The Genesis Theatre Design Programme is now accepting applications for its second cohort of eight new trainee theatre designers. This initiative aims to address under-representation in theatre design, by providing free, comprehensive training and mentorship to global majority adults from socially and economically challenging backgrounds.

The programme is open to individuals aged 21 and over. While no specific qualifications are required, applicants must submit a portfolio or summary of previous creative work, including work or education experience, or a self-directed project in a creative field.

Launched in 2023, the two-year, part-time programme focuses on Staging, Performance, and Costume Design, offering participants tutorials with world-class designers and directors, lectures and research projects, practical training, design projects, and placements as design assistants. The programme’s unique approach emphasises a close connection to working theatre, mirroring its predecessor the renowned Motley Theatre Design Course.

“This programme is an intentional intervention to cultivate a new cohort of creatives, predominantly in backstage roles, from diverse global majority heritage,” says course leader Gbolahan Obisesan. “Along with acquiring new craft and artistic skills, these individuals will, after two years, then take their knowledge to various companies and organisations…that will be the start of new career paths in the creative industries, aiming to redress the imbalance of representation.”

The Genesis Theatre Design Programme is a partnership between the Mulberry Schools Trust, the National Theatre, and The School of Historical Dress, and is funded by the Genesis Foundation, with additional support from the James Family Charitable Trust.

One of the trainees from the first two-year programme says: “The Genesis Theatre Design Programme has been a collection of extraordinary experiences – from building technical skills in model-making to expanding my knowledge of the historical context of fabric and clothing. Under the mentorship of such skilled and established designers, we have been given the space and guidance to cultivate our design ideas, eventually bringing them to life as three-dimensional projects. This course has given me invaluable practical skills, knowledge and connections and completely changed the trajectory of my life.”

The course leaders are:

• Gbolahan Obisesan: Award-winning British Nigerian actor, writer and director and former Artistic Director of Brixton House.
• Sadeysa Greenaway-Bailey: Black British Theatre Award and UK Theatre Award-winning designer.
• ULTZ: Olivier Award, UK Theatre Award, Off-West End Award-winning, and Tony Award-nominated designer/director.

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

“Emerging designers will benefit from two years of mentorship from some of the UK’s leading design professionals. Structured, collaborative programmes like this are vital to the UK’s cultural sector, ensuring that the country thrives and leads by example when it comes to innovation, professionalism, and representation.”

Find out more about how to apply to the Genesis Theatre Design Programme

The Sixteen is pleased to reveal the names of the 22 young singers who will join the 15^th cohort of Genesis Sixteen this autumn, as well as announcing Florence Price as the Genesis Sixteen Conducting Scholar. Over 300 singers have now been involved in the Genesis Sixteen programme, with alumni making waves in the UK and across the world.

Harry Christophers, Founder and Conductor of The Sixteen, says:

“We always look forward to welcoming a new cohort of Genesis Sixteen singers, and this year is no exception – we are thrilled to be welcoming such an exciting breadth of talent to the programme, supported by our friends and colleagues at the Genesis Foundation.

As we reach the important milestone of fifteen cohorts, we are also using this moment to celebrate the number of alumni this programme now has – many forging incredible careers as performers, teachers, workshop leaders and conductors.

We are incredibly proud of this programme and we look forward to seeing all that it can inspire in years to come.”

Supported by the Genesis Foundation, Genesis Sixteen is The Sixteen’s free young artists’ programme for 18-23-year-olds which aims to nurture the next generation of talented ensemble singers.  Now entering its 15^th year, Genesis Sixteen is the UK’s first ever fully funded programme of its kind.

The new cohort are:

Sopranos	Altos	Tenors	Basses
Freya Barker	Jess Atkinson	Charlie Eastwood	Orlando Barton Hodges
Laura Crooks	Sarah Colgan	Leo Fulwell	Niall Kelly
Helen Eastwood	Niamh Keaney	Oliver Heath	Kyle Siwek
Alice Platten	Blossom Martin	James Kitchingman	James Upton
Ellen Steward	Ella Seymour	Albert Soriano	Alex White
Ruth Williams
Beth Yates

The latest Genesis Sixteen cohort welcomes singers from across the UK and Northern Ireland, and this year introduces a singer who has been involved in The Sixteen’s Talent Development Pipeline project. The project, now in its third year, sees The Sixteen in partnership with Barnsley Youth Choirs, the Diocese of Leeds Schools Singing Programme, Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Voices and London Youth Choirs, offering young singers the opportunity to develop skills and discover pathways in the industry. The programme also aims to diversify the talent pipeline of singers entering young artists programmes, ensuring that singers from across the country have equal opportunities to take part in the world of choral music.

During the course of a year, a series of week-long and weekend courses are led by key figures from The Sixteen, including founder and conductor Harry Christophers and associate conductor Eamonn Dougan. Participants also receive group tuition, individual mentoring, one-per-part consort training from members of The Sixteen and masterclasses run by some of the world’s top vocal experts. Support from the Genesis Foundation means participants receive free tuition and a bursary to cover all additional costs.

James Kitchingham, a tenor in the fifteenth cohort of Genesis Sixteen, says:

“I’m really looking forward to meeting the other members of my cohort and also learning from some incredibly inspiring professionals over the course of the year. I hope that I’ll become a more well-rounded musician by next summer thanks to Genesis Sixteen.”

Sarah Colgan, an alto in the fifteenth cohort of Genesis Sixteen, says:

“I’m excited to be making music with like-minded singers who also share a deep passion for choral music. The opportunity to work at such a high artistic level, with guidance from some of the UK’s most respected musicians, is incredibly exciting and such an honour. I’m especially eager to hone my ensemble skills, explore a wide range of repertoire, and to be part of a programme that so clearly nurtures both musical and personal growth.”

Recent members of Genesis Sixteen are forging impressive careers. Jessica Cale, Bethany Horak-Hallett and Matthew McKinney, three singers from the third, fourth and seventh cohort respectively will form the three main roles in The Railway Children – a new opera by Mark Anthony Turnage to be staged at Glyndebourne this Autumn. Also in the opera world, Ella Blair who formed part of the twelfth cohort of Genesis Sixteen, this year joins the Vienna State Opera Chorakademie.

Elsewhere, Matthew Quinn, conducting scholar from the eleventh cohort, now takes on the role of Chorus Director at ENO, in addition to being Principal Conductor of National Youth Choir (15-18 group). Three Genesis Sixteen alumni now also form part of The Sixteen: Elizabeth Paul from the third cohort is the newest member of the alto section, joining tenor Oscar Golden-Lee from the seventh cohort and alto Edward McMullan from the first cohort as full time members of the choir.

The current and fourteenth cohort of Genesis Sixteen will complete their training in a performance at The Sixteen’s annual Sounds Sublime festival at St James’s Piccadilly. The annual event curated by The Sixteen showcases the passion, joy and diversity of the human voice, and this year celebrates young voices and their extraordinary talent as choral musicians.

Read more about the 15th Genesis Sixteen cohort

The Genesis Foundation is delighted to announce that highly acclaimed British stage director Joe Hill-Gibbins, has been awarded the £25,000 Genesis Foundation Prize 2025. The prestigious award recognises an exceptional mentor in the arts whose work has profoundly impacted the careers of fellow artists. Hill-Gibbins’ selection highlights his commitment to fostering the next generation of creative talent. 

Joe works nationally and internationally as a theatre and opera director. Between 2007 and 2013 he was a resident director at the Young Vic Theatre, where he became Deputy Artistic Director to David Lan, and the first Genesis Fellow. His recent productions include Ibsen’s Ghosts at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe and Lear at Hannover Staatsoper.   

The Genesis Foundation Prize will support Hill-Gibbins’ ambitious short film, This Is Your Five Minute Call, a 15-minute comedy-drama blending a fictional backstage opera crisis with the personal story of a family member’s mental health crisis.  

This project, already partially funded, will receive a significant boost from the prize money, enabling its completion. The film boasts an impressive cast, featuring Sir Simon Russell Beale, who appeared in Joe’s production of The Tragedy of Richard the Second at the Almeida, and Gemma Arterton. Half of the film was shot backstage this year at English National Opera during the run of Hill-Gibbins’ own production of The Marriage of Figaro. 

Crucially, Hill-Gibbins’ vision extends beyond the film itself. The £25,000 award will also fund a mentorship programme for five emerging artists: Crispin Lord, Jenny Ogilvie, Lucy Wray, Rosanna Vize, and Leo Bill. Crispin Lord is an accomplished director, movement director, and performer with extensive experience in opera and theatre, including assistant director roles with English National Opera; Jenny Ogilvie is a director and movement specialist with extensive experience in opera and theatre internationally, known for her collaborative work in live performance; Lucy Wray is a director and collaborative theatre maker focusing on climate change narratives, and recognised for their award-winning work; Rosanna Vize is an outstanding young stage designer who has worked on numerous high-profile theatre productions; and Leo Bill is an award-winning actor and writer/director known for his work at the National Theatre, Almeida, and Young Vic, and has numerous film and television credits. 

These talented individuals, several of whom worked alongside Hill-Gibbins on his Olivier Award nominated production of Bluebeard’s Castle at ENO in 2024, represent a diverse range of creative disciplines within theatre and film, each bringing their unique expertise to the project. Joe Hill-Gibbins’ programme will foster their professional development and provide invaluable hands-on experience. 

John Studzinski, Founder & Chairman of the Genesis Foundation, said:  
 
“Joe was our very first Genesis Fellow at the Young Vic Theatre in 2010, and we are delighted now to award him the Genesis Foundation Prize. The Genesis Foundation believes in backing and nurturing talent in the long run, and it is a privilege to support an artist’s work first as an emerging and then as a more established, confident voice. It is important that the five talented individuals Joe has chosen to work with him on his projects will benefit from his mentoring.” 

Joe Hill-Gibbins said: 

“Alongside the Young Vic, no one has done more to support my development as an artist than the Genesis Foundation. The opportunity, made possible by the Genesis Foundation, to integrate the artistic development of other practitioners into my own process of making work has always been precious to me. I’m delighted to be continuing my relationship with Genesis and to be exploring the creative process, across multiple disciplines, alongside Crispin, Jenny, Leo, Lucy and Rosie – four artists I greatly admire. That freelance artists are able to build their own communities to support and inspire each other, and to actively generate their own experimental work is vital for today’s industry”.      

Read more about the Genesis Foundation Prize

Taio Lawson, the Genesis Foundation’s current Genesis Fellow and associate director at the Young Vic, has been appointed artistic director and co-chief executive of the Bush Theatre. 

Taio will join the organisation and oversee the final season of plays programmed by Lynette Linton, who leaves the theatre this month. 

A trustee for Parents & Carers in the Performing Arts, and a theatremaker who has worked at venues including Sheffield Theatres and the Almeida Theatre, Lawson will lead the Bush with executive director and co-chief executive, Mimi Findlay. 

Taio said: “I am honoured to be stepping into the role of artistic director of the Bush, at a time when the need for enduring original narratives is so important. The Bush is unequalled in its championing of new writing and talent development, as well as being a vital hub for the local diverse community. We will stay committed to welcoming everyone, locally and nationally”. 

The Genesis Fellowship was established in 2010 with the appointment of Joe Hill-Gibbins, followed by Carrie Cracknell, Natalie Abrahami, Gbolahan Obisesan, Nadia Latif and Jennifer Tang.  

Since beginning his fellowship in 2023, Taio has mentored two Genesis Future Directors Award recipients: Annie Kershaw (2024) and Andrea Ling (2023).  

On his Genesis Fellowship, Taio said: “I saw my first play at the Young Vic on a school trip in 2000. Being able to make theatre in the same place I fell in love with the art form is a personal full circle moment”. 

Taio’s tenure at the Young Vic will end this May. 

Read more about the Genesis Fellowship 

(c) Andy Paradise

The Genesis Foundation is pleased to announce a new programme of commissions being premiered in both London and Cumnock by The Sixteen this May.

Alongside Harry Christophers, the renowned choir will present two “Voices of Angels” concerts – on 22 May at St James’s Piccadilly in London and on 24 May at St John’s Church in Cumnock, Scotland. The programme is based around three new Genesis Foundation commissions of a specially commissioned cycle of poems by Robert Willis entitled Angels Unawares.

The three new commissions are The Call of Gideon by Ninfea Cruttwell-Reade, The Call of Isaiah by Millicent B. James, and The Song of James the Son of Zebede by Lucy Walker.

Book tickets for London

Book tickets for Cumnock

The Almeida Theatre has announced its casting for Genesis Almeida playwright Ava Pickett’s 1536.

Written as part of the Genesis Almeida New Playwrights, Big Plays Programme and winner of the 2024 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, the play will star Liv Hill (Alma Mater), Siena Kelly (Adult Material) and Tanya Reynolds (A Mirror, Sex Education), and is directed by Lyndsey Turner (Chimerica). Further cast announcement is still to be announced.

Ava’s script, which was commended by The George Devine Award for its “sparkling dialogue and savage undercurrent”, is set in the year of Anne Boleyn’s death, and asks whether female solidarity can survive in a world where barbarism and misogyny are state sanctioned.

1536 is the first play commissioned through the Genesis Almeida New Playwrights, Big Plays Programme, and will make its world premiere at the Almeida Theatre, running from Tuesday 6 May – Saturday 7 June.

Find out how to book tickets for 1536

Read more about the Genesis Almeida New Playwrights, Big Plays Programme

John Studzinski’s 12-point plan on how to strengthen and expand philanthropy in the UK was published by Bloomberg UK on 25 December.

After 11 years at the helm of the Genesis Foundation’s partner the Almeida Theatre, Rupert Goold will begin a new venture at the Old Vic Theatre.

The Foundation’s Founder and Chairman John Studzinski said:

“Rupert Goold embodies artistic innovative leadership, and represents everything that is both important and essential to the creative industries in the UK. He has been an outstanding Artistic Director at the Almeida which, thanks to his leadership over the past 11 years, is now at the top of its game. The Genesis Almeida Playwrights programme is Rupert’s brainchild and, thanks to him and his team, many talented playwrights have been mentored and encouraged to write ambitious plays tackling big subjects for the main stage. He’s shown them the drive and skillset behind his own bold, stunning style and we have been honoured to work alongside him on this much-needed programme. We wish Rupert and Rebecca the very best as they face new challenges: the Old Vic will be lucky to have such a team at the helm”.

Read more about Rupert’s tenure at the Almeida

(c) Matt Roberts

Bristol Old Vic today announces Winsome Pinnock as the first Legacy Writer as part of its Five-Year Commitment residency programme. 

The first year of the programme was launched with the £25,000 Genesis Foundation Prize awarded to BOV’s Artistic Director Nancy Medina in May this year, and supports three writers at different stages of their careers: one legacy, one mid-career, and an early-career writer. 

The Genesis Foundation Prize recognises an outstanding mentor of artistic talent whose work has effected real change in the practice and careers of arts professionals or graduates. Now in its twelfth year, it is the only prize to acknowledge mentors in the arts and, through its funding, to give winners the means to invest further in their work. 

Nancy Medina said: “It is a deep joy to welcome Winsome as our inaugural Legacy Writer. Winsome is somebody whose work we believe should be firmly enshrined in the canon of British playwriting excellence and we are delighted to be able to say that she has accepted our offer and will be collaborating with us across the next five years. From our first meeting Winsome has brought generosity, warmth and deep thinking around the potential of this long-term support; we can’t wait to see what we create together.”   

John Studzinski, Founder and Chairman of the Genesis Foundation, said: “We were delighted to reward Nancy with the Genesis Foundation Prize in 2024. We first recognised Nancy’s talent as a director in 2017 when she received the Young Vic’s Genesis Future Directors Award: this continued support shows our belief in Nancy’s work and in her value as a mentor to other artists. We were impressed with her ambitious plans for The Five-Year Commitment at Bristol Old Vic and hope this programme will show how vital it is, perhaps now more than ever, for the creative industries to hold space for writers, to nurture them and invest in their long-term literary development. We are delighted that the Genesis Foundation Prize is funding the pilot year of the Five-Year Commitment.” 

The Legacy Writer position of the Five-Year Commitment residency aims to amplify the work of a British writer who is a celebrated, published and produced contemporary modern dramatist and somebody whose influence and talent Bristol Old Vic want to particularly honour in this moment. 

Winsome Pinnock is an award-winning writer for stage, radio, film and television, described as “the godmother of Black British writing” (Guardian, 2003). Her work has been produced on the British stage and internationally since 1985. She was the first black British female writer to have a play produced by the National Theatre. Her phenomenal body of work includes Leave Taking (Bush Theatre, Liverpool Playhouse, National Theatre), Rockets and Blue Lights (National Theatre, Manchester Royal Exchange, BBC Radio 3), Mules (Royal Court Theatre) and more. 

Winsome Pinnock said: “It is an honour to join this groundbreaking initiative at a time when the landscape for new writing is particularly complex. Bristol Old Vic’s commitment to investing in writers over a five-year period is both inspiring and necessary, recognising that the creation of new plays requires time, trust, and nurturance. I look forward to having the space to explore and develop my work within such a supportive community and to contribute to the theatre’s legacy of innovation and storytelling.” 

Winsome joins Bristol Old Vic as the theatre begins the process of finding the early-career and mid-career writers, who will be confirmed by December 2024 ready to begin the residency in January 2025.   

Applications for the two remaining positions are open from 26 September – 25 October.  

Find out more details about how to apply for the early-career and mid-career writer positions