 Royal Court Theatre
Sloane Square, London, SW1W 8AS
What's on at Royal Court Theatre
Nearest underground:
Sloane Square (District Line, Circle Line)
Nearest rail:
Victoria
Despite being located in well-heeled, conservative Chelsea, none of the area’s traditionalism seems to have rubbed off on the Royal Court. The theatre has always vigorously pursued a policy of seeking fresh writing at a grass roots level and finding and supporting young talent. The works it has staged have been seminal, controversial and groundbreaking and thus earned it a worldwide reputation. Look Back In Anger (1956) was one such work. Panned by most critics at the time (with the notable exception of the Observer’s Kenneth Tynan), it was of immense social significance and sparked what is known as the ‘Angry Young Men’ movement. Its impact altered the course of British theatre.
The man behind the theatre was George Devine, who founded Britain’s first national theatre company, the English Stage Company, in January 1956. The theatre challenged accepted norms, several times having its plays banned by the Lord Chamberlain’s office. It was one of the first theatres to have a black box studio (in 1969) and to establish an annual young writers’ festival. And when the building was forced to close in 1997 for three years for repair, the Company continued to push dramatic boundaries in temporary homes in the West End.
What's on at Royal Court Theatre
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