Genesis LAMDA Network

About the Genesis LAMDA Network

The early days in the creative industries can be challenging and daunting. The Genesis LAMDA Network is a mentoring scheme that brings together industry professionals with final-year LAMDA students.

How it all began

We created the Genesis LAMDA Network because we understand that it’s important to support new talent as they continue their individual journeys to become the trailblazers, exceptional artists and technicians in the performing arts and creative industries.

This mentoring scheme carefully pairs a final year student on the BA (Hons) Professional Acting, MFA Professional Acting and Foundation Degree Production & Technical Arts: Stage & Screen courses with a graduate mentor to support them as they complete their training and enter the industry.

Past LAMDA students, Dame Janet Suzman and David Suchet CBE, sparked the initial idea as a way to help the next generation of actors feel supported and encouraged at a time which can feel very challenging. Since its launch in 2017, numerous alumni from across the world have been a part of the scheme, sharing their experiences and knowledge. 

How it works

In addition to mentoring, we provide skills workshops led by industry leaders, and organise an annual event for students and mentors to get together and for all of the LAMDA family - students past and present - to network and make new connections.

We are grateful to the Eranda Rothschild Foundation and The Genesis Foundation for their support of the Genesis LAMDA Network.

How do I become a mentor?

If you’d like to become an acting mentor on the Genesis LAMDA Network scheme, you’ll need to be a LAMDA graduate with at least three years’ experience in the industry. If you’d like to become a technical training mentor, you don’t need to be a LAMDA graduate but you do need at least five years’ experience in the industry.

Please contact [email protected] to register your interest.

The Genesis Foundation

The Genesis Foundation has funded 25 full scholarships on our BA (Hons) Professional Acting course over the past 20 years, and it now supports this mentoring scheme.

Established by John Studzinski in 2001, the Genesis Foundation works in partnership with the leaders of prestigious UK arts organisations such as LAMDA, the National Theatre, Royal Court, The Sixteen and the Young Vic. Its largest funding commitment is to programmes that support directors, playwrights, actors and musicians in the early stages of their professional lives.