Welsh National Opera reveals new Genesis Assistant Director
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Welsh National Opera and the Genesis Foundation have selected Polly Graham as WNO’s first Genesis Assistant Director. Polly will begin her two-year contract with the Company in January 2013 and will start her apprenticeship working with David Pountney on WNO’s new production of Berg’s Lulu.
WNO and the Genesis Foundation began the search for new talent to fill the role in July this year and received nearly 50 applications from hopefuls from around Europe. These were whittled down to 13 for the first round of interviews, then four for the final selection.
Polly read English Literature at Trinity College, Dublin and completed an MA in Text and Performance at RADA. She has worked as an assistant director to Frederic Wake-Walker, Stephen Lawless (Buxton) and Jenny Miller (Longborough). Polly has also undergone staff director programmes at WNO and the Royal Opera House, and has worked as a workshop leader for the education departments of ENO and Glyndebourne. She is co-founder of Barefoot Opera, and together with Jenny Miller co-directed her first production of Alcina at the alternative summer opera festival Grimeborn in 2011. Grimeborn is held annually at the Arcola Theatre in East London supporting emerging performers and writers. Polly is currently directing Nighthawks, a short play by Clare Sumi for Yellow Earth Theatre, which will tour nationally as part of Dim Sum Nights this autumn.
Polly is thrilled to have been chosen:
“I feel extremely privileged to have been chosen for this position. When you’re trying to develop as a young director, so much energy goes into just creating opportunities which will help you learn, let alone the actual learning; to be offered this kind of support and tutelage over a two year period is a totally miraculous thing. I still can’t believe it.”
WNO Chief Executive and Artistic Director, David Pountney said:
“Out of an extensive and very highly qualified list of candidates, we are delighted to have chosen Polly who impressed us with her energy, her intensity and her flair. She will bring a positive force to her work at WNO, and in return will gain invaluable experience in the working of a highly professional company. We are very grateful to the Genesis Foundation for this valuable creative opportunity to develop young talent, and in turn as an organisation to benefit from her participation.”
The Genesis Assistant Director role gives emerging artists the chance to work with one of the UK’s leading opera companies with the opportunity to develop talents and skill while being mentored by David Pountney. The Genesis Assistant Director will work on main scale operas, including new productions of Lohengrin and Roberto Devereux and projects within WNO’s community and education programme, WNO MAX.
John Studzinski, Founder and Chairman of the Genesis Foundation, said:
“We’re excited to welcome Polly as Welsh National Opera’s first Genesis Assistant Director, where she will work at the heart of a leading opera company, playing a key hands-on role in shaping productions under the mentorship of David Pountney. Polly has built an impressive career to date working across a variety of theatre and opera which makes her the ideal candidate to take on this challenge and I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot more of her in years to come.”
Read more about the Genesis Foundation’s partnership with Welsh National Opera here.