The Royal Court announces new 2017 Season including debut by Sam Mendes

Sam Mendes makes Royal Court debut in new season.

The Royal Court Theatre have today announced their 2017 spring/summer season, which includes eight world premieres, four UK and international collaborations and the return of a seminal Royal Court play.

New plays by Simon Stephens and Jez Butterworth will take centre stage in the season, which will also see Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone direct a new play by Chris Thorpe. Hollywood and stage director Sam Mendes will make his Royal Court Debut in a new piece co-produced with Sonia Friedman Productions written by 'Jerusalem' writer Butterworth.

Full details of the new season are as follows:

The season begins with a new play by Debbie Tucker Green, A Profoundly Affectionate, Passionate Devotion to Someone (Noun), which runs at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs from 28 February to 1 April 2017.

Simon McBurney will direct The Kid Stays in the Picture, based on the life of Robert Evans, co-produced with Patrick Milling Smith, Barbara Broccoli, Michael Wilson, Brian Carmody and in association with Complicite. It will run at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs from 7 March 2017 to 8 April 2017.

Simon Stephens' new play Nuclear War will be directed by Imogen Knight and run from 19 April 2017 to 6 May 2017.

Jez Butterworth will return to the Royal Court with his new play The Ferryman directed by Sam Mendes, who makes his Royal Court debut. Developed by and co-produced with Sonia Friedman Productions and in association with Neal Street Productions, it will run from 24 April 2017 to 20 May 2017.

"Vanishing. It's a powerful word, that. A powerful word. Rural Derry, 1981. The Carney farmhouse is a hive of activity with preparations for the annual harvest. A day of hard work on the land and a traditional night of feasting and celebrations lie ahead. But this year they will be interrupted by a visitor. This family can take care of its own."

The transfer of Royal Court commission Manwatching, written by an anonymous woman will run from 10 May to 20 May 2017.

Gary Owen will return to the Royal Court with new play Killology directed by Rachel O'Riordan in a co-production with the Sherman Theatre which runs from 25 May 2017 to 24 June 2017.

Katie Mitchell will direct Alice Birch's Anatomy of a Suicide from 3 June 2017 to 8 July 2017.

Jim Cartwright's seminal classic Road, which originally opened at the Royal Court in 1986 will return to the venue in a new production directed by John Tiffany from 21 July 2017 to 9 September 2017.

Chilean playwright Guillermo Calderón will make his Royal Court debut with B, directed by Sam Pritchard in September 2017, dates to be announced.

Chris Thorpe's new play Victory Condition will be directed by Royal Court Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone in September 2017, dates to be announced.

Casting and further details for all productions is to be announced. Tickets for the new season will go on general sale on 4 November 2016.