Jerwood New Playwrights is part of a longstanding partnership between Jerwood Arts and the Royal Court which spans over 25 years. Since 1994, the Jerwood New Playwrights programme has supported over 70 writers to have their plays produced in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs and the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs.

This programme is receiving new funding through the Jerwood Developing Artists Fund, to continue supporting the theatre’s work across three areas:

• Writer Development will create a professional network of writers and artists to support writing group participants in their early career development.
• Introduction to Playwriting Groups will provide early-career writers with the opportunity to grow their craft and develop confidence in their work.
• Jerwood New Playwright will enable one early-career writer/artist the opportunity to become a Jerwood New Playwright and see their work produced in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court Theatre.

The programme has produced a collection of challenging and outspoken works which explore a variety of new forms and voices. Previous Jerwood New Playwright recipients have included Jasmine Lee-Jones (seven methods of killing kylie jenner), Chris Thorpe (Victory Condition), Alice Birch (Anatomy of A Suicide) and Charlene James (Cuttin’ It).

The Royal Court Theatre’s Jerwood New Playwright Programme is supported by the Jerwood Developing Artists Fund.

Applications: Submissions for the Introduction to Playwrighting Group are now open, with a deadline of 30 June 2023.