The (Jerwood) Theatre Upstairs at The Royal Court opened 40 years ago, the first time a theatre had opened a studio space within its building. It puts less than a hundred people in touching distance of the stage and has nurtured so much new talent within its inky walls (Caryl Churchill, The Rocky Horror Show and East is East got their first outings here). In celebration, The Royal Court have organised four panels to discuss aspects of the space and the nature of theatre.
Tuesday 3 November: Mark Ravenhill chairs The Ripple Effect, as he and fellow playwrights Bola Agbaje, Winsome Pinnock, Marius von Mayenburg and Snoo Wilson discuss their work.
Wednesday 4 November: the founder of the Theatre Upstairs and its first Artistic Director discuss programming and directing in the space with more recent Artistic and Associate Directors. Jeremy Herrin chairs and is joined by Max Stafford Clark, William Gaskill, Ramin Gray and Nicholas Wright.
Thursday 5 November: stage designers Paul Handley, Hildegard Bechtier, Jeremy Herbert, Ian Rickson and Ultz talk about how to use such a small space.
Friday 6 November: actors Daniel Evans, Kenneth Cranham, Sophie Okonedo and Sian Brooke discuss the experience of performing in the works produced for the Theatre Upstairs.
All panels start at 7pm, tickets £7.50. Jerwood Theatre Upstairs @ The Royal Court, Sloane Square, SW1. For more information, see The Royal Court website.
