Jessie Buckley returns to the stage in Afterbirth as Royal Court reveals new season

Jessie Buckley is returning to the stage in Afterbirth, a world premiere by Nina Segal at the Royal Court Theatre. It leads a new run of work that opens in January with the European premiere of Purpose, the Broadway play that won both the Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize, and also brings Complicité back to Sloane Square.

Afterbirth plays the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs from 15 January to 26 February 2028, so it arrives at the start of the following year rather than in 2027. Press night is 24 January 2028.

What is the new Nina Segal play about?

Segal, a Royal Court associate playwright, has written what the theatre calls a "funny, furious and unflinching story about the disorienting reality of life after birth". Jessie Buckley plays Annie, a new mother who keeps insisting she is fine. Further casting is yet to be announced.

Maria Aberg directs, with set and costume design by Rosanna Vize. The play is an English Touring Theatre commission supported by the Royal Court, developed through the Genesis Next Generation Programme.

The Oscar winner makes her Royal Court debut in the role. She was last seen on stage as Sally Bowles in the Kit Kat Club revival of Cabaret, which won her an Olivier Award.

Royal Court artistic director David Byrne told WhatsOnStage: "I read this play and I thought there was nobody in the world who would play this quite like Jessie would. Jessie is one of the best actors of her generation."

Segal said: "To do it with Jessie, Maria and Rosanna is more than I could have imagined."

Who is in the London cast?

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins's Purpose won the 2025 Tony Award for Best Play and the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The Steppenwolf Theatre Company staging follows the Jasper family, a Black American political dynasty, when a snowstorm traps three generations together in the family house.

Phylicia Rashad directs again, and most of the Broadway cast are coming with it. Kalyne Coleman joins Alana Arenas, Glenn Davis, Jon Michael Hill, Harry Lennix and LaTanya Richardson Jackson from the original Broadway cast. The creative team from New York travels too.

Jacobs-Jenkins said: "I imagine for most writers a play at the Royal Court is a bit of a dream and I am no exception. I’m thrilled to bring the Jasper family to this powerhouse of new writing and hopeful for the conversations they might spark among audiences."

Purpose runs in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs from 16 January to 27 February 2027, with press night on Monday 25 January. The running time is about two hours and 50 minutes, including an interval.

What else is in the new season?

Complicité returns with The Apology, a world premiere written by V, formerly known as Eve Ensler. V appears alongside Tobias Menzies and a choral ensemble, in a piece in which she summons her dead father to face the abuse he inflicted on her as a child. Simon McBurney directs, with design by Es Devlin. It plays the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs from 19 March to 24 April 2027.

Juliet Stevenson leads The Briar Patch, a world premiere by Ciara Elizabeth Smyth directed by Byrne, in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs from 14 May to 26 June 2027.

Upstairs, Alex Medland makes a professional debut with We’re Gonna Kill Billy, directed by Aneesha Srinivasan, from 18 February to 27 March 2027. Georgie Dettmer's War Face, made with serving and retired soldiers and directed by Jess Edwards, follows from 22 April to 1 May 2027. Benjamin Kuffuor's George Devine Award winning Working Men runs from 4 June to 10 July 2027.

When does booking open?

Priority booking opened for Royal Court supporters on 28 October, with Friends and Access Members able to book from 30 October. Public booking opens at midday on Wednesday 4 November, for the whole season including Afterbirth.

What else should readers catch up on?

• Another Royal Court hit from Broadway heads into the West End next year
• How the Kit Kat Club revival with Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley was announced
• Our review of an earlier Complicité show at the Royal Court

Header image: official artwork.