Genesis Theatre Design Programme

On the left is a photo of Gbolahan Obisesan, ULTZ, Sadeysa Greenaway-Bailey and John Studzinski standing in formal attire inside a grand-looking room, smiling at the camera. On the right is the Genesis Theatre Design Programme. The text 'Genesis Theatre Design Programme' in off white against a plain black background.

(Gbolahan Obisesan, ULTZ, Sadeysa Greenaway-Bailey and John Studzinski. CR. Adrian Myers)

The Genesis Theatre Design Programme is a free two-year part-time course which trains and supports six designers with the aim of improving global majority representation among theatre designers in the industry, expanding the pipeline of talent, and opening more career opportunities. It is a partnership between the Mulberry UTC Creative Industry Training College, the National Theatre, The School of Historical Dress and Brixton House and funded by the Genesis Foundation, National Theatre Foundation, with additional support from the James Family Charitable Trust.

The programme includes tutorials with world-class designers and directors, lectures and research projects with staging and costume experts, design projects with global majority directors and artists, practical training with production and technical staff, placements as assistants to designers, and experience in theatres. Participants also network with and receive mentoring from leading industry professionals.

The Genesis Theatre Design Programme is led and delivered by three theatre artists in collaboration with Clint Dyer, Deputy Artistic Director of the National Theatre (Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Death of England, Othello).

The course leaders are:

  • Gbolahan Obisesan, award-winning British Nigerian writer and director and former Artistic Director of Brixton House.
  • Sadeysa Greenaway-Bailey, Black British Theatre Award-winning designer who has recently worked on Death of England at the NT, Anansi the Spider at the Unicorn 
  • ULTZ, Olivier Award-winning, Tony Award-nominated designer who has recently worked on Death of England and The Corn is Green at the NT and Jerusalem in the West End.

The Genesis Theatre Design Programme is a new iteration of the renowned Motley Theatre Design Course which ran from 1966 to 2010.

A headshot of Clint Dyer inside a rehearsal room with brown and white walls. Clint is middle aged man with a short dark grey beard. He is wearing a black high neck top and glasses, and has his arms folded in front of him. He is looking to the side, off camera with a neutral expression.

“I would not have been able to do the work I do without a similar intervention early in my career. It’s exactly what a National Theatre should be backing.
I am proud to be part of it.”

Clint Dyer
Deputy Artistic Director, National Theatre

“This programme is an intentional intervention to cultivate a new cohort of creatives predominantly in backstage roles from diverse global majority heritage.

Along with acquiring new craft and artistic skills, these individuals after two years will then take their knowledge to various companies and organisations for more practical professional experience; that will be the start of new career paths in the creative industries aiming to redress the balance of representation.”

Gbolahan Obisesan
Artistic Director, Brixton House

A headshot of director Gbolahan Obisesan. Gbolahan has short black hair and is wearing a smart blue jumper with a lighter blue collared shirt underneath. They are stood in front of a plain black background with a neutral expression.

(c) David Sandison

Find out more about the programme

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