What we do: Current projects | Past Projects

Living Pictures Productions, in association with the Actors Centre, have helped develop David Schneider's new play Making Stalin Laugh - based on Stalin's favourite Yiddish Theatre Troupe who were later extermindated on his orders.

The development and reading performances at the Actors Centre of Making Stalin Laugh were supported by a European Association for Jewish Culture grant funded by Lord and Lady Haskel and the Actors Centre.

(See David's biography on the People page)

2008

Script study in association with Sherman Cymru.
An opportunity for directors, writers and actors to study plays that span many era's under the specialist guidance of a literary host.
Literary specialist: Ian Rickson
Venue: Sherman Cymru

Workshops:

The Stanislavsky Toolkit with Bella Merlin at Sherman Cymru

2007

Script study in association with Sgript Cymru.
Literary Specialists: Bill Hopkinson and Steve Waters.
Venue: Chapter Arts.

• Speaking Shakespeare with Phil Breen, Associate of Theatre Clwyd.
• NLP and the Actor with Robert Bowman, Joint-Artistic Director of Living Pictures
• The Stanislavsky Toolkit with Bella Merlin, actress and author of The Stanislavsky Toolkit. (Published by Nick Hern)

2006

• Steve Fisher - Director/choreographer
• Christopher Heinman - devising and improvising
• Alexander Mackenzie - Authenticity in storytelling
• Prosiect 9 mewn cydweithrediad a / in association with Sgript Cymru - 'Dwy yn Un' yn Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Abertawe 2006

Mae Prosiect 9 mewn cydweithrediad â Sgript Cymru yn datblygu dwy ddrama fer ar gyfer Theatr y Maes Eisteddfod Abertawe. Cafodd 'Car dy gymydog' ei datblygu gan Sgript Cymru yn ystod 2005 a'r ail ddrama, 'Mae Sera'n Wag', oedd ennillydd cystadleuaeth y ddrama fer 2005. Fe fydd y ddwy ddrama yn cael ei datblygu a'i ymarfer yn wirfoddol dros gyfnod o dri mis o Fai 1af yn diwedd gyda tri diwrnod o ymarfer a dwy ymddangosiad yn yr Wyl wedi'i ariannu gan Gyngor y Celfyddydau.

Prosiect 9 in association with Sgript Cymru, Contemporary Drama Wales, developed two short plays for the 'Maes' Theatre on the Eisteddfod field this Summer. One play was a piece developed by Sgript Cymru and the other was the winner of last years short play competition. Both projects will begin development and rehearsal voluntarily over a three month period from May 1st culminating in a three day rehearsal process and two showings at the festival supported by the Arts Council.

Free from Sorrow was a new play by Robin Hooper, part of the Capital Offences Season at the Tristan Bates Theatre in London. It played at the Tristan Bates Theatre from October 4th to 30th 2004 and was produced in association with The Actors Centre and Roscoe Productions.

Robert Bowman (Director)
Gregg Shoulder (Designer)
Prema Mehta (Lighting Designer)
Simon Allen (Composer)
Rebecca Fifefield (Assistant Director)
Noam Shmuel (Student Assistant Director)
Roscoe Productions (Producer)
Cast: Jon Foster, Mike Goodenough, Simon Meacock, Anthony Naylor, Owen Oakeshott and Joan Oliver

"Robin Hooper has written a dark play shot through with humour, anger and tenderness. A beautifully, quiet play packed with humanistic power."

The Play explored the very difficult subject of paedophilia and questioned how we, as a society, deal with this emotive subject. The company had the support and advice from such people as Tink Palmer from Stop it Now, Jon Silverman - authour and former BBC Home Affairs Correspondent and Donald Findlater from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation - all of whom attended and particpated in a post show discussion we held at the Tristan Bates during the run.

"The cast is one of the finest ensembles to be seen on the London Fringe"

What's On

"Challenging Drama... bloated with tension"

Time Out

"If you want to see stunning acting in a superbly crafted play then get yourself to the Tristan Bates Theatre to see Free from Sorrow."

On Line Review

Pilot: December 2002, Tristan Bates Theatre, London
Production: Spring 2003 at the Arcola Theatre (London), followed by UK tour to The Drum (Plymouth Theatre Royal), Bristol Old Vic
Studio, Ustinov Studio (Bath Theatre Royal) and Chapter Arts Centre (Cardiff).

Director: Elen Bowman (Pilot and Production)
Designer: Soutra Gilmour (Pilot and Production)
Lighting Designer: Ben Ormerod (Pilot)
Lighting Designer: Emma Chapman (Production)
Composer/Performer: Simon Allen (Pilot and Production)
Cast: Robert Bowman & Sandy McDade (pilot)
Robert Bowman & Elizabeth Hurran (production)

The Nest was produced over a longer production period to create a hyper-realistic, multi-media world without props. Demanding a high level of imaginative skills from both actors and audience, every object the company used in the production was imaginary, including a baby that walked and talked. The production was accompanied live by Composer Simon Allen with film shot by Huw Walters projected onto the back wall of Soutra Gilmour's multi-purpose set.

This project was supported with Grants from The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, The RSC Fringe Fund, individual donations and was produced in association with the Arcola Theatre.

Reviews for The Nest:

Independent Review - Best Play's Section

Time Out - Critic's Choice

"This is gripping stuff...the mix of live music and film beautifully complements the action...it all works a treat."

Time Out - Madeleine North

"A searching production...with poetic force."

Metro Life - Stephen Brown

"Simon Allen's atmospheric, live on stage music and the utterly focused performances of Bowman and Hurran are the quality touches in Elen Bowman's winning production...the Arcola Theatre has a fresh hit on its hands"

The Evening Standard - Fiona Mountford

"Robert Bowman and Elizabeth Hurran deliver delicate performances in which everything is expressed."

The Times - Sam Marlowe

"Perfection...proves that the dynamic of the theatre art form is unbeatable."

Latest Reviews - Michael Kelligan

Dates: September - October 2000, Theatro Technis, London
Directors: Robert & Elen Bowman
Designer: Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones
Lighting Designer: Ben Ormerod
Composer: Simon Allen

Andromache was the company's first production performed for four weeks at Theatro Technis with a multi-ethnic cast. The design was based on a Greco/Asian world researched by Designer Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, with the final sand and wood set including a specially commissioned statue by British born Greek Artist Petros. Simon Allen composed a music/sound score for the production using instruments from Africa, India and Thailand.

This production was supported by the Hellenic Foundation and individual donations.

Reviews for Andromache:

Living Pictures present an "inventive, atmospheric and evocative piece"

The Stage

Living Pictures have "an intensity that impressively resurrects the polemical voice of the playwright.' The play is 'imaginatively staged with cinematic visuals and an epic score."

Time Out