New and Now: International Plays from the Royal Court Theatre at Edinburgh International Festival

At the Edinburgh International Festival, kick off your day with readings of urgent new plays by some of today’s most important international playwrights.

Over the past 20 years, the Royal Court’s International Playwrights’ Programme with the support of the British Council, has encouraged emerging writers in all parts of the world to address subjects that they felt were urgent in their societies. In more than 70 countries and over 40 languages writers have felt inspired to write provocative new plays that are responding to our changing world and creating unique works for our times.

Over six mornings, an outstanding group of actors and directors will bring to life new plays from some of the world’s most exciting writers.

BAD ROADS (Ukraine) | 8 Aug 11am
By Natal’ya Vorozhbit
Translated by Sasha Dugdale
Directed by Vicky Featherstone

A harrowing and bitterly funny new play about Ukraine at war – seen through the eyes of the women fighting, reporting and enduring the conflict.

Following Bad Roads there will be a discussion with all the writers from the series, hosted by Vicky Featherstone, Artistic Director of the Royal Court.

Cast: Jimmy Chisholm, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, James Harkness, Anne Lacey, Tamara Lawrance, Eileen Walsh, Ria Zmitrowicz.

GHALIA’S MILES (Lebanon) | 9 Aug 11am
By Maya Zbib
Translated by Katharine Halls
Directed by Lucy Morrison

Fleeing Lebanon in the hope of building a new life in Europe, Ghalia makes an extraordinary journey through the Middle East.

Cast: Nadia Albina, Ishia Bennison, Aysha Kala, Danusia Samal, Kareem Samara (Musician) and Hara Yannas

DRAINAGE ALLEY (Cuba) | 10 Aug 11am
By Laura Liz Gil Echenique,
Translated by William Gregory
Directed by John Tiffany

This story of a quiet alleyway in Havana explores Cuba poised on the cusp of opening up to the world.

Cast: Ronke Adekoluejo, Jimmy Chisholm, Ivanno Jeremiah, Anne Lacey, Robin Laing and Amaka Okafor.

YOU NEVER TOUCHED THE DIRT (China) | 11 Aug 11am
Written and translated by Zhu Yi
Directed by Sam Pritchard

This subtle and witty play tackles the breathtaking economic transformation of China, the dreams it enables and those it crushes.

Cast: Paul Courtney Hyu, Wendy Kweh, Sarah Lam, Kwong Loke and Colin Ryan.

THERE IS NO ONE BETWEEN YOU AND ME (Palestine) | 12 Aug 11am
By Dalia Taha
Directed by Lucy Morrison

A woman returns to a hometown she no longer recognises in this haunting new play from Dalia Taha.

Cast: Nadia Albina, Ishia Bennison, Aysha Kala, Danusia Samal, Nima Taleghani, Hara Yannas and Sargon Yelda.

SPEECH (DISCURSO) (Chile) | 13 Aug 11am
Written and directed by Guillermo Calderón
Translated by William Gregory
Performed by Kika Markham

Guillermo Calderón returns to the subject of Chilean president Michelle Bachelet in a new version of this extraordinary monologue.

Cast: Kika Markham

Our International Director Elyse Dodgson will also be taking part in ‘The Power of Plays’ panel, discussing the unique ability theatre has to examine differing perspectives, effect change and unravel layers of complexity in times of political turmoil.