Stage and screen success for LAMDA Genesis alumni

Two of LAMDA’s former Genesis Scholars, Tom Riley and Samuel Barnett, are currently working on exciting high-profile projects.

Tom Riley, who graduated in 2005, has been cast as the young Leonardo da Vinci in Da Vinci’s Demons, a new historical fantasy series from Starz Entertainment and BBC Worldwide Productions which follows the ‘untold’ story of the artist’s turbulent youth in Renaissance Florence. Production is due to begin in the summer.

Tom has received wide critical acclaim for his performances in theatre, film and on TV since graduating from LAMDA. He recently starred in Stephen Poliakoff’s My City at the Almeida Theatre, while on TV he is best known for his role as Laurence Shepherd in the ITV drama series Monroe.

Jane Tranter, Head of BBC Worldwide Productions, says: “Tom is a fabulously charismatic, intelligent and versatile actor. His audition displayed an unabashed energy that we are excited to see unleashed in his performance as a reimagined artistic genius in 15th century Florence!”

On the stage, watch out for Samuel Barnett (class of 2001) - who found critical acclaim in the stage and film versions of Alan Bennett’s The History Boys shortly after graduating - starring as Witwoud in William Congreve’s The Way of the World at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre. The play runs until 25 February.

For more information about the Genesis Foundation’s partnership with LAMDA, please click here.