Six electric productions, four world premieres, and a youth-led revolution set to light up the Royal Court
If you’ve been lamenting the state of London theatre, brace yourself. The Royal Court Theatre is back with a vengeance. Its newly announced May to December 2025 programme promises to be an electrifying celebration of new writing, artistic innovation, and unapologetic boldness. And frankly, it’s exactly what Shoreditch’s culture-hungry crowd has been waiting for.
This latest season includes four world premieres, two touring productions, and an entire youth-focused movement designed to shake up the industry from the inside. Artistic Director David Byrne is clearly not interested in playing it safe. And honestly, why should he?
New Writing in the Spotlight: Four World Premieres
Let’s start with the headline-grabbers. The Royal Court is gifting us four world premieres that couldn’t be more different — or more urgent.
Deaf Republic (29 Aug – 13 Sep) kicks things off with a surreal, gut-punching narrative. A deaf boy is killed. The next morning, the entire town wakes up deaf. Directed by Dead Centre and performed with British Sign Language poet Zoë McWhinney, this adaptation of Ilya Kaminsky’s celebrated poetry is set to be a landmark in accessible theatre.
Then, in a wild turn of the conceptual dial, Cow | Deer (4 Sep – 11 Oct) arrives without a single spoken word. This collaborative effort between Katie Mitchell, Nina Segal, and Melanie Wilson removes humans from the centre of the story entirely. Sound wild? It is. Expect a strange, immersive meditation on our relationship to animals, nature, and environmental collapse.
The Unbelievers (10 Oct – 29 Nov), penned by Nick Payne and directed by the legendary Marianne Elliott, follows a mother dealing with the mysterious disappearance of her son. Nicola Walker stars in what promises to be an emotional time-bender exploring memory, family, and the fragility of hope.
And just when you thought the theatre couldn’t get more intimate, Porn Play (6 Nov – 13 Dec) drops in to explore women’s complex relationships with pornography. Written by Sophia Chetin-Leuner, directed by Josie Rourke, and starring Ambika Mod, this fearless, sharp-edged production dives into academia, addiction, and desire.
Touring Talent: Political Punch and Improvised Magic
The season also welcomes two powerhouse touring productions.
First up is After the Act (21 May – 14 Jun), a new musical from Breach Theatre. Using personal stories and archival material, it dissects Section 28 — the law that banned “promoting homosexuality” — and its generational fallout. It’s protest art with rhythm, reminding us that the past still burns hot.
Following that, ECHO (27 Jun – 5 Jul) returns after its 2024 debut. Created by Nassim Soleimanpour and directed by Omar Elerian, this unrepeatable theatrical experiment invites performers (including Mel Giedroyc and Nish Kumar) to take the stage without rehearsal. It’s unpredictable, raw, and brimming with real-time emotion.
Youth Take the Mic: Open Submissions and a New Playwrights Award
Not content with transforming the stage, the Royal Court is also redefining how playwrights enter the industry. The Open Submissions Festival (14 – 18 Oct) is back, elevating emerging voices found through the theatre’s open programmes.
Meanwhile, playwright Tife Kusoro begins an 18-month residency to develop new work and support the inaugural Young Playwrights Festival in July. That’s right — the kids are more than alright. They’re taking over.
Submissions for the Young Playwrights Award are now open to 13–18-year-olds living or studying in London. Winners will receive professional performances of their plays, publication by Nick Hern Books, and some shiny trophies at a ceremony on 12 July. The deadline? 2 May. Get your pens — or your Google Docs — ready.
Why It Matters for Creatives in East London
Let’s be honest — Shoreditch lives and breathes off creative disruption. This Royal Court season is dripping with the kind of storytelling that rattles bones and flips tables. Whether you’re deep in the local arts scene or just an occasional theatre-goer with good taste, this line-up has something for you.
From queer history to poetic revolutions, from silent meditations to feminist provocations, this is not your average trip to the theatre. It’s raw, real, and radiantly relevant — and very much worth the trip beyond East London.
Let’s Talk Theatre – and Revolution
If you’re already planning your theatre outfit for autumn, we don’t blame you. With world-class artists, thrilling forms, and powerful themes, the Royal Court Theatre is doing what it does best: reminding us why theatre still matters. And yes, if you’re looking to escape your Shoreditch coworking space or dive into some inspiration that isn’t on a screen, this is your cue.
Tickets for all shows go on sale to the public at noon on 31 March. Don’t sleep on this one.
