalen and Abbi Greenland (Directors)
Theatre for RashDash includes: Three Sisters (Royal Exchange/Tobacco Factory/The Yard/Cambridge Junction/MAYK/Bristol Old Vic); Snow White & Rose Red (Cambridge Junction/BAC); The Darkest Corners (Transform Festival); Two Man Show (Northern Stage/Soho); We Want You To Watch (National); Oh, I Can’t Be Bothered; The Frenzy (Lyric Hammersmith/Greenwich+Docklands International Festival/Imagine Watford/Latitude); The Ugly Sisters; Set Fire To Everything (Lyric Hammersmith/Greenwich+Docklands International Festival/Imagine Watford/Latitude); Scary Gorgeous (Hull Truck/Theatre in the Mill, Bradford); Another Someone.
Casting to be announced.
Hole is part of the Royal Court’s Jerwood New Playwrights programme, supported by Jerwood Charitable Foundation.
Listings Information:
Hole
Written by Ellie Kendrick
Directed by Helen Goalen and Abbi Greenland
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS
Wednesday 28 November 2018 – Saturday 12 January 2019
Monday – Saturday 7.45pm
Thursday & Saturday matinees 3pm
Captioned Performance Wednesday 2 January 7.45pm
Press Performances 7pm Tuesday 4 December 2018 and 7.45pm Wednesday 5 December 2018. The reviews are embargoed until 11.59pm Wednesday 5 December 2018.
Standard Tickets £25 (Mondays all seats £12 available from 9am online on the day of performance)
First Look Tickets** £20
Concessions* £5 off top two prices (available in advance for previews and all matinees)
Under 26s £15 (available in advance for previews and all matinees)
Access £15 (plus a companion at the same rate)
*ID required. All discounts subject to availability.
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The Cane
Written by Mark Ravenhill
Directed by Vicky Featherstone
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
Thursday 6 December 2018 – Saturday 26 January 2019
Mark Ravenhill returns to the Royal Court with his new play The Cane, directed by Royal Court Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone. The production runs Thursday 6 December 2018 – Saturday 26 January 2019 with press performances at 7pm Wednesday 12 December 2018 and 7.30pm Thursday 13 December 2018. The reviews are embargoed until 11.59pm Thursday 13 December 2018.
"It will be the biggest send off any teacher has ever had. No teacher is as loved"
After 45 years as a dedicated teacher, Edward is looking forward to the imminent celebration to mark his retirement.
But his home is under siege. A mob of angry students have gathered. A brick has been thrown through the window, he and his wife haven’t left the house for six days, and now his estranged daughter has arrived with her own questions.
"Why would they attack the most popular teacher in the school?"
Mark Ravenhill (Writer)
For Royal Court: Shopping and Fucking (with Out of Joint), Product (with Paines Plough), Shoot/Get Treasure/Repeat (with Out of Joint and Paines Plough), Over There (with Schaubuehne Berlin).
Other theatre writing includes: Mother Clap's Mollyhouse and Citizenship (both National Theatre), Pool No Water (Frantic Assembly and Lyric Hammersmith) and Life of Galileo and Candide (both RSC).
Vicky Featherstone (Director)
For the Royal Court: Gundog, My Mum’s a Twat, Bad Roads, Victory Condition, X, Cyprus Avenue (& Abbey, Dublin), How to Hold Your Breath, God Bless the Child, Maidan: Voices from the Uprising, The Mistress Contract, The Ritual Slaughter of Gorge Mastromas; Untitled Matriarch Play, The President Has Come to See You (Open Court Weekly Rep).
Other theatre includes: What if Women Ruled the World? (Manchester International Festival); Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour (& National/West End/International tour), Enquirer [co-director], An Appointment With the Wicker Man, 27, The Wheel, Somersaults, Wall of Death: A Way of Life [co-director], The Miracle Man, Empty, Long Gone Lonesome (National Theatre of Scotland); Cockroach (National Theatre of Scotland/Traverse); 365 (National Theatre of Scotland/Edinburgh International Festival); Mary Stuart (National Theatre of Scotland/Citizens/Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh); The Wolves in the Walls [co-director] (National Theatre of Scotland/Tramway/Lyric, Hammersmith/UK tour/New Victory, NYC); The Small Things, Pyrenees, On Blindness, The Drowned World, Tiny Dynamite, Crazy Gary’s Mobile Disco, Splendour, Riddance, The Cosmonaut’s Last Message to the Woman He Once Loved in the Former Soviet Union, Crave (Paines Plough).
Television Includes: Where the Heart Is, Silent Witness.
Vicky was Artistic Director of Paines Plough 1997-2005 and the inaugural Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Scotland 2005-2012. Vicky is the Artistic Director of the Royal Court.
Casting to be announced.
Listings Information:
The Cane
Written by Mark Ravenhill
Directed by Vicky Featherstone
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS
Thursday 6 December 2018 – Saturday 26 January 2019
Monday – Saturday 7.30pm
Thursday & Saturday matinees 2.30pm
Captioned Performances Tuesday 8 January 7.30pm & Friday 18 January 7.30pm 2018
Audio Described Matinee Saturday 19 January 2.30pm 2018(Tour Tour 1pm)
Relaxed Performance Monday 21 January 7.30pm 2018
Press Performances 7pm Wednesday 12 December 2018 and 7.30pm Thursday 13 December 2018
Standard Tickets £12 - £49 (Mondays all seats £12 available from 9am online on the day of performance)
First Look Tickets** £12, £16, £25, £35
Concessions* £5 off top two prices (available in advance for previews and all matinees)
Under 26s £15 (available in advance for previews and all matinees)
Access £15 (plus a companion at the same rate)
*ID required. All discounts subject to availability.
