The Royal Court Theatre

International Playwrights at the Royal Court

Since 1997 John Studzinski, and latterly the Genesis Foundation, has supported the Royal Court Theatre’s groundbreaking work with emerging playwrights from around the world.  He first became interested in the work of the Royal Court Theatre in the 1990s, admiring the company's policy of finding and nurturing new English language playwrights. He was also enthused by the pioneering work of Elyse Dodgson, head of the theatre’s International Department.

The Royal Court Theatre has a tradition of presenting new plays by authors from around the world, among them figures such as Samuel Beckett, Bertolt Brecht, Max Frisch, Jean Genet, Eugène Ionesco and Arthur Miller.  In the 1990s, Elyse Dodgson spearheaded a renewed emphasis on the development and production of international work at the Royal Court Theatre, first through the International Residency programme and by early 1996 at the head of a dedicated International Department.

With the support of the Genesis Foundation, the Royal Court Theatre now enjoys a creative dialogue with hundreds of playwrights and theatre makers all over the world.  Recent work includes workshops in Mexico, Nigeria, Russia and across the Middle East, in addition to long term relationships with playwrights in Brazil, France, Germany, India, Romania, Spain, Uganda and many other countries.  The Royal Court also stages this work, and since 1997 have produced dozens of full productions, staged readings and one-off events with the support of the Genesis Foundation.  Currently, the theatre is staging DISCONNECT by Indian playwright, Anupama Chandrasekhar, as part of International Playwrights: A Genesis Foundation Project.

For more information on the Royal Court Theatre’s international work, please visit www.royalcourttheatre.com/international

The Royal Court's current international programme comprises five elements:

1. International Residency - An annual intensive four week programme for emerging writers and directors from all parts of the world
2. International Playwrights - A season of international work which offers full productions of specially commissioned plays in translation, plus associated performances, readings and events.
3. International Exchange Programme - A focus on new writing through partnerships with theatres in selected countries
4. International Play Development - An ongoing programme developing a new playwriting culture in selected countries
5. International Production/Co-production - Newly commissioned plays which have emerged from the programme's projec

2011 International Playwrights Season

This year, the Royal Court Theatre marks 15 years of pioneering international work with a season of plays from two very different parts of the world: Latin America and Eastern Europe.  There are full productions of two new plays from Columbia and Latvia and rehearsed readings of plays from Belarus, Chile, Mexico and Ukraine, plus brunch seminars exploring the political situation in both regions and the effects of our international work on the British theatre artists who have taken part.  We'll also be hosting the Latin American rhythms of Arriba la Cumbia! in the Royal Court Café Bar for two late night events in March.

Since 1996 the Royal Court Theatre has travelled the world, running long-term play development projects and building relationships between playwrights, directors, actors and translators.  The Royal Court has now worked with hundreds of international playwrights from more than 60 countries, with the support of the Genesis Foundation.

Our Private Life by Pedro Miguel Rozo (11 February - 12 March)

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Remembrance Day by Aleksey Scherbak (18 March - 16 April)

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