Royal Court going back to its roots

The Royal Court's new artistic director returned the theatre to its roots today by announcing a debut season showcasing new young writers and experimental drama.

Dominic Cooke is putting emerging playwrights and international drama at the forefront of his vision for the Sloane Square venue.

Six debut plays developed at the Royal Court's Young Writers Programme will be performed during the first half of the year.

Aiming to uncover the next Christopher Hamptons, David Hares and Caryl Churchills - whose careers all blossomed at the theatre - Cooke is featuring works by a string of twentysomething debutants.

These include Leaves by Lucy Caldwell, which will premiere in March, That Face by 20-year-old Polly Stenham, opening in April, and DC Moore's sex and race drama Alaska and 25-year-old Mike Bartlett's parenthood drama My Child, which will both be staged in May.

Cooke is also creating a new studio to help writers "explore ideas in a freer environment".

www.royalcourtheatre.com