The Young Writers Programme at the Royal Court Theatre in London discovers and develops young writers and provides them with the tools to write plays good enough to be staged at the Royal Court, one of Britain’s  most renowned theatres.   The scheme was launched in 1991 as part of the theatre’s mission of encouraging new voices from diverse backgrounds.

     The 12-week programme is an Introduction to Playwriting organized through weekly workshops held at the theatre. It involves writing exercises, group discussion, reading plays, seeing plays as well as tips, tools and advice from tutors and invited professionals.  There are four groups per year, with around 15 participants each time and it is open to anyone aged 18-25 years old.
     Leo Butler, once a course participant, is the resident tutor.  He says that the first half of the group is often about writers exploring their inner self to find their unique voice and to find out what they really want to write about.  They are then required to complete a piece of work that can at least be called a finished play but may need revision.  The most valuable part is then being able to share their work with other members on the group.
     Participants are also able to attend special guest lectures by acclaimed playwrights, directors, designers and choreographers, including Tom Stoppard, 2009 Praemium Imperiale laureate for Theatre/Film.
     In 2010, half of the plays performed at the Royal Court Theatre were penned by young playwrights who completed the programme.  A notable participant in one of the past programmes was Lucy Prebble whose play ENRON was staged at the Royal Court and went on to have a successful run at one of London’s main West End theatres.
     The Royal Court Theatre came to prominence in the mid-1950s as a theatre company that challenged the artistic, social and political orthodoxy of the day.  Since then, it has been known as a “writers theatre,” dedicated to unearthing and cultivating new talent, and presenting the public with innovative modern drama.  Since 1973, it has organized a regular Young Writers Festival seeking submissions of plays to be performed at the festival. This year it has reduced the minimum age of eligibility, accepting works by writers as young as eight years old.
     Christopher Campbell, the theatre’s Literary Manager, says that playwrights and the theatre have a higher profile in Britain than in other countries, and wield greater cultural influence. Theatre-going is an integral part of the culture, he says, and the role of the Royal Court Theatre is to discover the next generation of playwrights, and ensure that their work finds an audience.