“We were thrilled to collaborate with Phone Locker® and offer our writers equipment that can eliminate the disruptions that mobile phones can bring”
Tabitha Hayward, New Writers & Participation Producer
Distraction in the Creative Process
For nearly 70 years, the Royal Court has been a home for ground-breaking theatre. But in recent years, smartphones have begun to disrupt the creative process. Writers and creatives found it harder to focus, often distracted by the urge to check their devices. This not only reduced productivity but also risked breaking the immersive, collaborative environment the Royal Court is known for.
To tackle this, the Royal Court partnered with Phone Locker®, adopting their lockable phone pouches. Writers simply place their phones inside, click to lock, and can only reopen the pouch with a special unlocking device. By removing the temptation to check notifications, the pouches allow writers to stay fully present, focused, and free from digital interruptions.
Since introducing Phone Locker® pouches, writers have found it easier to immerse themselves in their work without distraction. The pouches have quickly become a valuable resource, supporting creativity and helping maintain the Royal Court’s tradition of producing world-class theatre.
A familiar challenge
Royal Court has simply observed the same issues facing any workplace. Increasingly, smartphones have begun to derail a previously, focused, collaborative and impactful work environment – in this case phones risk snapping writers out of the moment, fragmenting focus, and even undermining group dynamics.
This isn’t just anecdotal, with research showing real consequences. Various studies have shared startling feedback including each employee loses approximately 720 hours per year to workplace distractions. About 2.5 hours per workday are spent accessing digital content unrelated to the job, according to one U.S. survey. Another found employees checking their phones over 150 times per day, some as often as every six waking minutes.
Taken together, these findings demonstrate how smartphones – ubiquitous as they are – can erode sustained focus, diminish creative flow, and fragment the collaborative energy vital to a theatre setting.
“The signal blocking pouches not only look fantastic but offer members a connection to our premises and the Royal Court Theatre’s mission.”
Royal Court Theatre
Interested in going phone-free at your place of work?
For advice on going phone-free with our lockable pouches, we’re here to help.