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 ...… Read more
Cuba
Since 2002
We began working with emerging Cuban playwrights in 2002 when Elyse Dodgson visited new theatre companies across Cuba following an invitation by the British Council and the National Council for Scenic Arts (CNAE). The result was an intensive ten day workshop at Teatro Escambray in central Cuba, attended by 14 emerging playwrights from across the country and led by April de Angelis and Indhu Rubasingham, with Elyse.
The plays were then developed in another Residency in Cienfuegos and through further work the following year in Matanzas. In March 2004, six Cuban writers came to London to take part in Cuba Real, a week of rehearsed readings presented as part of the International Season. In 2005, a new group of 12 playwrights began its first workshop in Escambray, led by Elyse Dodgson, Tanika Gupta and Indhu Rubasingham, continuing in 2006.
The Royal Court has also established a biennial national playwriting prize for unpublished writers under the age of 30, resulting in the publication of a play in both English and Spanish. The prize was won by Ulises Rodriquez Febles in 2004 and Lilian Susel ZaldÃvar de los Reyes in 2006. In 2008, Norge Espinosa Mendoza began a new play for the Royal Court based on interviews with Cubans from across the country. To date, seven Cuban writers have taken part in the International Residency since the first Cuban participant in 2002.
Current work
In October 2009, a group of 12 Cuban playwrights began work on a new project, led by Elyse Dodgson and Indhu Rubasingham. Elyse returned in May 2010, accompanied by director, Rfus Norris, to continue this work, and to carry out research into a new, multi-national project.
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