Royal Court announces season featuring Nicola Walker and Ambika Mod

Nicola Walker and star of Netflix’s One Day Ambika Mod are among the performers set to feature in the Royal Court’s latest programme, which also sees the return of Nassim Soleimanpour’s ECHO (Every Cold-Hearted Oxygen).

The acclaimed production, which has seen actors including Jeremy O Harris and Jodie Whittaker tackle scripts they’ve never seen before, is to run again at the Royal Court from June 27 to July 5 before an international tour, featuring stars including Mel Giedroyc, Juliet Stevenson and Nish Kumar. 

Artistic director David Byrne has also announced that new musical After the Act, which explores the impact of a 1988 law that banned the "promotion" of homosexuality in schools, is to transfer to the Royal Court on May 21 following its UK tour, and run until June 14. 

It comes after Byrne revealed his intentions to add musicals to the line-up at the London new-writing venue, which has traditionally focused on plays. 

His latest programme includes four world premieres, beginning with Deaf Republic, a collaboration between sign language poet Zoë McWhinney and theatre company Dead Centre.

Performed in a mix of spoken English, sign language, puppetry, creative captioning and silence, it is set to run from August 29 to September 13 2025, with press night on September 4. 

Next, Cow|Deer, billed as a "new experiment" from Katie Mitchell, Nina Segal and Melanie Wilson which uses "only sound and no words", will run from September 4 until October 11, with press night on September 10. 

The Unbelievers, a new play by Nick Payne which follows the disappearance of a teenage boy and its effect on his mother, will follow.

Starring Walker, directed by Marianne Elliot and designed by Bunny Christie, it is scheduled to run from October 10 to November 29, with press night on October 16. 

Finally Sophia Chetin-Leuner’s Porn Play, which will see Mod play an academic with a secret addiction to violent pornography, is to run from November 6 to December 13, with press night on November 13.  

The four world premieres are to follow previously announced productions including Robert Icke’s Manhunt and a revival of Sarah Kane’s 4.48 Psychosis. 

Commenting on the programme, Byrne said: "The best thing about being artistic director at the Royal Court is the opportunity to support playwrights working in every form and texture for the stage. 

"This season is the full feast of what new writing for the contemporary stage looks like now. Every production in this season is an unmissable piece of theatre, each bringing together world-class artists to present electric new work to audiences. Come and join us."