LAMDA

Supporting Exceptional Drama Students Through Their Training

LAMDA (The London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art) is an internationally-renowned drama school, recently named one of the world’s top 25 drama schools by the Hollywood Reporter. The Academy is dedicated to the vocational training of actors, stage managers and technicians, directors and designers in the skills necessary to meet the highest demands in theatre, film, radio and TV.

www.lamda.org.uk

For over 15 years, John Studzinski and the Genesis Foundation have supported LAMDA by helping the Academy nurture and develop talented young actors through an annual Genesis Scholarship. Each year a panel headed up by LAMDA Vice-President Dame Janet Suzman DBE, trustee Patricia Hodge, Genesis Foundation’s Managing Director Harriet Capaldi and LAMDA’s Vice Principal and Head of Acting, John Bashford, auditions a number of students selected by LAMDA. Genesis Scholars have their tuition fees paid in their entirety over the three years of LAMDA’s BA (Hons) in Professional Acting and also receive a contribution towards their living expenses.

In September 2017, they launched the Genesis LAMDA Network, an important new mentoring programme for actors, stage managers and technicians. The Genesis LAMDA Network pairs a final year student on LAMDA’s BA (Hons) Professional Acting, Foundation Degree Professional Acting and Production & Technical Arts courses with an experienced graduate to support them as they enter the industry.

The Genesis LAMDA Network forms part of the comprehensive professional preparation LAMDA offers its students to support them beyond graduation and equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to develop successful and sustainable careers in the industry.

Read more about this new phase of the partnership between the Genesis Foundation and LAMDA here.

The number of awards given each year is flexible, allowing the panel to respond to all exceptional talent in need of financial assistance who audition.

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

“LAMDA is, in my opinion, currently the leading drama school in the UK; it offers the best all-round training for actors and associated theatre professionals.”

LAMDA Principal Joanna Read says:

“For over 15 years Genesis has supported LAMDA, showing their awareness of the importance of exceptional vocational drama training. We are immensely grateful to the Foundation for its continued, and unparalleled, generosity towards LAMDA and its commitment to supporting the next generation of actors.”

Below is a list of present scholars, please click on the name for a biography.

Current Scholars

Stuart Thompson (Class of 2019)

Genesis LAMDA alumni have gone on to have diverse and critically-acclaimed careers on the stage and screen.

Last year alone saw many of LAMDA’s former Genesis scholars achieving success in their new careers. Their continued success is a testament to the great importance of the Foundation’s support.

Ben Aldridge (class of 2008) filmed the second series of BBC drama Our Girl which aired in September. He also filmed two feature films; sci-fi The Titan and historical drama Amre, in which he plays George Gershwin.
James Atherton (class of 2008) filmed roles in TV series Midsomer Murders and Babs, about the life of Barbara Windsor.
Samuel Barnett (class of 2001) was cast as the lead role in BBC America’s Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. It is currently available in the UK on Netflix. The series has been renewed for a second season.
Ryan Donaldson (class of 2013) played the role of Autolycus in Cheek By Jowl’s touring production of The Winter’s Tale.
Murray Fraser (class of 2016) filmed ITV drama Loch Ness, due to air in early 2017.
Ciarán Owens (class of 2011) appeared in The Brink at The Orange Tree Theatre. He also filmed a role in TV series Crazyhead and feature film, Where Hands Touch.
Tom Riley (class of 2005) filmed a number of TV series: Amazon’s The Collection, ITV’s Dark Heart and BBC’s Ill Behaviour.
Abubakar Salim (class of 2014) starred in Cheek By Jowl’s The Winter’s Tale with Ryan Donaldson, and Labyrinth at the Hampstead Theatre. He also filmed a role in Black Mirror, directed by Golden Globe and BAFTA nominated Joe Wright.
Gary Shelford (class of 2001) starred in Ross at the Chichester Festival Theatre and Buried Child at the Trafalgar Studios alongside Oscar nominated Ed Harris.
Sam Swann (class of 2010) was nominated at the Manchester Theatre Awards in the Actor in a Leading Role category for his role in Pomona at the Royal Exchange. He also starred in Oil at the Almeida Theatre.
Paul Tinto (class of 2010) reprised his role in Operation Crucible at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. Paul also filmed a role in BBC series The Last Post.