Announcing A Reset To Pay & Terms For Freelance Creatives at the Royal Court

News Story

Announced today:

  • Director and joint Set & Costume Designer fees to double in the Royal Court's Jerwood Theatre Downstairs from 2024-25 to 2027-28, and all other core creatives to receive a 25-50% pay increase.
  • Playwright fees to increase in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, levelling up payment across both spaces.
  • New Royal Court Freelance Charter launched ahead of full policy & reporting hub.

Scroll down for full details, or click here to read a message to freelance artists from Artistic Director David Byrne & Executive Director Will Young.

 

The Royal Court Theatre today announces a pay and employment reset for freelance practitioners.
    
The shift will double full production fees for Directors and joint Set & Costume Designers in the 380-seat Jerwood Theatre Downstairs between March 2025 and April 2027, going from industry-typical rates of £9,000 and £7,850 respectively in 2025 to £18,250 and £15,800 in 2027. Equivalent fees in the 90-seat Jerwood Theatre Upstairs will increase by over 50%, from £6,900 and £6,050 to £10,550 and £9,250.

All other core creative fees across the Court’s two theatres will also receive one-off increases of 25-50%. For example, Lighting, Costume and Sound Designers working in our Theatre Downstairs will all receive a 50% increase from April 2027 compared to their March 2025 rates.

Alongside this, playwright fees in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs will increase through an agreed change to the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain TNC Agreement, shared with the RSC and National Theatre. Previously, this included lower fees for the smaller Theatre Upstairs. From 2027, Royal Court playwrights will receive the same upfront commission of over £15,000 before royalties, regardless of where plays premiere.

Additionally, a new Royal Court Freelance Charter will commit to improved terms for all freelancers, bringing benefits closer in line with salaried staff. This includes ongoing pay transparency; improved induction, wellbeing and inclusion support; and strengthened reporting, including online and anonymous systems for raising concerns and complaints. The new structures will support everyone engaging with us, from creatives and technicians to actors and stage managers. A new freelance policy & reporting hub will launch on the Royal Court website in July.

Artistic Director David Byrne & Executive Director Will Young said:

“We all need a Royal Court where everyone can make their best work, optimistic about new writing and the future. This is an invitation to artists and freelancers: the Royal Court will support you, artistically and financially. The commitments we're announcing today are not easy and are significant for our budgets, but they're vital. It’s our hope that, if this is achievable even in difficult times, then here with us surely anything can feel possible.”

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