03 12 Young Writers Festival 310112.pdf - The Royal Court Theatre
03 12 Young Writers Festival 310112.pdf - The Royal Court Theatre
03 12 Young Writers Festival 310112.pdf - The Royal Court Theatre
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Sloane Square<br />
London SW1W 8AS<br />
Telephone<br />
020 7565 5050<br />
Box Office<br />
020 7565 5000<br />
Tuesday 31 January<br />
YOUNG WRITERS FESTIVAL 20<strong>12</strong><br />
23 Feb - 14 April 20<strong>12</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> <strong>The</strong>atre’s <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Writers</strong> <strong>Festival</strong>, which has been launching<br />
the writing careers of the country’s best known playwrights since 1973 takes<br />
over the Jerwood <strong>The</strong>atre Upstairs at the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> from 23 Feb - 14<br />
April.<br />
Fax<br />
020 7565 5001<br />
E-mail<br />
info@royalcourttheatre.com<br />
Web<br />
www.royalcourttheatre.com<br />
<strong>The</strong> Jerwood <strong>The</strong>atres<br />
at the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong><br />
This year’s festival is the biggest in its history, featuring two full productions of new<br />
plays, four staged readings, ten short plays and a series of free workshops, talks and<br />
‘afterdark’ late night events in the bar. Alongside the free events programme, a paywhat-you-like-night<br />
will be available for both Goodbye to All That and Vera Vera Vera.<br />
Artistic Director<br />
DOMINIC COOKE<br />
Executive Director<br />
KATE HORTON<br />
Luke Norris’ play Goodbye to All That looks at the enduring nature of love and asks if<br />
it’s ever too late to start again and Hayley Squires in Vera Vera Vera looks at violence,<br />
neglect and apathy in the wake of another young soldier’s death in Afghanistan.<br />
President<br />
Dame Joan Plowright CBE<br />
Chairman<br />
Anthony Burton CBE<br />
Vice Chairman<br />
Graham Devlin CBE<br />
<strong>The</strong>re will be staged readings of Brilliant Adventures by Alistair McDowall on 2 and 3<br />
March, Ain’t No Law Against Fish ‘n’ Chips by Rose Lewenstein on 9 and 10 March,<br />
Reflection by Rianna Mitchell-Henry on 30 and 31 March and Where the Shot Rabbits<br />
Lay by Brad Birch on 13 and 14 April.<br />
<strong>Writers</strong> aged 25 and under were asked to submit a full-length play back in spring 2011<br />
with no restrictions or guidelines on content. Over 300 plays were submitted and each<br />
one read by a team of 17 readers, made up of playwrights, directors, <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> staff<br />
and previous <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Writers</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> winners.<br />
Council<br />
Jennette Arnold OBE<br />
Judy Daish<br />
Sir David Green KCMG<br />
Joyce Hytner OBE<br />
Stephen Jeffreys<br />
Wasfi Kani OBE<br />
Phyllida Lloyd CBE<br />
James Midgley<br />
Sophie Okonedo OBE<br />
Alan Rickman<br />
Anita Scott<br />
Katharine Viner<br />
Lord Stewart Wood<br />
Honorary Council<br />
Sir Richard Eyre CBE<br />
Alan Grieve CBE<br />
Martin Paisner CBE<br />
This year, the <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Writers</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> was opened up to a younger age group, accepting<br />
submissions from ages eight to 25 in order to uncover stories from the UK’s younger<br />
population. Supported by John Lyon’s Charity, the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> worked with 75 young<br />
people from 18 schools delivering a six-week writing programme under the tutelage of<br />
writers Debbie Tucker Green, EV Crowe and Nick Payne to create a fully-realised play<br />
that would be suitable for submission to the <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Writers</strong> <strong>Festival</strong>.<br />
More follows…/<br />
<strong>The</strong> English Stage<br />
Company Ltd<br />
Registered Charity<br />
No. 23<strong>12</strong>42<br />
Company Registration<br />
No. 539332 (London)<br />
Principal Sponsor Coutts<br />
Page 1 of 11
<strong>The</strong> young people’s plays will be performed in Saturday Shorts on 17 March, with seven<br />
short plays from the eight-11 age group and three plays from <strong>12</strong>-15 age group. Rianna<br />
Mitchell-Henry’s play Reflection, written when she was 17 as part of the schools’<br />
workshops, will have a full reading on 30 and 31 March.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re will also be a host of events and workshops around this year’s festival, including<br />
storytelling workshops for children with playwright Nick Payne, a series of late night<br />
‘afterdark’ events in the bar, live talks with writers and directors and the 100 word play,<br />
which invites anyone of any age or experience to write a short play which will be<br />
displayed around the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> during the festival.<br />
Since its inception in 1973, the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Writers</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> has become one of<br />
the premier showcases of young writing talent from across Britain, launching writers<br />
such as Simon Stephens (winner of the 2005 Olivier award for Best Newcomer),<br />
Christopher Shinn (nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in 2008), Bola Agbaje (winner of the<br />
Olivier Award in 2008), Leo Butler, Andrea Dunbar, DC Moore, Michael Wynne and<br />
Chloe Moss.<br />
<strong>The</strong> most recent <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Writers</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> in 2009 produced Alia Bano’s play Shades,<br />
which went on to win the Most Promising Playwrights Award at the Evening Standard<br />
Award and Critics’ Circle Awards.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Writers</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council<br />
England and is in partnership with the European Commission Representation in the UK,<br />
with additional support from the Dr. Mortimer and <strong>The</strong>resa Sackler Foundation.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Writers</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> Development Phase has been supported by John Lyon’s<br />
Charity.<br />
More follows…/<br />
For further information please contact Anna Evans in the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> Press Office on<br />
020 7565 5063 or e-mail annaevans@royalcourttheatre.com.<br />
Page 2 of 11
Goodbye to All That<br />
By Luke Norris<br />
Directed by Simon Godwin<br />
Thursday 23 February - Saturday 17 March 20<strong>12</strong><br />
Jerwood <strong>The</strong>atre Upstairs<br />
Press Night, Monday 27 February 20<strong>12</strong> 7pm<br />
‘I want you to remember something, David: if you remember only one thing I’ve ever told you,<br />
remember this every day – morning, noon and night - you do what you want with your life.<br />
Exactly what you want. Break heads if you need to and hearts if you have to, but whatever you<br />
do don’t do what I did. Don’t waste yourself.’<br />
Frank has been married for forty years. Three years ago he fell in love.<br />
This taut and tender new play asks if it’s ever too late to start again.<br />
<strong>The</strong> cast includes Susan Brown, Alexander Cobb, Linda Marlowe and Roger Sloman.<br />
Luke Norris is an actor, appearing at the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> earlier this year in Aleksey<br />
Scherbak’s Remembrance Day. He attended <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> playwriting groups, before<br />
entering the <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Writers</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> this year. This is his first play.<br />
Simon Godwin will direct. Recently appointed full-time Associate Director at the<br />
<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong>, his credits here include <strong>The</strong> Acid Test by Anya Reiss and Wanderlust by Nick<br />
Payne. His other credits include Faith Healer and Far Away at Bristol Old Vic, <strong>The</strong> Winter's<br />
Tale for Headlong and the Nuffield <strong>The</strong>atre Southampton, Mister Heracles at the West<br />
Yorkshire Playhouse. As Associate Director of the <strong>Royal</strong> and Derngate <strong>The</strong>atres in<br />
Northampton under Artistic Director Rupert Goold, Simon directed seven main stage<br />
shows.<br />
<strong>The</strong> production is designed by Tom Piper with lighting by Matt Drury and sound by<br />
Alexander Caplen<br />
For further information please contact Anna Evans in the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> Press Office on<br />
020 7565 5063 or e-mail annaevans@royalcourttheatre.com.<br />
Page 3 of 11<br />
More follows…/
Goodbye to All That<br />
By Luke Norris<br />
Directed by Simon Godwin<br />
Thursday 23 February - Saturday 17 March 20<strong>12</strong><br />
Jerwood <strong>The</strong>atre Upstairs <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> <strong>The</strong>atre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS<br />
Monday-Saturday 7.45pm (except Friday 2, Saturday 3, Friday 9 and Saturday 10<br />
March at 8.30pm)<br />
Saturday Matinee 3.30pm (from 3 March)<br />
Thursday Matinee 3.30pm (1, 8 & 15 March)<br />
Press Night Monday 27 February 7pm<br />
Post-show talk Tuesday 6 March<br />
Captioned Performance Tuesday 13 March<br />
Tickets £20 Monday all seats £10<br />
Concessions £15* (available in advance until Saturday 3 March incl, and all matinees.<br />
For all other performances, available on a standby basis on the day)<br />
Pay What You Like Night: Friday 24 February. Tickets available in person from 10am<br />
on the day.<br />
School and HE Groups of 8+ £10 (avail. Tue-Fri and mats)<br />
Access £<strong>12</strong> (plus a companion at the same rate)<br />
*ID required. All discounts are subject to availability.<br />
More follows…/<br />
For further information please contact Anna Evans in the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> Press Office on<br />
020 7565 5063 or e-mail annaevans@royalcourttheatre.com.<br />
Page 4 of 11
Vera Vera Vera<br />
By Hayley Squires<br />
Directed by Jo McInnes<br />
Thursday 22 March – Saturday 14 April 20<strong>12</strong><br />
Jerwood <strong>The</strong>atre Upstairs<br />
Press Night: Monday 26 March 20<strong>12</strong>, 7pm<br />
‘Bobby’s dead and you’re still breathing. That’s a fucking walking talking tragedy that is.’<br />
<strong>The</strong> boy who comes back from a war far away in a wooden box is glorified and called a hero.<br />
As the funeral plans are made in a small Kent town, his siblings squabble over who he was.<br />
Maybe the fanfare isn’t needed for this heroic martyr.<br />
Vera Vera Vera is a blackly comic play about what we are willing to fight for. Hayley Squires<br />
is a bracing new voice, clear eyed and loud, looking at violence, neglect and apathy.<br />
<strong>The</strong> cast includes Daniel Kendrick, Danielle Flett and Tommy McDonnell.<br />
Hayley Squires is an actor. This is her first play and her first submission to the <strong>Royal</strong><br />
<strong>Court</strong>.<br />
Director Jo McInnes most recently directed Red Bud at the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong>, as well as<br />
appearing in Wastwater by Simon Stephens as an actor. Her directorial credits also<br />
include <strong>The</strong> Verdict in 2007 on BBC1 and the world premiere of Marine Parade by Simon<br />
Stephens at the Brighton <strong>Festival</strong>.<br />
<strong>The</strong> production will be designed by Tom Piper, with lighting by Stephen Andrews and<br />
sound by David McSeveney.<br />
For further information please contact Anna Evans in the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> Press Office on<br />
020 7565 5063 or e-mail annaevans@royalcourttheatre.com.<br />
Page 5 of 11<br />
More follows…/
Vera Vera Vera<br />
By Hayley Squires<br />
Directed by Jo McInnes<br />
Thursday 22 March – Saturday 14 April 20<strong>12</strong><br />
Jerwood <strong>The</strong>atre Upstairs <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> <strong>The</strong>atre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS<br />
Monday-Thursday 7.45pm<br />
Friday 23 March 7.45pm<br />
Friday 30 March and 13 April 8.30pm<br />
Saturday 24 March and 7 April 7.45pm<br />
Saturday 31 March and 14 April 8.30pm<br />
Saturday Matinees 3.30pm (from 31 March)<br />
Thursday Matinees 5 April and <strong>12</strong> April 3.30pm<br />
<strong>The</strong>re will be no performances on Good Friday or Easter Monday.<br />
Press Night Monday 26 March 20<strong>12</strong> 7pm<br />
Post-show talk Tuesday 3 April<br />
Captioned performance Friday 13 April<br />
Tickets £20 Monday all seats £10<br />
Concessions £15* (available in advance until Saturday 31 March incl, and all matinees.<br />
For all other performances, available on a standby basis on the day)<br />
Pay What You Like Night: Friday 23 March. Tickets available in person from 10am<br />
on the day.<br />
School and HE Groups of 8+ £10 (avail. Tue-Fri and mats)<br />
Access £<strong>12</strong> (plus a companion at the same rate)<br />
*ID required. All discounts are subject to availability.<br />
YOUNG WRITERS FESTIVAL READINGS<br />
<strong>Writers</strong> aged 25 and under were asked to submit a full-length play with no restrictions<br />
or guidelines on content. Over 300 plays were submitted. Four were selected to receive<br />
staged readings as part of the <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Writers</strong> <strong>Festival</strong>:<br />
Brilliant Adventures<br />
By Alistair McDowall<br />
Directed by Caroline Steinbeis<br />
6pm 2 & 3 March<br />
Jerwood <strong>The</strong>atre Upstairs<br />
Rob’s less than impressed by his brother Luke ’s new flat. That is until he discovers it’s ideally<br />
placed to become the area’s drug supply epicentre. Thrown into a dangerous world, the<br />
brothers must salvage what’s left of the home and family. Luke's got an ingenious solution<br />
which could solve all their problems...<br />
Alistair McDowall is 24-year-old writer from the North East of England. Previous<br />
plays include Plain Jane, Some Stories, and 5:30. He has been a writer-on-attachment at<br />
the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> and is currently on attachment with Paines Plough. Brilliant Adventures<br />
was recently awarded a Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting.<br />
More follows…/<br />
Ain’t No Law Against Fish ‘n’ Chips<br />
For further information please contact Anna Evans in the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> Press Office on<br />
020 7565 5063 or e-mail annaevans@royalcourttheatre.com.<br />
Page 6 of 11
By Rose Lewenstein<br />
Directed by Richard Twyman<br />
6pm 9 & 10 March<br />
Jerwood <strong>The</strong>atre Upstairs<br />
As Pete struggles to find a job in the East End of London, he finds solace in the words and<br />
cause of some radical locals. But as Pete’s ideological fervour grows so does his sense alienation<br />
from the people most important to him.<br />
Rose Lewenstein lives in Hackney and wrote Ain’t No Law Against Fish ‘n’ Chips when<br />
she was 25. She attended the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> Studio’s writers groups before writing her<br />
play in 2011.<br />
Where the Shot Rabbits Lay<br />
By Brad Birch<br />
Directed by Nick Bagnall<br />
6pm 13 & 14 April<br />
Jerwood <strong>The</strong>atre Upstairs<br />
In the wake of an acrimonious divorce, a father and son venture into the wilderness on a<br />
camping trip looking for reconciliation.<br />
Brad Birch is a 23-year-old playwright from Mid Wales. Brad has had work performed<br />
at <strong>The</strong>atr Powys, Sherman Cymru, the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong>, <strong>The</strong>atre 5<strong>03</strong> and Dirty Protest<br />
before becoming the writer in residence at the Undeb theatre company. In 2010 Brad<br />
took part in the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong>’s <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Writers</strong>’ Programme and has participated in a<br />
number of <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> playwriting groups since. During his time in the groups, he began<br />
writing Where <strong>The</strong> Shot Rabbits Lay.<br />
Reflection<br />
By Rianna Mitchell-Henry<br />
Directed by Gbolahan Obisesan<br />
6pm 30 & 31 March<br />
Jerwood <strong>The</strong>atre Upstairs<br />
Jamal’s ready to fly the nest and sort his life out but his overbearing mother and criminal record<br />
are standing in his way. Will a chance encounter with a wealthy businessman offer Jamal the<br />
opportunity he’s been waiting for A lyrical play with a sharp eye and a fresh voice.<br />
Rianna Mitchell-Henry is 18 years old and lives in West London. She is currently<br />
studying for an English & Professional & Creative Writing degree and has a strong<br />
passion for playwriting. She wrote the play Reflection when she was 17 years old. She<br />
describes the play as representing how personal issues and behaviour can affect,<br />
influence and direct parenting styles and the impacts, both positive and negative, on<br />
children and young people.<br />
Tickets for all readings £8 on 0207 565 5000 or online www.royalcourttheatre.com<br />
More follows…/<br />
For further information please contact Anna Evans in the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> Press Office on<br />
020 7565 5063 or e-mail annaevans@royalcourttheatre.com.<br />
Page 7 of 11
Saturday Shorts<br />
Directed by Charlotte Gwinner<br />
17 March<br />
10.30am-11.30am seven short readings by writers aged 8-11 years<br />
<strong>12</strong>pm – 1pm: three readings by writers aged <strong>12</strong>-15 years<br />
Jerwood <strong>The</strong>atre Downstairs<br />
Staged readings of ten short plays by 8-15 year olds.<br />
Shorts by writers aged 8-11 years old:<br />
Journey to Food Paradise by Jose-Luis Aduino-Mejia<br />
<strong>The</strong> Magic Wig by Isabelle Kennedy-Grimes<br />
Cat or What by Eva Kerslake-Blue<br />
Hope Can Last by Lavinia Scoyni<br />
Proud to be Geeky by Janine Coelho Gomes<br />
<strong>The</strong> Flying Boy by Joseph Burke-Gaffney<br />
London, We Have a Problem by Jack Franco<br />
Shorts by writers aged 13-15 years old:<br />
Calling At by Jessica Kelly<br />
20 One Truths by Seren Williams<br />
<strong>The</strong>n I Met You by Olivia Sewell Risley<br />
Tickets for Saturday Shorts £8 (Under 18s £3, Family ticket £20) on 0207 565 5000 or<br />
online www.royalcourttheatre.com<br />
AFTERDARK: Free late night events in the Café Bar<br />
After the lights go down on the plays upstairs, join us in the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> Café Bar for a<br />
series of FREE late night events guaranteed to keep you in the festival mood. Plus, every<br />
Friday night throughout the festival, they’ll be dj-ing in the Café Bar.<br />
Music in the Bar Fri 16 Mar, 10.15pm ‘til late<br />
‘Jazzheadchronic’ DJ Mickey Smith brings the sounds of motown, and oldskool funk to<br />
the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> Café Bar plus special guests.<br />
Spoken Word Night Wed 28 Mar, 10.15pm ‘til late<br />
Whether you’re a fan or brand new to the spoken word scene, this is a night not to be<br />
missed. Line up includes legendary artists Inua Ellams, Polarbear and Kate<br />
Tempest.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Literary Ball Sat 14 Apr, 10.15pm ‘til late<br />
In association with La Coopérative d’Ecriture<br />
As the festival draws to a close, join us for a party with a literary twist. French writer<br />
Nathalie Fillion joins the YWF playwrights to tell a story with songs, songs we know<br />
and love, songs we can all dance to. Be dazzled, delighted and dance until the early<br />
hours.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Literary Ball is FREE but ticketed. 0207 565 5000 www.royalcourttheatre.com. For<br />
all other afterdark events, entry is on a first-come-first-served basis.<br />
For further information please contact Anna Evans in the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> Press Office on<br />
020 7565 5063 or e-mail annaevans@royalcourttheatre.com.<br />
Page 8 of 11<br />
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WORKSHOPS<br />
Quickfire: How to write a 100 Word Play - SOLD OUT<br />
Saturday 3 March, 2.30pm-4.30pm<br />
<strong>The</strong> Wilson Studio at the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> <strong>The</strong>atre<br />
Playwright and <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> resident Writing Tutor Leo Butler leads an engaging and<br />
exploratory session offering advice and practical exercises. Each participant will write a<br />
100 word play to be displayed at the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> during the festival. Suitable for anyone<br />
with a story to tell. Leo Butler’s plays for the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> include Made of Stone,<br />
Redundant, Lucky Dog and Faces in the Crowd.<br />
Make a Play: Playwriting workshop for Children<br />
2.30pm – 4.30pm Saturday 17 March<br />
<strong>The</strong> Wilson Studio at the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> <strong>The</strong>atre<br />
Ages 8-11<br />
Do you have lots of stories whizzing around in your head In this fun and interactive<br />
workshop led by playwright Nick Payne, write a short story and see it performed by<br />
professional actors. Open to all children aged 8-11, the only thing you need is<br />
imagination!<br />
Nick Payne’s recent plays at the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> are Constellations and Wanderlust. Winner<br />
of the George Devine Award in 2009, Nick is a graduate of <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Writers</strong><br />
Programme.<br />
Workshops are FREE but ticketed. 0207 565 5000 www.royalcourttheatre.com<br />
Explore the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong><br />
Friday 30 March, <strong>12</strong>pm<br />
Literary Tour<br />
Learn about the life of a script, the process of putting on a play at the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> and<br />
writers past and present in this insightful tour led by the Literary team<br />
FREE but ticketed. 0207 565 5000 www.royalcourttheatre.com<br />
IN CONVERSATION WITH…<br />
Free pre-theatre chats with established and up-and-coming theatre practitioners<br />
discussing their experience of working in theatre and the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong><br />
In Conversation with Luke Norris and April de Angelis<br />
6pm Thursday 1 March 20<strong>12</strong><br />
Jerwood <strong>The</strong>atre Upstairs<br />
<strong>The</strong> writer of Goodbye to All That is joined by April de Angelis for a discussion on the<br />
writer’s journey from the first word to opening night. April de Angelis’ plays for the<br />
<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> include Wild East and most recently Jumpy.<br />
For further information please contact Anna Evans in the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> Press Office on<br />
020 7565 5063 or e-mail annaevans@royalcourttheatre.com.<br />
Page 9 of 11<br />
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In Conversation with Ultz and Tom Piper<br />
6pm Wednesday 14 March 20<strong>12</strong><br />
Jerwood <strong>The</strong>atre Upstairs<br />
Acclaimed theatre designers Tom Piper and Ultz discuss the process of designing for the<br />
theatre and the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong>. Tom Piper is the Associate Designer of the RSC. Tom has<br />
won the London Fringe Best Design Award twice, and an Olivier Award for his costume<br />
designs for <strong>The</strong> Histories. Ultz’s <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> credits include Jerusalem (& Apollo <strong>The</strong>atre),<br />
<strong>The</strong> Westbridge, Wig Out!, <strong>The</strong> Good Family, <strong>The</strong> Khomenko Family Chronicles, and <strong>The</strong><br />
Winterling.<br />
In Conversation with Hayley Squires and Leo Butler<br />
6pm Thursday 29 March 20<strong>12</strong><br />
Jerwood <strong>The</strong>atre Upstairs<br />
<strong>The</strong> writer of Vera Vera Vera talks to playwright and <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> resident <strong>Writers</strong> Tutor<br />
Leo Butler about writing your first play and the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong>. Leo Butler’s play Made of<br />
Stone won the <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Writers</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> 2000. Subsequent plays for the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong><br />
include Redundant, Lucky Dog and Faces in the Crowd.<br />
In Conversations are FREE but ticketed. 0207 565 5000 www.royalcourttheatre.com<br />
Coutts is the Principal Sponsor of the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> <strong>The</strong>atre<br />
Coutts is the UK private banking arm of the <strong>Royal</strong> Bank of Scotland. Coutts has a long<br />
history of supporting the arts going back 200 years, having looked after the financial<br />
affairs of many famous clients connected with the arts such as Bram Stoker, Charles<br />
Dickens and Chopin. In 1816, Thomas Coutts married Harriot Mellon, a popular actress<br />
of her day, and together they became partners of a number of London <strong>The</strong>atres,<br />
including the Drury Lane and the <strong>Royal</strong> Opera House. Coutts has even featured in a<br />
number of artistic works including <strong>The</strong> Gondoliers by Gilbert and Sullivan, and Robert<br />
Louis Stevenson’s classic story Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. In the new millennium, this<br />
tradition has continued not only through managing the finances of many of today’s top<br />
writers, actors and musicians, but also through our arts sponsorship programme and we<br />
are delighted to support <strong>The</strong> <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> and its diverse range of ground-breaking<br />
performances.<br />
For further information please contact Anna Evans in the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> Press Office on<br />
020 7565 5063 or e-mail annaevans@royalcourttheatre.com.<br />
Page 10 of 11<br />
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Writers</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council<br />
England and is in partnership with the European Commission Representation in the UK,<br />
with additional support from the Dr. Mortimer and <strong>The</strong>resa Sackler Foundation.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Writers</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> developmental workshops with European playwrights have<br />
also been supported by the European Commission Representation in the UK.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Writers</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> Development Phase has been supported by John Lyon’s<br />
Charity.<br />
For further information please contact Anna Evans in the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> Press Office on<br />
020 7565 5063 or e-mail annaevans@royalcourttheatre.com.<br />
For further information please contact Anna Evans in the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Court</strong> Press Office on<br />
020 7565 5063 or e-mail annaevans@royalcourttheatre.com.<br />
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