The RSC has today announced Pamela Carter, James Fritz, Natasha Gordon, Karim Khan, Laura Lomas and Vinay Patel as the six playwrights taking part in its 2026 COHORT programme: an artist-led playwriting scheme offering six of the UK’s most exciting playwrights the opportunity to be commissioned by the company as part of a nine-month programme of peer-to-peer support, in-person residencies and creative masterclasses. 

Created by RSC Writers in Residence Zoe Cooper and Stewart Pringle and inspired by Sir Peter Hall’s founding vision of a ‘company’ of actors who share life and the experience of Stratford-upon-Avon with one another as they work, COHORT brings together six writers engaged in the distinct but shared endeavour of writing six new plays for the RSC’s stages in a mutually supportive, non-competitive and creative environment. 

The 2026 COHORT programme launched earlier this year, with one of the six chosen playwrights recruited through open application, attracting over 200 submissions in total.  

RSC Co-Artistic Directors Tamara Harvey and Daniel Evans said: “From the earliest days of the RSC under the visionary leadership of Sir Peter Hall, new writing has been an essential part of who we are as a company, where thrilling new works from the most exciting storytellers stand shoulder-to-shoulder with bold re-imaginings of classic texts. We are delighted to welcome such an inspiring collective of artists to Stratford-upon-Avon in 2026 and look forward to collaborating with each of them as they immerse themselves fully in the creative life of the RSC, expand their knowledge of the theatre-making process and forge meaningful new partnerships along the way.” 

RSC Writer-in-Residence Zoe Cooper said: “Over the past year Stewart and I have had the enormous privilege of being welcomed into the heart of the Royal Shakespeare Company. To be given the opportunity to see the process of making work for the Company's stages up close has felt rare and special. We have made connections with creatives of all kinds that will undoubtedly go on to enrich our work as writers. These six writers have already achieved so much in their careers, told us brilliant, complex and moving stories. We are so excited to extend the same opportunity of being part of the Company to them. We can't wait to read the stories that they each write for us and see their plays on the RSC's stages.” 

RSC Writer-in-Residence Stewart Pringle added: “It feels like an honour and a privilege to be able to convene this first COHORT, and to welcome six such incredible talents and brains into the RSC. Pamela, Vinay, James, Karim, Natasha and Laura are simply some of the most exciting, form-pushing, heartfelt and humane writers working in the UK at the moment. There couldn’t be a better gang to be marching towards our stages!” 

Across a series of five-day residences in Stratford-upon-Avon, the six writers will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in RSC theatre-making practice. During residencies, COHORT members will be invited to meet and develop relationships with artists from across the RSC and participate in a range of masterclasses to help expand and enrich their research, planning and writing process.  

Pamela Carter is a playwright, librettist and dramaturg. She has been working internationally in theatre, dance, opera, film, visual arts and museum design since 2004.  

James Fritz is a playwright and screenwriter from London. He is currently on attachment to the National Theatre and The Royal Court as well as adapting The Flea into a feature film and developing original television projects.  

Natasha Gordon is a British playwright and actress of Jamaican descent. Her debut play, Nine Night, enjoyed a sold-out run at the National Theatre in April 2018 before transferring to Trafalgar Studio in 2019.

Karim Khan is a screenwriter and playwright, based in Oxford. His sell-out play Brown Boys Swim won a Fringe First, and BBC Popcorn award at Edinburgh Festival 2022, and was later optioned by A24. Karim is currently preparing to direct his debut short film with Amazon Prime Video and the NFTS.  

Laura Lomas was a writer in residence at Shakespeare’s Globe and Clean Break Theatre Company and has been on attachment to Paines Plough and The National Theatre Studio.  

Vinay Patel is a scriptwriter from South East London. His TV debut, Murdered By My Father, won 2 RTS Awards including Best Single Drama and was nominated for three BAFTAs. Vinay has since written episodes for Good Karma Hospital, Doctor Who and, most recently, the Netflix adaptation of David Nicholls’ One Day.