On Tuesday 14 May the Almeida will host a Genesis Conversation, Playwriting Today: The Hard Questions, a live panel discussion asking the tough questions facing playwrights both present and future. Genesis Conversations is a series of free discussions, which gather cultural leaders and rising talent in the arts to discuss key issues in today’s cultural world, led by the Genesis Foundation. 

Chaired by Almeida Artistic Director Rupert Goold, the distinguished panel comprises David Byrne (Artistic Director, Royal Court), Dipo Baruwa-Etti (Writer, The Clinic), Nadia Fall (Artistic Director, Stratford East), James Graham (Writer, Ink) and Ava Pickett (Writer, 1536, winner of The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize 2024). 

Founder & Chairman of the Genesis Foundation John Studzinski CBE said, “These talks are intended as free resources of the highest quality for artists to thrive in an increasingly tough industry. Providing healthy debates on key issues of our time, an exchange of ideas and practices from emerging artists as well as established, well-known figures, the Genesis Conversations aim to equip audiences with a new perspective and hopefully useful advice to take their practice forward.” 

Genesis Conversations
PLAYWRITING TODAY: THE HARD QUESTIONS

Tuesday 14 May, 5pm 

‘You have to ask the hard questions’ – Tony Kushner 

 What are the hard questions that we should be asking of playwriting today and tomorrow? Join the Genesis Foundation, the Almeida Theatre and a panel of playwrights and arts leaders, to consider how contemporary playwriting is evolving.  

  The conversation will be chaired by Almeida Artistic Director Rupert Goold, who will be joined by panellists David Byrne (Artistic Director, Royal Court), Dipo Baruwa-Etti (Writer, The Clinic), Nadia Fall (Artistic Director, Stratford East), James Graham (Writer, Ink) and Ava Pickett (Writer, 1536, winner of The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize 2024). 

This event will be produced by the Almeida as part of the Genesis Conversations series which have taken place at the National Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Greater London Authority and the Barbican. It will be a productive discussion where writers and directors can discuss the challenges around new writing. The intention is for this conversation to be a true reflection of the state of play, with positive takeaways on how playwrights can be better supported. The event will be filmed for future digital release. 

The conversation builds on the Almeida’s and Genesis Foundation’s partnership which nurtures and commissions early-career playwrights to develop ‘big plays’ for main stages across the UK. See more about the Genesis Almeida New Playwrights, Big Plays Programme here.