Jerwood New Playwright and Jerwood Royal Court Commissioning Scheme

Jerwood Foundation has awarded the Royal Court a total grant of £200,000 over two years to support two integral writer development programmes that sit at the heart of the theatre’s mission- the first continues to build upon a vital legacy namely the Jerwood New Playwright, which offers production and development opportunities to an early career playwright and the second launches a new national initiative; Jerwood Royal Court Commissioning Scheme.

Since 1994 Jerwood has supported the Royal Court through capital and project grants as well as providing essential financial support to Artistic Director David Byrne in his inaugural season of work, and the Courts’ overall ambition to cultivate advocate for and support theatre writers.

Since its inception, the Jerwood New Playwright programme has been instrumental in discovering and supporting some of the most important playwrights of our time, including Sarah Kane, Alice Birch, and Mark Ravenhill. This continued support will cover commissioning fees, script development, and production costs - ensuring the writer's work receives the strongest possible platform on the Royal Court stage.

Winner of the inaugural 2025 Royal Court Young Playwrights Award and named 2026 Jerwood New Playwright is 19-year-old Leo Simpe-Asante with his debut play Goddot’s To-Do List, directed by Aneesha Srinivasanmarks; which offers a surprising reimagining of Beckett’s classic. The play impressed Royal Court Artistic Director, David Byrne and Associate Playwright & Senior Dramaturg, Gillian Greer, so deeply that it is now programmed as the curtain raiser to a special run of Krapp’s Last Tape, starring Academy Award winner Gary Oldman.

With this grant, Jerwood Foundation will also be supporting a brand-new, national initiative to increase investment and support for new writing on stages right across the UK. Launching in the Royal Courts 70th anniversary year, the Jerwood Royal Court Commissioning Scheme will be an annual, open-application national fund to encourage ambitious play commissioning. Every year, the Jerwood Royal Court Commissioning Scheme will award six grants of up to £6,000 to underwrite the up-front payments on six new play commissions, led by theatres and producing companies across the country. 

The Jerwood Royal Court Commissioning Scheme will make its first awards in 2026, with full information, timelines, eligibility and application guidance launched via the Royal Court website in December 2025.

 

Lara Wardle, Executive Director and Trustee Jerwood Foundation said:

Awarding this grant reaffirms Jerwood Foundation’s long-standing support of the Royal Court Theatre and enables the launch of the Jerwood Royal Court Commissioning Scheme, a crucial national scheme, which will unlock a route to the stage for new plays and support emerging creative voices. Jerwood is also continuing its support of Jerwood New Playwrights, now in its fourth decade, through which the Royal Court Theatre identifies and nurtures a new playwright of outstanding talent each year and I am delighted that the 82nd Jerwood New Playwright has been announced as 19 year-old Leo Simpe-Asante, which underlines Jerwood’s ongoing commitment to support excellence and emerging talent in the arts.

Artistic Director David Byrne and Executive Director Will Young from the Royal Court said:

The legacy and mission of the Royal Court have long gone hand-in-hand with the values and support of Jerwood Foundation. We couldn't be prouder to announce this major new, multi-year partnership to take our joint commitment to new heights, investing in the next generation of contemporary playwriting. Not only will this extend the renowned Jerwood New Playwright award and strengthen our ability to premiere bold new work, but the centrepiece - the Jerwood Royal Court Commissioning Scheme - is a complete game-changer: jointly extending our resource beyond Sloane Square to create six new play commissions every year, with writers and producers at theatres across the country.

For Further information please visit the Royal Court

November 13, 2025