Royal Court Theatre's Young Writers Festival

Tuesday 31 January

YOUNG WRITERS FESTIVAL 2012
23 Feb – 14 April 2012

The Royal Court Theatre’s Young Writers Festival, which has been launching the writing careers of the country’s best known playwrights since 1973 takes over the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court from 23 Feb – 14 April.

This year’s festival is the biggest in its history, featuring two full productions of new plays, four staged readings, ten short plays and a series of free workshops, talks and ‘afterdark’ late night events in the bar. Alongside the free events programme, a pay-what-you-like-night will be available for both Goodbye to All That and Vera Vera Vera.

Luke Norris’ play Goodbye to All That looks at the enduring nature of love and asks if it’s ever too late to start again and Hayley Squires in Vera Vera Vera looks at violence, neglect and apathy in the wake of another young soldier’s death in Afghanistan.

There will be staged readings of Brilliant Adventures by Alistair McDowall on 2 and 3 March, Ain’t No Law Against Fish ‘n’ Chips by Rose Lewenstein on 9 and 10 March, Reflection by Rianna Mitchell-Henry on 30 and 31 March and Where the Shot Rabbits Lay by Brad Birch on 13 and 14 April.

Writers aged 25 and under were asked to submit a full-length play back in spring 2011 with no restrictions or guidelines on content. Over 300 plays were submitted and each one read by a team of 17 readers, made up of playwrights, directors, Royal Court staff and previous Young Writers Festival winners.

This year, the Young Writers Festival was opened up to a younger age group, accepting submissions from ages eight to 25 in order to uncover stories from the UK’s younger population. Supported by John Lyon’s Charity, the Royal Court worked with 75 young people from 18 schools delivering a six-week writing programme under the tutelage of writers Debbie Tucker Green, EV Crowe and Nick Payne to create a fully-realised play that would be suitable for submission to the Young Writers Festival.
The young people’s plays will be performed in Saturday Shorts on 17 March, with seven short plays from the eight-11 age group and three plays from 12-15 age group. Rianna Mitchell-Henry’s play Reflection, written when she was 17 as part of the schools’ workshops, will have a full reading on 30 and 31 March.

There will also be a host of events and workshops around this year’s festival, including storytelling workshops for children with playwright Nick Payne, a series of late night ‘afterdark’ events in the bar, live talks with writers and directors and the 100 word play, which invites anyone of any age or experience to write a short play which will be displayed around the Royal Court during the festival.

Since its inception in 1973, the Royal Court Young Writers Festival has become one of the premier showcases of young writing talent from across Britain, launching writers such as Simon Stephens (winner of the 2005 Olivier award for Best Newcomer), Christopher Shinn (nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in 2008), Bola Agbaje (winner of the Olivier Award in 2008), Leo Butler, Andrea Dunbar, DC Moore, Michael Wynne and Chloe Moss.

The most recent Young Writers Festival in 2009 produced Alia Bano’s play Shades, which went on to win the Most Promising Playwrights Award at the Evening Standard Award and Critics’ Circle Awards.

The Young Writers Festival is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and is in partnership with the European Commission Representation in the UK, with additional support from the Dr. Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation.

The Young Writers Festival Development Phase has been supported by John Lyon’s Charity.

Goodbye to All That
By Luke Norris
Directed by Simon Godwin
Thursday 23 February – Saturday 17 March 2012
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
Press Night, Monday 27 February 2012 7pm

‘I want you to remember something, David: if you remember only one thing I’ve ever told you, remember this every day – morning, noon and night – you do what you want with your life. Exactly what you want. Break heads if you need to and hearts if you have to, but whatever you do don’t do what I did. Don’t waste yourself.’

Frank has been married for forty years. Three years ago he fell in love.

This taut and tender new play asks if it’s ever too late to start again.

The cast includes Susan Brown, Alexander Cobb, Linda Marlowe and Roger Sloman.

Luke Norris is an actor, appearing at the Royal Court earlier this year in Aleksey Scherbak’s Remembrance Day. He attended Royal Court playwriting groups, before entering the Young Writers Festival this year. This is his first play.

Simon Godwin will direct. Recently appointed full-time Associate Director at the Royal Court, his credits here include The Acid Test by Anya Reiss and Wanderlust by Nick Payne. His other credits include Faith Healer and Far Away at Bristol Old Vic, The Winter’s Tale for Headlong and the Nuffield Theatre Southampton, Mister Heracles at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. As Associate Director of the Royal and Derngate Theatres in Northampton under Artistic Director Rupert Goold, Simon directed seven main stage shows.

The production is designed by Tom Piper with lighting by Matt Drury and sound by Alexander Caplen

Goodbye to All That
By Luke Norris
Directed by Simon Godwin
Thursday 23 February – Saturday 17 March 2012
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS
Monday-Saturday 7.45pm (except Friday 2, Saturday 3, Friday 9 and Saturday 10 March at 8.30pm)
Saturday Matinee 3.30pm (from 3 March)
Thursday Matinee 3.30pm (1, 8 & 15 March)
Press Night Monday 27 February 7pm
Post-show talk Tuesday 6 March
Captioned Performance Tuesday 13 March
Tickets £20 Monday all seats £10
Concessions £15* (available in advance until Saturday 3 March incl, and all matinees. For all other performances, available on a standby basis on the day)
Pay What You Like Night: Friday 24 February. Tickets available in person from 10am on the day.
School and HE Groups of 8+ £10 (avail. Tue-Fri and mats)
Access £12 (plus a companion at the same rate)
*ID required. All discounts are subject to availability.

Vera Vera Vera
By Hayley Squires
Directed by Jo McInnes
Thursday 22 March – Saturday 14 April 2012
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
Press Night: Monday 26 March 2012, 7pm

‘Bobby’s dead and you’re still breathing. That’s a fucking walking talking tragedy that is.’

The boy who comes back from a war far away in a wooden box is glorified and called a hero. As the funeral plans are made in a small Kent town, his siblings squabble over who he was. Maybe the fanfare isn’t needed for this heroic martyr.
Vera Vera Vera is a blackly comic play about what we are willing to fight for. Hayley Squires is a bracing new voice, clear eyed and loud, looking at violence, neglect and apathy.
The cast includes Daniel Kendrick, Danielle Flett and Tommy McDonnell.

Hayley Squires is an actor. This is her first play and her first submission to the Royal Court.

Director Jo McInnes most recently directed Red Bud at the Royal Court, as well as appearing in Wastwater by Simon Stephens as an actor. Her directorial credits also include The Verdict in 2007 on BBC1 and the world premiere of Marine Parade by Simon Stephens at the Brighton Festival.

The production will be designed by Tom Piper, with lighting by Stephen Andrews and sound by David McSeveney.

Vera Vera Vera
By Hayley Squires
Directed by Jo McInnes
Thursday 22 March – Saturday 14 April 2012
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS
Monday-Thursday 7.45pm
Friday 23 March 7.45pm
Friday 30 March and 13 April 8.30pm
Saturday 24 March and 7 April 7.45pm
Saturday 31 March and 14 April 8.30pm
Saturday Matinees 3.30pm (from 31 March)
Thursday Matinees 5 April and 12 April 3.30pm
There will be no performances on Good Friday or Easter Monday.
Press Night Monday 26 March 2012 7pm
Post-show talk Tuesday 3 April
Captioned performance Friday 13 April
Tickets £20 Monday all seats £10
Concessions £15* (available in advance until Saturday 31 March incl, and all matinees. For all other performances, available on a standby basis on the day)
Pay What You Like Night: Friday 23 March. Tickets available in person from 10am on the day.
School and HE Groups of 8+ £10 (avail. Tue-Fri and mats)
Access £12 (plus a companion at the same rate)
*ID required. All discounts are subject to availability.

YOUNG WRITERS FESTIVAL READINGS
Writers aged 25 and under were asked to submit a full-length play with no restrictions or guidelines on content. Over 300 plays were submitted. Four were selected to receive staged readings as part of the Young Writers Festival:
Brilliant Adventures
By Alistair McDowall
Directed by Caroline Steinbeis
6pm 2 & 3 March
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs

Rob’s less than impressed by his brother Luke ‘s new flat. That is until he discovers it’s ideally placed to become the area’s drug supply epicentre. Thrown into a dangerous world, the brothers must salvage what’s left of the home and family. Luke’s got an ingenious solution which could solve all their problems…

Alistair McDowall is 24-year-old writer from the North East of England. Previous plays include Plain Jane, Some Stories, and 5:30. He has been a writer-on-attachment at the Royal Court and is currently on attachment with Paines Plough. Brilliant Adventures was recently awarded a Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting.

Ain’t No Law Against Fish ‘n’ Chips
By Rose Lewenstein
Directed by Richard Twyman
6pm 9 & 10 March
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs

As Pete struggles to find a job in the East End of London, he finds solace in the words and cause of some radical locals. But as Pete’s ideological fervour grows so does his sense alienation from the people most important to him.

Rose Lewenstein lives in Hackney and wrote Ain’t No Law Against Fish ‘n’ Chips when she was 25. She attended the Royal Court Studio’s writers groups before writing her play in 2011.

Where the Shot Rabbits Lay
By Brad Birch
Directed by Nick Bagnall
6pm 13 & 14 April
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs

In the wake of an acrimonious divorce, a father and son venture into the wilderness on a camping trip looking for reconciliation.

Brad Birch is a 23-year-old playwright from Mid Wales. Brad has had work performed at Theatr Powys, Sherman Cymru, the Royal Court, Theatre 503 and Dirty Protest before becoming the writer in residence at the Undeb theatre company. In 2010 Brad took part in the Royal Court’s Young Writers’ Programme and has participated in a number of Royal Court playwriting groups since. During his time in the groups, he began writing Where The Shot Rabbits Lay.

Reflection
By Rianna Mitchell-Henry
Directed by Gbolahan Obisesan
6pm 30 & 31 March
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs

Jamal’s ready to fly the nest and sort his life out but his overbearing mother and criminal record are standing in his way. Will a chance encounter with a wealthy businessman offer Jamal the opportunity he’s been waiting for? A lyrical play with a sharp eye and a fresh voice.

Rianna Mitchell-Henry is 18 years old and lives in West London. She is currently studying for an English & Professional & Creative Writing degree and has a strong passion for playwriting. She wrote the play Reflection when she was 17 years old. She describes the play as representing how personal issues and behaviour can affect, influence and direct parenting styles and the impacts, both positive and negative, on children and young people.

Tickets for all readings £8 on 0207 565 5000 or online www.royalcourttheatre.com

Saturday Shorts
Directed by Charlotte Gwinner
17 March
10.30am-11.30am seven short readings by writers aged 8-11 years
12pm – 1pm: three readings by writers aged 12-15 years
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
Staged readings of ten short plays by 8-15 year olds.
Shorts by writers aged 8-11 years old:
Journey to Food Paradise by Jose-Luis Aduino-Mejia
The Magic Wig by Isabelle Kennedy-Grimes
Cat or What? by Eva Kerslake-Blue
Hope Can Last by Lavinia Scoyni
Proud to be Geeky by Janine Coelho Gomes
The Flying Boy by Joseph Burke-Gaffney
London, We Have a Problem by Jack Franco
Shorts by writers aged 13-15 years old:
Calling At by Jessica Kelly
20 One Truths by Seren Williams
Then I Met You by Olivia Sewell Risley
Tickets for Saturday Shorts £8 (Under 18s £3, Family ticket £20) on 0207 565 5000 or online www.royalcourttheatre.com

AFTERDARK: Free late night events in the Café Bar
After the lights go down on the plays upstairs, join us in the Royal Court Café Bar for a series of FREE late night events guaranteed to keep you in the festival mood. Plus, every Friday night throughout the festival, they’ll be dj-ing in the Café Bar.

Music in the Bar Fri 16 Mar, 10.15pm ’til late
‘Jazzheadchronic’ DJ Mickey Smith brings the sounds of motown, and oldskool funk to the Royal Court Café Bar plus special guests.

Spoken Word Night Wed 28 Mar, 10.15pm ’til late
Whether you’re a fan or brand new to the spoken word scene, this is a night not to be missed. Line up includes legendary artists Inua Ellams, Polarbear and Kate Tempest.

The Literary Ball Sat 14 Apr, 10.15pm ’til late
In association with La Coopérative d’Ecriture
As the festival draws to a close, join us for a party with a literary twist. French writer Nathalie Fillion joins the YWF playwrights to tell a story with songs, songs we know and love, songs we can all dance to. Be dazzled, delighted and dance until the early hours.

The Literary Ball is FREE but ticketed. 0207 565 5000 www.royalcourttheatre.com. For all other afterdark events, entry is on a first-come-first-served basis.

WORKSHOPS
Quickfire: How to write a 100 Word Play – SOLD OUT
Saturday 3 March, 2.30pm-4.30pm
The Wilson Studio at the Royal Court Theatre
Playwright and Royal Court resident Writing Tutor Leo Butler leads an engaging and exploratory session offering advice and practical exercises. Each participant will write a 100 word play to be displayed at the Royal Court during the festival. Suitable for anyone with a story to tell. Leo Butler’s plays for the Royal Court include Made of Stone, Redundant, Lucky Dog and Faces in the Crowd.

Make a Play: Playwriting workshop for Children
2.30pm – 4.30pm Saturday 17 March
The Wilson Studio at the Royal Court Theatre
Ages 8-11
Do you have lots of stories whizzing around in your head? In this fun and interactive workshop led by playwright Nick Payne, write a short story and see it performed by professional actors. Open to all children aged 8-11, the only thing you need is imagination!

Nick Payne’s recent plays at the Royal Court are Constellations and Wanderlust. Winner of the George Devine Award in 2009, Nick is a graduate of Royal Court Young Writers Programme.

Workshops are FREE but ticketed. 0207 565 5000 www.royalcourttheatre.com

Explore the Royal Court
Friday 30 March, 12pm
Literary Tour
Learn about the life of a script, the process of putting on a play at the Royal Court and writers past and present in this insightful tour led by the Literary team

FREE but ticketed. 0207 565 5000 www.royalcourttheatre.com

IN CONVERSATION WITH…

Free pre-theatre chats with established and up-and-coming theatre practitioners discussing their experience of working in theatre and the Royal Court

In Conversation with Luke Norris and April de Angelis
6pm Thursday 1 March 2012
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
The writer of Goodbye to All That is joined by April de Angelis for a discussion on the writer’s journey from the first word to opening night. April de Angelis’ plays for the Royal Court include Wild East and most recently Jumpy.

In Conversation with Ultz and Tom Piper
6pm Wednesday 14 March 2012
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
Acclaimed theatre designers Tom Piper and Ultz discuss the process of designing for the theatre and the Royal Court. Tom Piper is the Associate Designer of the RSC. Tom has won the London Fringe Best Design Award twice, and an Olivier Award for his costume designs for The Histories. Ultz’s Royal Court credits include Jerusalem (& Apollo Theatre), The Westbridge, Wig Out!, The Good Family, The Khomenko Family Chronicles, and The Winterling.

In Conversation with Hayley Squires and Leo Butler
6pm Thursday 29 March 2012
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs

The writer of Vera Vera Vera talks to playwright and Royal Court resident Writers Tutor Leo Butler about writing your first play and the Royal Court. Leo Butler’s play Made of Stone won the Young Writers Festival 2000. Subsequent plays for the Royal Court include Redundant, Lucky Dog and Faces in the Crowd.
In Conversations are FREE but ticketed. 0207 565 5000 www.royalcourttheatre.com

Coutts is the Principal Sponsor of the Royal Court Theatre

Coutts is the UK private banking arm of the Royal Bank of Scotland. Coutts has a long history of supporting the arts going back 200 years, having looked after the financial affairs of many famous clients connected with the arts such as Bram Stoker, Charles Dickens and Chopin. In 1816, Thomas Coutts married Harriot Mellon, a popular actress of her day, and together they became partners of a number of London Theatres, including the Drury Lane and the Royal Opera House. Coutts has even featured in a number of artistic works including The Gondoliers by Gilbert and Sullivan, and Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic story Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. In the new millennium, this tradition has continued not only through managing the finances of many of today’s top writers, actors and musicians, but also through our arts sponsorship programme and we are delighted to support The Royal Court and its diverse range of ground-breaking performances.

The Young Writers Festival is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and is in partnership with the European Commission Representation in the UK, with additional support from the Dr. Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation.

The Young Writers Festival developmental workshops with European playwrights have also been supported by the European Commission Representation in the UK.

The Young Writers Festival Development Phase has been supported by John Lyon’s Charity.

For further information please contact Anna Evans in the Royal Court Press Office on
020 7565 5063 or e-mail annaevans@royalcourttheatre.com.