The Royal Court Theatre was built in 1888 by architects Walter Emden and Bertie Crewe. It had a varied life for the first seventy years of its existence, serving variously as a receiving house, a producing venue (home to some of GB Shaw’s greatest works including Major Barbara and Man and Superman), a cinema and finally falling into disuse after bomb damage during the Blitz. In 1956, the English Stage Company, established by George Devine, set up home at the Royal Court and began producing radical new work which marked the beginning of modern British theatre. The English Stage Company was the country’s first national subsidised theatre company and produced new British plays, international plays and some classical revivals, which it continues to do today. Located in the heart of Chelsea, the Royal Court is the UK’s leading theatre company for new writing – presenting original, unique and award-winning plays.

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