Known as the writers’ theatre, The Royal Court is a leading national and international force for cultivating and supporting writers for the past 60 years.

A powerhouse of new writing and bold ideas, the Royal Court Theatre is one of London’s most iconic cultural institutions. Renowned for launching the careers of some of the UK’s most daring and distinctive playwrights, the theatre continues to be a crucible for provocative, original voices that shape the future of storytelling. Located in the heart of Chelsea, the Royal Court will be a fitting home for performance, debate and live conversation during the Festival.

At the start of 2024, David Byrne was appointed as Artistic Director of the Royal Court. He recently said ‘The Court’s artistic team and I have thrown everything we’ve got towards presenting some of the most vibrant new drama the British stage has to offer in our programme.’ He believes that, ‘The Royal Court has a strong claim to be the most important theatre in the world’, but also, importantly to him, ‘it’s a fantastic local theatre and creative centre for King’s Road and Chelsea residents.’