In 2019, the Royal Court began its first ever workshop group in Japan. Working with the New National Theatre in Tokyo and the British Council on a three year long project that will culminate in January 2023.

Fifteen playwrights from across Japan met for three intensive workshops. Working with a team from the Royal Court including Associate Director Sam Pritchard, Literary Manager Jane Fallowfield, the playwright Alistair McDowall and visiting Japanese playwright Tomohiro Maekawa.

These three workshops supported those playwrights through the conception and development of a brand new play. And provide a unique opportunity for exchange between two theatre cultures, beginning a long term conversation between Japanese theatre artists and the Royal Court about different approaches to dramaturgy and playmaking.

The final phase of the project involved the presentation of work by three of the writers from the workshop at the Royal Court in London as part of the New Plays Japan series in 2023.