The Royal Court Theatre and Jerwood Foundation have announced the launch of the Jerwood Royal Court Commissioning Scheme, a groundbreaking initiative designed to support ambitious new playwriting across the UK.
The scheme will provide six annual grants of up to £6,000, awarded jointly to a playwright and producer, to underwrite first payments for new play commissions. Applications for the first round open on 2 December 2025 and close on 23 January 2026.
Launching as part of the Royal Court’s 70th anniversary celebrations, the scheme marks a major expansion in the theatre’s approach to playwright support, looking beyond its own stages to share resources nationwide. Commissions will be selected from open-access applications, with submissions invited from writers and producing theatres or companies across the UK.
Royal Court Executive Director Will Young said:
“The Royal Court is the national force for playwriting everywhere: not only on our own stages in London, but committed to the future of new theatre across the country. Working with the brilliant Jerwood Foundation, this game-changing scheme offers up-front support to playwrights, producers and theatres UK-wide, at a time when artistic budgets have never been more stretched – backing investment in bold, original plays that promise audiences the genuine thrill of the new.”
The scheme is supported by the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB) to ensure fair commissioning terms. WGGB’s own 2022 New Play Commissioning Scheme inspired this new annual programme, which aims to unlock the first step in commissioning and encourage theatres and producers to commit future investment towards full production.
Jerwood Foundation Executive Director Lara Wardle added:
“Awarding this grant reaffirms Jerwood Foundation’s long-standing support of the Royal Court Theatre and enables the launch of the Jerwood Royal Court Commissioning Scheme, a crucial national scheme, which will unlock a route to the stage for new plays and support emerging creative voices. Jerwood is also continuing its support of Jerwood New Playwrights, now in its fourth decade, through which the Royal Court Theatre identifies and nurtures a new playwright of outstanding talent each year and I am delighted that the 82nd Jerwood New Playwright has been announced as 19 year-old Leo Simpe-Asante, which underlines Jerwood’s ongoing commitment to support excellence and emerging talent in the arts.”
Applicants can find full guidance on the Royal Court website and book a free webinar on Thursday 4 December.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
