Live Lunch At Royal Court Theatre

A season of new plays by up-and-coming writers will be performed live as lunchtime readings every Friday over 6 weeks. The six promising writers were all part of a Royal Court writers group who were challenged to write a completely new play, from scratch, in one summer. The writers Luke Barnes, Clara Brennan, Sarah Kosar, Nessah Muthy, May Sumbwanyambe and Chris Thompson worked together over the last five weeks in a new collaborative format, sharing ideas, reviewing each other's work and going to museums and galleries for inspiration. Associate Director of the Royal Court Theatre, Lucy Morrison said: “I believe writers need an outlet to express something immediate, free from the time-lag that a full production can bring. These writers have courageously put any ideas they came with to one side to come up with something completely new. They have searched their souls and trusted their talent to write a play to be shared with a live audience in a matter of weeks.” Bring along a sandwich and listen to a new play, performed live in your lunchbreak. With every ticket booked get 20% off your pre or post show lunch in our Bar&Kitchen Fri 26 Sept, 1.15pm The Girl Who Looks Up at the Stars by Luke Barnes A play about dreaming, grafting and making it big in a small town. Luke Barnes' credits include The Saints at the Nuffield Theatre, Weekend Rockstars at Hull Truck, Bottleneck at Soho Theatre and UK Tour with HighTide, Eisteddfod at HighTide Festival, Chapel Street at Edinburgh Underbelly and UK Tour, A Wondrous Place at Royal Exchange Manchester and UK Tour, Beats North at Roundabout Edinburgh with Northern Stage, TSU and Curious Monkey with a UK Tour, and Weekday Nights with NYT at The Unicorn. On television, his credits include Minted with Rare Day for Channel 4. Cast Katie Natalie Gavin Mr Hughes Mr Shah, Mike Rez Kempton Janet Girl Katherine Morley Mum Nicola Stephenson Director Leo Butler Fri 3 Oct, 1.15pm Spaghetti Ocean by Sarah Kosar A play about coming home, gluttony, and a bathtub. Sarah Kosar is an American playwright living in London. Sarah's full length play Hot Dog was produced at The Last Refuge in 2013, and received its US Premiere in Florida in May 2014. Cast Rachel Palumbo Kate O'Flynn Barb Palumbo Maureen Beattie Steve / Alex Obi Abili Dino Howard Ward Director Debbie Hannan Fri 10 Oct, 1.15pm Enough of Him by May Sumbwanyambe A play about politics, personal grief and the future of Scotland. . May Sumbwanyambe's credits include The Road to Damascus, which was shortlisted for the Channel 4/Oran Mor Comedy Drama Award. In 2012 his play Back Home Contemplation was shortlisted for the Alfred Fagon Award. Cast Francis Maureen Beattie Busani Kingsley Ben-Adir Director Lucy Morrison Fri 17 Oct, 1.15pm Burn by Chris Thompson A play about fluorescent lights and love. Chris Thompson's most recent play Albion will open at the Bush Theatre later this month. His debut play Carthage premiered at the Finborough Theatre earlier this year. As a winner of the Channel 4 Playwright's Scheme he is currently Channel 4 Playwright in Residence at the Finborough Theatre. In his previous career, Chris was a social worker. Cast A Jonathan Mcguinness S Michael Shaeffer Director Lucy Morrison Fri 24 Oct, 1.15pm Beastie by Nessah Muthy A play about escape, infamy and hyper-sexualisation. Nessah Muthy's recent credits at the Royal Court include Gastronauts (co-written) and Hungry, as part of the ‘Lost in Theatre' strand of Open Court. Other theatre work includes: Sucker, commissioned by Old Vic New Voices, This is Not a Slog, a collaborative, mobile exhibition of three walk installations, commissioned by Carissa Hope Lynch and Ovalhouse, Pickaninny, longlisted for the Bruntwood Prize 2013, Nazma, produced by Kali Theatre for the 'Twelve' project, at Tristan Bates Theatre, and Freya and Mr Mushroom, which was commissioned by The Building Site Theatre Company and Southwark Playhouse as part of the ‘Hotel Confessions' season. On screen, her credits include EastEnders: E20. Fri 31 Oct, 1.15pm Kid a Kidder by Clara Brennan A play about dirty money, arts patrons and career suicide. Clara Brennan's most recent credits include the play Spine (Winner Fringe First, Herald Angel), which premièred at Edinburgh this year and runs Soho Theatre this autumn. She has film and TV series in development. Her plays include Rain, Bud Take The Wheel, I Feel A Song Coming On, Hi Vis, The Wing and Spine. In 2012, she was awarded the OffWestEnd Adopt a Playwright Award for her new play The Vendor. Clara won the Channel 4 Playwright Award and is resident at the Soho Theatre for 2014. Her fourth play for the award-winning company Theatre Uncut opens there in November. Live Lunch is generously supported by an Anonymous donor The newly refurbished Royal Court Bar & Kitchen will be serving lunch pre and post show. Present your Live Lunch ticket to a member of Bar & Kitchen staff and get 20% off your lunch