By Basant El-Faramawy
Oscar-winning actor Jessie Buckley will return to the London stage in 2028 for a new play at the Royal Court Theatre, accepting the venue's standard company rate of £140 per day — a sharp contrast to the multi-million-pound fees she commands for film work.
Significant Pay Cut for Oscar Winner
Buckley, 36, will star in Nina Segal's "Afterbirth," a production exploring the "weird, funny, brutal reality of birth and parenthood." The Royal Court's artistic director, David Byrne, confirmed to The Times that Buckley will receive the same weekly rate of £971 as every other actor in the 400-seat main auditorium, based on West End union agreements. Industry experts estimate Buckley can earn up to £4.5 million per film.
Star-Studded Lineup at Royal Court
Since Byrne took over in 2024, the theatre has attracted major names willing to work for the standard rate. John Lithgow appeared as Roald Dahl in "Giant," Gary Oldman performed in Samuel Beckett's "Krapp's Last Tape," and Tilda Swinton reprised her solo show "Man to Man." All three performed for the same company rate.
New Season Includes Chelsea Pensioners Collaboration
The Royal Court's newly announced 2027 season also features Tobias Menzies in "The Apology" and Juliet Stevenson in "The Briar Patch," directed by Byrne. For the first time in the theatre's 74-year history, the neighbouring Chelsea Pensioners — retired soldiers from the Royal Hospital Chelsea — will collaborate on a new play titled "War Face." Byrne said the pensioners "absolutely leapt at the chance" to perform.
