How the Royal Court Theatre Reduced Digital Distraction in the Creative Process

For nearly 70 years, the Royal Court Theatre has been a home for bold, ground-breaking writing and world-class theatre. Creativity, collaboration and deep focus sit at the heart of everything it does. But in recent years, one familiar challenge began to creep into the rehearsal rooms and writing spaces: smartphone distraction.

Like many creative environments, writers and participants found it increasingly difficult to stay fully immersed. The pull of notifications, messages and social media began to fragment attention, disrupt creative flow and risk breaking the collaborative atmosphere the Royal Court is known for.

As Tabitha Hayward, New Writers & Participation Producer, explains:

“We were thrilled to collaborate with Phone Locker® and offer our writers equipment that can eliminate the disruptions that mobile phones can bring.”

A Familiar Challenge in Creative Workspaces

What the Royal Court experienced is not unique. Across workplaces of all kinds, smartphones have quietly shifted how people focus, collaborate and create.

In creative settings especially, phones can:

• Pull writers out of the moment
• Interrupt deep thinking and creative flow
• Undermine group dynamics and collaboration
• Reduce the quality and pace of creative output

This challenge isn’t just anecdotal. Research into workplace distraction paints a clear picture of the scale of the issue:

• Employees lose hundreds of hours per year to workplace distractions
• Around 2.5 hours per workday are spent accessing non-work digital content
• Some employees check their phones over 150 times a day

Taken together, these findings show how smartphones — despite their usefulness — can erode sustained focus and fragment the shared energy that creative spaces depend on.

Creating Space for Focus with Phone Locker®

To protect the creative process, the Royal Court partnered with Phone Locker®, introducing lockable phone pouches for writers and participants.

The system is simple:

• Phones are placed into a secure pouch
• The pouch is clicked shut and locked
• Devices can only be reopened using a specialist unlocking base

By removing immediate access to phones, the pouches eliminate the temptation to check notifications, allowing writers to remain present, engaged and fully immersed in their work.

Supporting Creativity, Not Restricting It

Since introducing Phone Locker® pouches, writers at the Royal Court have reported a noticeable shift. With digital distractions removed, it has become easier to maintain focus, collaborate meaningfully and stay connected to the creative moment.

The pouches have quickly become a valued resource — not as a restriction, but as a tool that protects the environment needed for great work to happen.

As the Royal Court Theatre notes:

“The signal blocking pouches not only look fantastic but offer members a connection to our premises and the Royal Court Theatre’s mission.”

Focused Spaces Enable Better Work

The Royal Court’s experience highlights a wider truth: focus is a shared asset. In environments where creativity, learning or collaboration matter, small changes can have a powerful impact.

At Phone Locker®, we work with theatres, workplaces, schools and venues to help create phone-free moments that support presence, performance and human connection — without removing ownership or trust.

If you’re exploring how to protect focus in your creative or professional space, we’d love to help. Contact our team.