The Royal Court Theatre has unveiled its 70th anniversary programme, promising a year-long celebration of new writing, landmark revivals, and ambitious national initiatives.
The 2026 season will feature 12 productions across the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs and Upstairs, alongside new partnerships and projects aimed at shaping the future of UK theatre.
Artistic Director David Byrne said: “Everybody back to ours. The Royal Court is turning 70 with the most thrilling season we could imagine. On our stages and far beyond, we’re throwing a legendary, year-long party and you’re all invited.”
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs Highlights
The season opens with the world premiere of Guess How Much I Love You? by Luke Norris, starring Robert Aramayo and Rosie Sheehy, directed by Jeremy Herrin.
Closing the year is The Afronauts, Ryan Calais Cameron’s epic drama about the Zambian space race, announced as the first Genesis Commission.
European premieres include John Proctor is the Villain by Kimberly Belflower, directed by Danya Taymor, and Archduke by Rajiv Joseph, directed by Lyndsey Turner with design by Es Devlin.
Two major Royal Court revivals will see Tilda Swinton return in Man to Man by Manfred Karge, directed by Stephen Unwin, and Gary Oldman star in Krapp’s Last Tape by Samuel Beckett.
Paired with Krapp’s Last Tape is a nightly curtain-raiser: Godot’s To-Do List by Leo Simpe-Asante, directed by Aneesha Srinivasan. Simpe-Asante is also named the 2026 Jerwood New Playwright.
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs Programme
Four world premieres discovered through open script submissions will be staged Upstairs:
- The Shitheads by Jack Nicholls, directed by Aneesha Srinivasan and David Byrne
- Are You Watching? by Georgie Dettmer
- Blood of my Blood by Joy Nesbitt, directed by Tatenda Shamiso
- Monument by Rhys Warrington, directed by Francesca Goodridge and co-produced with Sherman Theatre
Also transferring is Between The River and The Sea by Yousef Sweid and Isabella Sedlak, originally produced by Maxim Gorki Theater, Berlin.
National and Industry-Wide Initiatives
The Jerwood Royal Court Commissioning Scheme will fund six new UK-wide play commissions annually.
BBC Radio 4 will produce a new radio version of Lucy Kirkwood’s The Children, and Mark Ravenhill will curate adaptations of Royal Court plays from the BBC archives.
The first National Young Playwrights Award Festival will take place in July 2026, supported by the Dominic Webber Trust and Nick Hern Books.
Investing in the Future
New partnerships include:
- Genesis Foundation supporting play commissioning and development
- Character 7 expanding the Open Submissions Festival
- Concord Theatricals launching the Unpublished Playwrights Award with Dettmer and Nesbitt as inaugural recipients
Executive Director Will Young said: “Our 70th anniversary isn’t just about the past – it’s a moment to direct every bit of new thinking and resource into the pipeline for the next 70 years.”
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
