Genius by Sandra Thibodeaux

Directed by Nicky Fearn

A modern retelling of a centuries-old story.

Enter the world of renowned Italian Baroque painter, Artemisia Gentileschi (1593–c.1653) as retold by street-smart, paint-splattered rising graffiti star, Miss Ella from today (2026). Artemisia, renowned for her skilful, vivid depictions of powerful, female figures, pushed boundaries, carving her own path that earned a reputation that has endured for centuries. No matter what you might have previously heard, this is the true and verified account of her life and work as told to Miss Ella by her best friend who learnt it from her cousin, servant of the Spanish ambassador, who heard it directly from Artemisia’s pigment seller’s wife, and well, that’s practically from the horse’s mouth!

Genius is a punchy dark comedy, delivered with wit, theatrical flair and a wicked sense of humour. Exploring ambition, creativity, and the challenges artists face in worlds that can be both inspiring and treacherous, the play leaps between centuries, from the dramatic, larger-than-life world of Artemisia’s studio to the urban grit of today’s art scene. Depicting both greats of the past and stars of the future with irreverence and imagination, audiences will be caught up in this heightened world of gender, justice and delicious bloody revenge.

A JUTE Theatre Company, Sandra Thibodeaux and Simona Cosentini Co-Production, presented by Brown’s Mart.