International Play Development

The Royal Court Theatre works with hundreds of playwrights across the world. All plays submitted to the international department are read in the original language by a team of appointed readers. The department then commissions translations of plays selected for further development. The department has pioneered the use of theatre practitioners as translators and the integral involvement of the translator in the play development and rehearsal process. Many of the translations are eventually published.

The theatre also runs long-term play development projects in many different countries, helping to stimulate new writing and bringing many of these writers and plays to London for further work and sometimes productions. At any one time, the International Department will be working with dozens of playwrights through specific projects. Long-term play development relationships now exist through projects and exchanges with writers from: