Our tribute to Elyse Dodgson

24 October 2018

Elyse over the years around the world, from Cuba to Palestine, and only last week in Peru. Here with Sarah Kane, Rufus Norris, John Studzinski and international playwrights.

It is with profound sadness that the Genesis Foundation has learnt of the passing of Elyse Dodgson, Head of the International Department at the Royal Court Theatre.

Elyse was a loyal, much-loved and admired partner of the Genesis Foundation and John Studzinski over the past twenty years.

Her talent, enthusiasm, vision and drive changed the lives of thousands of theatre-makers. With boundless energy, she nurtured emerging talent and developed ground-breaking work with playwrights from all over the world as part of the Royal Court’s International Playwrights Programme, funded by the Genesis Foundation.

Elyse’s work enabled stories to be told, coming from countries where there is often censorship, war and no real culture of contemporary theatre, and encouraged playwrights to tackle subjects that have a direct bearing on the world around them. Elyse’s International Department has produced award-winning plays with writers from Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt and many more countries.

Founder and Chairman of the Genesis Foundation, John Studzinski, said:

“Elyse’s impact on the world of theatre is immense and includes nurturing and supporting playwrights in war zones, countries that don’t have a culture of contemporary theatre or one where new voices struggle to write free from censorship. In all these places Elyse made a deep and lasting difference to the world of theatre.”

Elyse will be sorely missed by everyone in the Genesis Foundation family.

Elyse in her own words about her incredible work at the Royal Court here.