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The first group of talented young singers to make up the Genesis Sixteen will take part in an intensive training course this weekend, the third in their programme, at the National Opera Studios in London. The 22 young singers will work with artists from The Sixteen, including founder-conductor Harry Christophers and associate conductor Eamonn Dougan, to develop their skills in consort singing through group sessions and one-on-one vocal coaching. They will also learn new repertoire in preparation for a public performance in the Autumn.

Genesis Fellow and acclaimed theatre director Joe Hill-Gibbins directs the Young Vic’s hotly-anticipated production of Thomas Middleton and William Rowley’s Jacobean masterpiece, The Changeling, from 26 January to 18 February. One of the most powerful tragedies ever written, The Changeling is a gripping and darkly comic tale of how love and sex drive us mad.

Twelve emerging playwrights from across India who have been working with the Royal Court Theatre to develop their craft will have new work staged at the Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai this month as part of the third Writers’ Bloc Festival.

Haunted Child by Joe Penhall is the latest production from Genesis partner The Royal Court to be praised by the national critics. A chilling family drama that centres on a young boy who starts seeing visions of his absent father, this unsettling play questions the things we believe in and their uncertain consequences.

What the critics said:

The Royal Court is working with writers from the Ukraine and Georgia in the latest phase of its ground-breaking International Playwrights project supported by the Genesis Foundation.

Elyse Dodgson, Head of the theatre’s International Department, will lead development work with Ukrainian and Georgian playwrights from 4 to 10 December in Lviv, Ukraine. This follows her successful trip to Tbilisi in May 2011 with playwrights Nick Payne and April De Angelis to launch the first phase of the project.

The Royal Court Theatre is running a playwrights’ workshop in Brazil as part of its ground-breaking International Playwrights project supported by the Genesis Foundation.

Chris Levine is currently collaborating with musicians Antony and the Johnsons as light artist on a new large-scale production, Swanlights, to premiere at New York’s Radio City Music Hall on 26 January 2012. Chris first teamed up with the band in 2009 to create a laser installation for a live show at the Manchester International Festival.

Tarik O’Regan’s new opera Heart of Darkness received excellent reviews following its world premiere at the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Studio on 1 November. Based on Joseph Conrad’s powerful tale of colonialism in the Congo, O’Regan’s opera was developed as part of OperaGenesis, a collaboration between the Royal Opera House’s ROH2 department and the Genesis Foundation. 

What the critics said:

“The craftsmanship of this first opera is indubitable (…) Heart of Darkness is an auspicious debut.”

An interview with light artist Chris Levine was recently published in The Independent to mark the opening of his exhibition at London's The Little Black Gallery.

Tarik O’Regan’s new opera Heart of Darkness, based on Joseph Conrad’s novella to a libretto by Tom Phillips receives its premiere at the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Studio on 1 November 2011 with further performances on November 2, 4 & 5. Oliver Gooch conducts this ROH2/Opera East production.