Our Process

At the Living Archive, we’re not just documenting history, we’re reimagining it. We believe in a narrative that doesn’t simply prioritize the plays that have basked in commercial light or critical applause. Instead, we’re shifting the lens, placing trust in the very heart of theatre: its writers. Their selections, sometimes overlooked in traditional archives, paint a richer, broader tapestry of theatre’s diverse history.

Rather than taking the helm and selecting plays that we thought should be spotlighted, we passed it to a rich tapestry of writers. They dove into our vast archive, highlighting 240 plays that resonated with them. 

Yet, the richness of our archive doesn’t end there. Once the plays were chosen, a dedicated group of readers immersed themselves in these tales. They adorned each play with their unique insights, feedback, and emotional responses.And while the descriptors for content and form on each play page are shaped by these readers, they operate within the realms defined by our current technological capabilities.

From the tapestry of 240 plays, our dedicated Royal Court team has woven a narrative that captures the essence of six transformative decades. Each chosen play is a doorway into the creative soul of its time, revealing the dreams, challenges, and triumphs of every era.

The Living Archive isn’t a static repository; it’s a dynamic, evolving entity. It’s as alive as the theatre itself, capturing its ever-changing essence, always growing, always adapting. Our journey, supported by the selections of writers and the insights of readers, is not only about preserving the past but shaping the very future of theatre.