Samuel French to take over Royal Court bookshop

After announcing it was to close its London premises last year, theatre bookshop Samuel French is to re-open at the Royal Court.

The company closed its shop on Fitzroy Street in April last year after 187 years of trading, citing 'an unsustainable rental increase'.

It was announced today that the company will take up a new residence inside the Sloane Square venue. The theatre's Balcony Bar will be taken over by the bookshop from Monday 5 March.

The shop will be a place to buy and read play texts as well as attend playwright and author events. Opening hours will be Monday to Saturday from 11am to 5.30pm. On nights when performances take place, a smaller bookshop stall will open on the lower ground floor.

The new space has been designed by Haworth Tompkins, who also redeveloped the theatre in 2000.

Managing director of Samuel French Douglas Schatz said: "Samuel French is thrilled to re-open a theatre bookshop in London, especially here at the Royal Court, the home of new playwriting. The new bookshop will serve as a unique resource and space, where throughout the day and before shows customers will be able to browse a wide range of play texts and theatre books, as well as enjoy a coffee, sit and read, or attend a live author event."

Samuel French has been publishing plays and musicals and licensing them for performance in the UK since 1830.