The Genesis Laboratory is the new research and development studio for emerging artists producing new innovative work – whether text-based or devised – in Britain.  We encourage early ideas that need experimentation, exploration and/or interrogation into form, style or content.  The Laboratory is an open access programme, awarding gifted theatre makers with the essential – but often a premium –  resources of space and time in order to be bold, brave and visionary.

HighTide – the world’s first producing festival of new plays – now provide supported Research and Development facilities to emerging artists through offering a financial bursary, well resourced rehearsal space, and collaboration from HighTide’s artistic team.

Lab Artists receive

• A Genesis Laboratory bursary of up to £500 to facilitate a week of Research and Development on a project of the artist's choosing.

• Exclusive use for the week (Monday - Friday) of HighTide Studio at the Waterloo Brasserie, situated opposite the National Theatre Studio.

• Mentoring throughout the process from HighTide's artistic team who will support the artist(s) in achieving their defined aims.

This programme has been made possible thanks to the generous support of HighTide's Artist Development partner the Genesis Foundation and space partner Waterloo Brasserie.

Please read these guidelines before applying to the Genesis Laboratory

This programme is designed to benefit emerging playwrights, directors, actors and companies, providing a Research and Development facility to help develop a particular project of the artist(s) choosing.

Applications will be assessed on two criterions: 1) the artistic strength of the artist(s) project, and 2) the artist(s) capacity to realise their aims and objectives. 

Applicants are asked when applying to clearly state how they intend to use the support that the Genesis Laboratory offers, and to be clear what their ultimate intensions for the project are, and how the Genesis Laboratory will help them to realise this. 

Applicants are encouraged to send additional materials in support of their application; this may be a draft of the script you intend to work on, press cuttings from previous productions, company biogs, a DVD of a work in progress or contact details for industry professionals who know you and your work. Please send all additional materials with your application.

A project should only be entered once for Genesis Laboratory support. If HighTide take the decision that a project is not suitable for Genesis Laboratory support, re-submitted applications will not be considered. 

Artists can submit any number of different projects for Genesis Laboratory support, but artists cannot have more than one project being considered at a single time. 

HighTide intend to respond to applicants with a decision within one month of an application being submitted. However we anticipate a high demand for this facility, therefore we ask that only after two months of a decision pending should applicants contact HighTide. Please address enquires to Natalie Ibu, Associate Director (Warehouse) on natalie@hightide.org.uk

The following artists and projects have been developed through the Genesis Laboratory

Theatre EP

Greer Dale-Foulkes, Laurence Dobiesz, Natalie Ibu, Charlotte Mills, Dominic Mitchell, Matthew Raymond, Helen Skiera

410[GONE]

James Baldwin, Calum Callaghan, Sarah Calver, Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, Natalie Ibu, Stuart Martin, Julia Sandiford

Ditch

Clare Brown, Jon Foster, Richard Galazka, John Hollingworth, Lois Jones, Nikesh
Patel, Beth Steel, Richard Twyman