The Royal Court’s mission is to champion fresh new writing, and the 2016 season has been a testament to their passion for playwrights and innovative work. TodayTix are proud to say that we launched our exclusive Rush programme, to bring digital day seats to London, in partnership with Royal Court. It has given new audiences a chance to see incredible plays at great prices, including X, Escaped Alone, Unreachable and many more.

The theatre recently released details of their upcoming season for Spring/Summer 2017, lead by Artistic Director, Vicky Featherstone.

“I am humbled and thrilled to be announcing such a varied and exciting mixture of work from playwrights and theatre-makers at the top of their game, pushing the limits of their potential to challenge, surprise and provoke us. This is the Royal Court at its best – a place for attracting some of the great playwrights and theatre-makers of our times to experiment and take risks to give us, the audience, the most extraordinary experiences possible.”

A Profoundly Affectionate, Passionate To Devotion To Someone (-noun), 28th February – 1st April

“It’s not always all about you.”

Three couples.
What might be.
What once was.
What could have been.

Award-winning writer and director debbie tucker green‘s previous credits for the Royal Court include hang (starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste), truth & reconciliation, random and stoning mary.

The Kid Stays In The Picture, 7th March – 8th April

“I went from royalty to infamy. Royalty fades. Infamy stays.”

Following the rise and fall of movie mogul Robert Evans, The Kid Stays In The Picture chronicles his massive success to relative obscurity. Director Simon McBurney explores the rise and fall of the legendary film producer through the ever-changing landscape of late 20th Century America.

Nuclear War, 19th April – 6th May

“I am going to try as hard as I can to not be a human being.”

Royal Court Associate and writer Simon Stephens‘ play is a series of suggestions on desire, death and time. Imogen Knight will direct, her previous work for the Royal Court as movement director includes: Linda, God Bless the Child, and Pests.

RCtheferryman — Photo Credit: Royal Court

The Ferryman, 24th April – 20th May

“Vanishing. It’s a powerful word, that. A powerful word.”

The Carney farmhouse is a hive of activity with preparations for the annual harvest. A day of hard work on the land and a traditional night of feasting and celebrations lie ahead. But this year they will be interrupted by a visitor. Jez Butterworth returns to the Royal Court after The River and the multi-award winning Jerusalem with his new play The Ferryman with Skyfall director Sam Mendes makes his Royal Court debut.

Manwatching, 10th May – 20th May

“We just wait to discuss it until we’re in an oddly anonymous but public situation like this one.”

A funny, frank, and occasionally explicit insight into heterosexual female desire, written by an anonymous woman and read by an unprepared man. Each show begins with a male comedian being given a script they have never seen before. They then go on to read said script for the first time live in front of an audience which explores what one woman thinks about when she thinks about sex and men.

Anatomy Of A Suicide, 3rd June – 8th July

“I have Stayed. I have Stayed – I have Stayed for as long as I possibly can.”

For three generations of women, the chaos of what has come before brings with it a painful legacy. Writer Alice Birch (We Want You To Watch), continues her collaboration with director Katie Mitchell (Ten Billion, Cleansed) following Ophelias Zimmer earlier this year.

Killology, 25th May – 24th June

“There is an instinctive revulsion against taking a human life. And that revulsion can be conquered.”

A controversial new gaming experience is inspiring a generation. In Killology, players are rewarded for torturing victims, scoring points for “creativity”. But Killology isn’t sick. It’s millionaire creator believes he’s creating a moral experience for users, a safe space to play out their darkest fantasies with zero consequences.

Writer Gary Owen made his Royal Court debut in 2015 with Violence & Son. This co-production, working with the Sherman Theatre, is directed by Rachel O’Riordan and is the pair’s second collaboration after the award-winning Iphigenia in Splott last year.

Road, 21st July – 9th September

“Why’s the world so tough? It’s like walking through meat in high heels.”

A road, a wild night, a drunken tour guide, a journey to the gutter and the stars and back. Jim Cartwright‘s seminal play, Road, gives expression to the inhabitants of an unnamed northern road in 1980s Britain. Thirty years on, this new production is directed by Royal Court Associate Director John Tiffany whose most recent work includes Harry Potter & The Cursed Child, and previous work for the Royal Court includes The Twits, Hope and Let the Right One In.

B, dates and casting to be announced.

“We used to kill kings. We used to kill millionaires. And now all we do is make threats on the Internet. That’s why I’m offering you the chance to start a war.”

Alejandra and Marcela are planting bombs in the middle of the night. They don’t want violence, they just want to be heard. Prison’s not much of a threat when most of your friends are inside. But José Miguel is from another generation, and he’s committed to change by any means possible.

Guillermo Calderón, the acclaimed Chilean playwright, makes his Royal Court debut with the world premiere of his play B. Presented as part of International Playwrights: a Genesis Foundation Project, B will be directed by Royal Court Associate Director (International) Sam Pritchard.

Victory Condition, dates and casting to be announced.

“Find the connection between where you are and where I am. Open up the space between us and do something.”

Victory Condition is an attempt to get to grips with the fact that everything happens at once, and to see if there’s anything we can do about it. Writer Chris Thorpe returns to the Royal Court with a new play directed by Royal Court Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone.

These productions sound amazing and we can’t wait to see them! Tell us about your favourite Royal Court show on Twitter and Facebook.

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Jim Cartwright

The Royal Court Announce 2017 Spring/Summer Season