John Studzinski, Founder and Chairman of the Genesis Foundation, has been featured in the Financial Times’ How To Spend It supplement talking about arts philanthropy and the need for artists to be better supported and mentored, as typified by the Genesis Foundation.

In an article about how philanthropy, beyond financing artistic endeavours, is a collaboration between the creatives and the whole team of supporters behind them that makes them thrive, John Studzinski said: “It’s not just giving them their first break, but staying by them. They need people to support them, to give them advice, to act as a sounding board, to motivate them. Artists don’t always succeed first, second, even third time. I think it’s a weakness in society that there aren’t enough people out there mentoring young artists.”

The article cites the community involved in an artist’s success, as well as the potential “vacuum” between training and the first “break”, which the Genesis Foundation aims at replacing with mentoring schemes. The piece cites the Genesis Foundation’s funding of the Young Directors programme at the Young Vic as an enlightened example of philanthropy and how its results include its “first recipient of which was Rufus Norris, who is now artistic director of the National Theatre.”
To read the article in full click here.

“A highly moving setting of this ancient text – James MacMillan’s score embodies Mary’s grief and pain with extraordinary power. The Sixteen respond with singing of searing intensity.” Martin Cullingford, Editor of Gramophone Magazine

Not only has Gramophone made the recording of James MacMillan’s Stabat mater – commissioned by the Genesis Foundation – its Recording of the Month, but the magazine’s editor also praised the Foundation’s Founder & Chairman John Studzinski: “The musical world is fortunate to have figures like John Studzinski.”

Elsewhere in the magazine the album of MacMillan’s Stabat mater continues its run of incredible five star reviews: “Posterity might well judge this to be a 21st-century masterpiece; there is no question that this is a truly masterly recorded performance.”

Following its sold-out world premiere performance at the Barbican, London, in October 2016 and subsequent tour featuring Harry Christophers and The Sixteen with the Britten Sinfonia, the album of MacMillan’s Stabat mater has received outstanding praise. The Financial Times was one of the many broadsheets that awarded the album five stars and commented: “MacMillan…speaks of a ‘painful world of loss, violence, and spiritual desolation’, and those are the intense feelings packed into his score.”

The idea to commission this new work came to fruition after John Studzinski heard a performance of Rossini’s Stabat mater, which he felt contained “not one element of devotion, faith, hope or humanity.”

John Studzinski is a patron of the arts, commissioning new works and helping developing artists through the Genesis Foundation – whether they be musicians, composers, actors or visual artists – in honing their talents through a number of programmes run by some of the world’s most prominent institutions and collaborators.

To purchase a copy of James MacMillan’s Stabat mater, click here.

To read the full review from Gramophone, click here.

“It was when we began rehearsal for  Chekhov’s The Bear and The Proposal at the Young Vic, and were in the thick of the action, that I began to understand the power of the Genesis Future Directors Award.”

In March 2017, Genesis Future Director Award Winner Lucy J Skilbeck directed The Bear and The Proposal by Anton Chekhov in the Young Vic’s Clare studio in London. Performed by a gender-fierce company of queer identifying artists, our usual assumptions of love and marriage were challenged in this bold new production of two of Chekhov’s comedies adapted by Michael Frayn.

The sold-out run was a testament to the award as a whole. The emerging directors who win the Genesis Future Directors Award are supported by the Young Vic’s unique creative network and are given to the resources they need to enable them to produce the best possible work in a supportive environment.

See below for links to Lucy’s blog, a Storify, a podcast and more information about the project as a whole.

Read Lucy’s full blog about their experience here.

To see the Storify for The Bear/The Proposal, showing public response to the show, click here.

To listen to Lucy’s Young Vic podcast ‘Off Book’ see below:

For more information about the Genesis Foundation Future Director Award, click here.

John Studzinski, founder and chairman of the Genesis Foundation, hosted a reception to celebrate the album launch of James MacMillan’s Stabat mater which was commissioned by the Foundation for Harry Christophers and The Sixteen and given its world premiere last October at the Barbican Centre. Guests were treated to a short recital by Harry Christophers and Genesis Sixteen as well as the premiere screening of a specially commissioned film on the work.

This new recording, released on Friday 3 March, features Harry Christophers conducting The Sixteen and Britten Sinfonia in a work many have acclaimed as a contemporary masterpiece. The Times declared: “It’s not often that the composer of a new work gets a standing ovation, but then every new work isn’t like James MacMillan’s Stabat mater for chorus and string orchestra.” The Financial Times commented: “MacMillan…speaks of a ‘painful world of loss, violence, and spiritual desolation’, and those are the intense feelings packed into his score.”

The Barbican premiere was followed by performances across England; audiences gave these performances standing ovations as a response to the emotional directness of MacMillan’s composition and his belief that ‘beauty is at the heart of our Christian faith.’ The work receives its Scottish premiere in Edinburgh on 23 March and in Glasgow on 24 March.

To purchase copy of James MacMillan’s Stabat mater, click here.

To find out more about the project and watch the film, click here.

To find out about the Scottish premiere, click here.

As Genesis Assistant Director at Welsh National Opera Polly Graham spent two years being mentored by the company’s Chief Executive and Artistic Director David Pountney. She worked with him on a number of new productions including Berg’s Lulu, Britten’s Paul Bunyan and Jonathan Harvey’s Wagner Dream as well directing her own shows such as the UK premiere of Iain Bell’s A Christmas Carol, Unheard Voices: CREW and Maxwell Davies Kommilitonen!

Hot on the heels of her recent nomination for an International Opera Award, Polly makes her main stage directing debut for Welsh National Opera with Frank Martin’s Le Vin herbé at The Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff. This rarely staged work is based on the well-known story of Tristan and Isolde whose love affair inevitably leads to tragedy.

Following its opening night at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff on 16 February, the production then goes to Milton Keynes Theatre (21 March), Bristol Hippodrome (28 March), Venue Cymru, Llandudno (4 April), Theatre Royal Plymouth (18 April) and Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (25 April).

For more information about WNO’s Le Vin herbé click here.

Signature Theatre launched its innovative Residency Five programme in 2012, guaranteeing a group of playwrights three new productions over the course of a five-year residency. The Genesis Foundation’s two-year grant has supported these playwrights over two seasons enabling them to build a body of work.

Written and directed by Will Eno, Wakey, Wakey challenges the notion of what really matters and recognizes the importance of life’s simple pleasures with humorous, emotional and thought-provoking questions. Michael Emerson, well-known for his TV and film work in the US and January Lavoy star in the play, alongside an impressive creative team including Tony Award winning set designer Christine Jones, costume designer Michael Krass and lighting designer David Lander.

This marks Will Eno’s fourth year as a Residency Five playwright and his third original play at Signature Theatre, since he was awarded this residency in 2012. Title and Deed, Eno’s first play premiered at Signature Theatre in 2012, and was on The New York Times and The New Yorker’sTop Ten Plays of 2012. After the premiere of his next play, The Open House, hewon the 2014 Obie Award, the Lortel Award for Outstanding Play, and a Drama Desk Award, and was included in both the Time Out New Yorkand Time Magazine Top 10 Plays of the Year.

Wakey, Wakey will run from Tuesday 7 February through to Sunday 19 March 2017 in The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre.

View more details on their website here

During 2016, Elyse Dodgson continued her fantastic work around the world supported by the Genesis Foundation in conjunction with the Royal Court Theatre in London. Here is a round-up of the busy and fulfilling year she has had:

I See You by Mongiwekhaya Directed by Noma Dumezweni 25 Feb- 26 Mar Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, RC Theatre 2 Apr- 1 May Market Theatre, Johannesburg 6 May- 28 May Fugard Theatre, Cape Town

Told From the Inside: New Plays from Syria and LebanonGoats by Liwaa Yazji Ghalia’s Miles by Maya Zibb The Final Return by Ghiath Mhithawi 7 Marc- 12 Mar Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, RC Theatre

Writing Projects

CUBA Cuban New Writing Project 2014-2016, Havana
CHINA New Writing Project – July 2016, Chengdu
CHILE New Writing Project – September 2016, (Argentina, Chile and Uruguay)
RUSSIA New Writing Seminars at Stanislavsky Electro Theatre October 2016, Moscow
CUBAN WORKSHOP IN LONDON November 2016, RC Theatre

Nick Drake’s comedy All the Angels returns to theSam Wannamaker Playhouse for a two-month run, from 6 December. The plays stars David Horovitch, Sean Campion, Paul Kemble, Lucy Peacock, Kelly Price, Lawrence Smith and Saskia Strallen with eight former members of Genesis Sixteen making up the chorus: Tom Castle, Nancy Cole, Camilla Harris, Rebekah Jones, Angus McPhee, Ben Vonberg-Clark, Daisy Walford and Jamie Wright.

This is the latest success for Genesis Sixteen, The Sixteen’s young artists’ scheme which nurtures the next generation of talented ensemble singers, funded by the Genesis Foundation. Participants receive group tuition, individual mentoring and masterclasses run by some of the industry’s top vocal experts led by Harry Christophers.

Genesis Sixteen singers have, this year alone, performed at the Sounds Sublime festival in St Martin in the Fields; the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace, in a late night BBC Prom and at James MacMillan’s Cumnock Tryst Festival. Recent Alumni achievements include James Newby winning The Kathleen Ferrier Awards 2016; William Wallace, the London Handel Singing Competition 2016; and the Platinum Consort and Eo Nomine both being signed to agencies.  The Fieri Consort were awarded a residency at Brighton Early Music Festival and undertook a major tour to Australia.

To find out more about the Genesis Sixteen programme, click here

Applications are now open for the 2017/18 intake of the Genesis Sixteen programme. Click here for more information and to apply.

The Bear/The Proposal, directed by Lucy J Skilbeck, will run from 15 March – 25 March 2017

Yellowman, directed by Nancy Medina,will run from 22 November- 2 December 2017

Checkhov’s The Bear, is the story of the inconsolable widow Elena who has vowed to spend the rest of her days at home, grieving. Seven months into her mourning, an intrusion from an unknown and headstrong stranger forces her to re-engage with the outside world. In The Proposal, a bachelor asks a neighbour for his daughter’s hand in marriage. It’s a practical move: time is marching on for Lomov, and he believes Natalya is as good a match as he can hope to find. Though her father is delighted, a misunderstanding leads to wild accusations and Lomov’s plan risks being thrown off course. Lucy J Skilbeck, isone of two winners of the Genesis Future Directors Award 2017.

Later in the year, Nancy Medina’s production of Yellowman will take to the same stage. As children Alma and Eugene struck up a friendship, blissfully unaware of their differences. But growing up their developing affection is met with opposition from close quarters, and prejudice and violence complicates their changing relationship. Set in South Carolina in the 1970s, this powerful play reflects on internal racial prejudice and colourism within the black community.

The Genesis Future Directors Award nurtures and develops emerging young directors by providing them with an invaluable opportunity to explore and develop their craft while creating their first fully resourced production at the Young Vic without the scrutiny of the media. Lucy and Nancy became the eigth and ninth recipients of this award this year and will be supported and mentored by the Young Vic including Artistic Director David Lan, Genesis Fellow Gbolahan Obisesan, Lead Producer Daisy Heath and Associate Artistic Director Sue Emmas .

Former recipients of a Genesis Future Directors Award include Ola Ince (2016), Bryony Shanahan (2016), Rikki Henry (2015), Finn Beames (2014), Tinuke Craig (2014), Matthew Xia (2013) and Ben Kidd (2012).

To find out more about the Genesis Foundation’s partnership with the Young Vic, click here.

The Genesis Foundation today announces the appointment of its 25^th Genesis LAMDA Scholar: Stuart Thompson.

John Studzinski instigated the Genesis LAMDA scholarship endowment in 1998, following a conversation with Dame Janet Suzman DBE, about the socio-economic inequality of the intake in the major London drama schools. Since then John Studzinski and the Genesis Foundation have supported LAMDA by helping the Academy nurture and develop talented young actors through an annual Genesis LAMDA Scholarship.

This year, a panel headed up by LAMDA Vice-President Dame Janet Suzman DBE, Genesis Foundation’s Managing Director Harriet Capaldi Genesis LAMDA alumni Ben Aldridge and LAMDA’s Principal Joanna Read auditioned a number of students selected by LAMDA. Genesis LAMDA Scholars have their tuition fees paid in their entirety over the three years of LAMDA’s BA (Hons) in Professional Acting and receive a contribution towards their living expenses.

Commenting on the celebration of the 25^th Genesis LAMDA Scholar, John Studzinski, Founder and Chairman of The Genesis Foundation said:

“I’m thrilled that the Genesis Foundation and LAMDA have reached such a milestone. To have supported twenty five great young actors over three years – in effect 75 years of training – is something worth celebrating. The Genesis Foundation was formed from the conviction that access to the best training mustn’t only be the preserve of those from comfortable backgrounds. Art and creativity suffer if that happens and then we all suffer. It gives me particular satisfaction to watch these Genesis Scholars become professionals and help other actors so that the Genesis network of nurture and support continues to grow.”

Janet Suzman commented:

“The ongoing struggle to open doors in the arts for the unrich in this class-driven country is spearheaded by John Studzinski and the likes of him. He and his Foundation are training young actors and playwrights to ensure that theatre’s many treasures are brought to life.”

Stuart Thompson applied to LAMDA and was delighted to be accepted on to the three-year BA (Hons) Professional Acting as a Genesis LAMDA Scholar and will graduate in July 2019. Raised in a small mining village in the North East of England, Stuart Thompson began performing from a young age, firstly in dance and musical theatre. At the age of 16, Stuart moved to London to take up a full scholarship place at ArtsEd on their BTEC Extended Diploma in Musical Theatre, with A-Levels in Dance and Drama. As part of his A-Level, Stuart played the role of Katurian in The Pillowman and it was this experience that led to his decision to pursue a career in acting.

Many of the Genesis LAMDA Scholars have gone on to enjoy active careers in television, films and the theatre. The first ever recipients of a scholarship was Samuel Barnett, who says:

“There is no way I could have gone to drama school if it hadn’t been for Genesis. Investment in young people at grass-roots level is critical if we want to continue to be a country at the forefront of artistic excellence.”

Lewis Bruniges, Carys Bowkett and Stuart Thompson are the three current Genesis LAMDA scholars.

For more information on the Genesis Foundation please contact Cécile Beauvillard Burman at cecile@albion-media.com, 020 3077 4940.

Editors’ Notes

About Genesis Foundation

Established by John Studzinski 15 years ago, the Genesis Foundation works in partnership with the leaders of prestigious UK arts organisations such as the Royal Court, The Sixteen, Welsh National Operaand the Young Vic. Its largest funding commitment is to programmes that support directors, playwrights and musicians in the early stages of their professional lives.

In addition it awards scholarships to exceptional student actors at LAMDA and commissions stimulating new works, from choral compositions to light installations.

In 2015 the Genesis Foundation launched its first partnership outside the UK, funding residencies for playwrights at New York’s Signature Theatre.