Our work

We commission and develop a wealth of new work. The creative culture within the RSC  inspires writers to experiment with new ideas. It also allows us to investigate the classics with a fresh, inventive eye. We encourage our playwrights to write large-scale, ambitious plays and to put death, beauty and metaphor back on stage.

We currently have over thirty writers under commission and are actively developing new projects. These include large scale musicals, new translations and adaptations by classical and contemporary international writers and work for young people. Our commissioned new plays have a scope that explores the contemporary world from the foundation of modern America to the politics of English football.

How we work with writers
We believe there is a natural exchange between developing ambitious, thrilling new work and exploring the work of Shakespeare and the classics. Our writers are offered open commissions and we individually tailor the development process to fit the writer.

RSC Studio
Our commissioned writers have access to the RSC Studio where they can have time and space to work on their script with actors, directors, composers and designers. It is a place to experiment and to develop new ideas.
 
Embedded writers
We invite writers into the company to work alongside us, offering them the opportunity to be 'embedded' with the company.  This allows them to attend rehearsals of Shakespeare's plays and classics and to offer the writer's voice as part of the process. It enables them to get to know the actors, directors, voice and movement practitioners and to write specifically for actors who are with the company long-term. 

Projects and festivals
A new RSC play might crop up anywhere. We work with writers on projects across the company. They work with us in schools and universities to inspire young writers; they work with us at Festivals to create new events; they come with us to Newcastle, to Edinburgh, to Suffolk and New York, to Moscow, to Yekaterinburg, to Michigan. We work with established playwrights and also with writers who are still developing their craft. We invest in long-term relationships with the best contemporary dramatists worldwide.

Script policy
We do not accept unsolicited scripts but we closely monitor new work on the fringe and across the UK.

The RSC Literary Department is generously supported by THE DRUE HEINZ TRUST.