The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial West End theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is considered to be one of the most innovative venues for new writing in the country and presents a wide-ranging programme all year round.

The present building opened on 24 September 1888 as the New Court Theatre. It was designed by Walter Emden and Bertie Crew in fine red brick, with a stone façade in an Italianate style. The first production in the theatre was a play by Sydney Grundy, Mamma, starring famous theatre director Matilda Vining, as well as actors Arthur Cecil and Eric Lewis. The venue was used a theatre until 1932, before it underwent a short period between 1935 and 1940 as a cinema.

The Royal Court Theatre was re-opened as a theatrical venue in 1952. This was the beginning of the theatre’s reputation as an institution that revered new and exciting writing. John Osbourne’s famous play Don’t Look Back In Anger premiered at the theatre in 1956 and was followed by his play, The Entertainer, which starred the great Laurence Olivier in its lead role.

In more recent years, the theatre has expanded itself; the building now has two main auditoriums, the Theatre Downstairs (380 seats) and the Theatre Upstairs (85 seats). It is also Grade II listed. The Royal Court Theatre continues to support the work of new writers and is one of the finest places to see fresh writing in the country.