The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre in Sloane Square, in the Chelsea area of London noted for its contributions to modern theatre. Since 1956 it has been home to a resident company, the English Stage Company.

The present building was constructed in 1888. It first attained prominence under the management of Harley Granville-Barker. Many of George Bernard Shaw's plays were initially produced at the Royal Court.

After a brief period as a cinema, and after having been damaged by bombing during World War II, the theatre re-opened in 1952 and was acquired by the English Stage Company in 1956. The theatre became noted for its commitment to serious works by contemporary playwrights, often becoming involved in issues of censorship.

There are two performance spaces in the building. The "Theatre Downstairs" is a 400-seat proscenium arch auditorium and the "Theatre Upstairs" is a 60-seat studio. The theatre received a major overhaul in the late 1990s, and reopened in February 2000. The auditorium was retained, but both the backstage and front of house facilities were radically improved.

Bibliography

Bergan,Ronald (1992).The Great Theatres of London: An Illustrated Companion. London: Trafalgar Square Publishing. ISBN 1853750573 Roberts,Philip (1999). The Royal Court Theatre and the modern stage. Cambridge, UK ; Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521479622

External link

Royal Court Theatre website