Recipients of Inaugural Jerwood Royal Court Commissioning Scheme Announced

The Royal Court, in partnership with Jerwood Foundation, today announces the recipients of the inaugural Jerwood Royal Court Commissioning Scheme - igniting and underwriting brand new commissions for original plays with venues and producers across the UK.

Reaching a diverse cohort of exceptional writers, and with producers across the country from major national playhouses to independent touring companies, the 2026 recipients are: Tonderai Munyevu with York Theatre Royal, Simon Longman with Kestrel Theatre, Harry Mould with Traverse Theatre, Christine Entwisle with Shared Experience, Anjeli Chapman with Tamasha and Shahid Iqbal Khan with Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse.

In its first-ever funding round, six grants of up to £6,000 each have been awarded jointly to playwrights and producers who applied through the open-access national Scheme. Designed to invest in a pipeline of ambitious and risk-taking new theatre and encourage producers backing original work, grants will underwrite the signature fee for a new play commission belonging to the producer and writer.

Launched this year for the Royal Court’s 70th anniversary, for its inaugural round the Scheme received 136 applications, each in partnership between a playwright and producer - with 12 shortlisted for interview by a panel including representatives from Jerwood Foundation and the Royal Court's artistic leadership.

The second round of applications, for grants in 2027, will also be announced later this year.

To read the full press release, click here.