Script Submissions

We’re dedicated to finding the most exciting new plays, underpinned by our commitment to open submissions.

Our year-round promise is that anyone writing in English, from the UK and around the world, can send us a play. We’ll read and respond to every single one. Typically responding within three months, while we can only provide active feedback and support for the plays and writers we’re most excited about, every play is considered for our programming and development opportunities, including our Writers’ Groups and Open Submissions Festival.

The primary way to send us a play is through our online portal (see below). We’re unable to receive hard copies, but if you have access needs which mean our system is a barrier, please contact literary@royalcourttheatre.com.

ELIGIBILITY

  • Our mission is to stage the most exciting new work for theatre – so we do not accept screenplays, novels, poetry or radio plays.
  • We can only accept scripts as a PDF or Word document with a maximum size of 10MB.
  • We only read original, full-length plays – we suggest this would be around 50 pages or 25-30 pages for a monologue.
  • We are unable to accept more than one submission from a writer at a time, or consider unsolicited resubmissions or new drafts of plays we have previously read.
  • We do accept scripts for original musicals, but cannot accept scores or soundtracks as part of first submission.

We’re looking for plays that could be staged at the Royal Court, so encourage writers to understand our work by visiting or exploring our programmes online. We focus on plays that say or do something we haven’t encountered before – in form, content or ideas. We very rarely programme adaptations and therefore do not accept adaptations of novels, films or pre-existing narrative works through our open submissions – we are looking for original plays. Similarly, we are unlikely to programme plays based on histories or biographies, unless handled in a compellingly contemporary way.

SUBMITTING YOUR SCRIPT

Please click here to send us your script.

Having problems submitting your script? Here are some things to try:

  • If possible, try submitting on a laptop or desktop rather than through a tablet or mobile.
  • Try using an alternative internet browser.
  • The Captcha form sometimes struggles with special characters (eg & or %). If possible, try removing them.
  • If after trying these, you’re still having problems, please contact us on literary@royalcourttheatre.com.

You will receive an automatic acknowledgement by email, and a further personal response within 3-4 months. Please only follow up after this time, and note we only accept submission enquiries via literary@royalcourttheatre.com.

How we store your data

We take data protection seriously and hereby undertake to look after all personal data in accordance with General Data Protection Regulation and updated legislation. As part of our unsolicited script reading process, all personal data related to submissions will be stored securely on our server indefinitely and access limited to the artistic department, who manage  script reading. The justification for keeping this data is legitimate interest, as we may need to contact writers about the script they have submitted or future work. This information will not be shared with third parties. You have the right to request access to your personal data at any time and can ask to be removed from the database. Please click here for full details of our privacy policy.