Supporting development of new work at Genesis LAMDA Network event

On Thursday 25 July, we hosted the first rehearsed reading of new play, dot dot dot dash, by alumnus James Wallwork (class of 2009), who is one of the three founding members of From Ground Up Theatre Company, the talented crew behind the hugely successful Operation Crucible.

The special event for the Genesis LAMDA Network provided an opportunity to support the development of work by alumni, and to discuss the approach of establishing a theatre company by making work from the ground up. The event follows the success of the recent MISHMASH event held here at LAMDA which celebrated the self-created work of our alumni and students.

Speaking at the event, James Wallwork said: “I can’t thank LAMDA enough for giving me the platform to share the first reading of my play, ‘dot dot dot dash’. Arranging it in the Carne Studio Theatre was so special and the feedback forms and discussion afterwards has been incredibly useful and I’m already planning my next draft. 

It was great to benefit from the work that the Genesis Foundation is doing, to feel that we are still supported even after graduating 10 years ago, is really comforting and the play wouldn’t have attracted such a brilliant calibre of actors, unless we had the support of LAMDA. I loved talking to some of the people involved with the Genesis LAMDA Network and it massively inspired me to work closely with them if possible. I think the mentoring scheme is such a brilliant initiative and one I wish I had when I was at LAMDA. I want to give everyone the confidence that we can create work with the people we know around us. We don’t need to wait for an agent to ring. We can do it ourselves.”