Studio Lab was a monthly multifaceted programme of weekend workshops, organised by Living Pictures co-founder Robbie Bowman in collaboration with fellow theatre practitioners.

Each Studio Lab was a chance for participants to work out their acting muscles, develop their craft, and learn from peers as well as established professionals. Studio Lab adopts a mind, body and spirit approach, and aims to collectively develop these aspects of ourselves.

As acting and directing are difficult to practise outside the rehearsal room, these workshops created space for exploration and experimentation in an environment without judgement, enabling participants to develop in relation with others rather than in isolation.

The workshops encouraged an investigative approach to the work, rather than being taught by an all-knowing expert. In so doing, Studio Lab supported and encouraged active learning and development for both facilitators and participants.

In June, Studio Lab was led by Than Hussein Clark, Robbie Bowman, Florence Dobson, Cassidy McCartan, Adrian Greensmith and Polly Waldron.

This series of workshops was organised by Living Pictures, as part of the Associate Artists Programme.

Programme

Saturday 15 June 2024

Studio Lab


  • Workshop

    This Linklater Voice session will focus on physical release to explore subtle and expressive breath for the actor. The goal of this session will be to explore effort and ecomony of the body for the purpose of performing. Cassidy will lead a series of floor exercises for release in the whole body. A state of release and relaxation help the actor to come back to breath and then to find greater expression with minimal effort.


  • Workshop

    Robbie will lead this session focusing on connection and awareness of oneself and others. This is a chance to keep working your 'acting muscles' and keep investigating what helps you move towards freedom on stage.

    Robbie's work is influenced heavily by the Meisner Repetition Exercises which form the core of what he does, coupled with mantras and the psycho/physical aspect of our work.


  • Workshop

    Active Analysis is a method of rehearsing using improvisations and etudes, devised by Stanislavski at the end of his career. This workshop will put the method into practice through work on a performance text.


  • Workshop

    This session is a space to exercise your creativity, impulse and imagination, drawing on the work of two different approaches to psychophysical acting training: Michael Chekhov and Jacques LeCoq. How does the imagination influence the body, and vice versa?

    We will explore how these physical and imaginative tools can be used to start creating scenes, working from a place where the body goes before the mind.

Sunday 16 June 2024


  • Workshop

    Having found the Alexander technique to be an essential element to her actors training at RWCMD and RADA, Florence continues to deepen her practice of Alexander to liberate herself and others through a mindful practice of breath-work and sensations.

    Through Alexander Technique, Florence will share some fundamental exercises and insights to channel space and grounding through the body, allowing ourselves to compassionately release tension and welcome in ease and flow.

    NB: If you have a couple of books, please bring along to the session to place under your head - 2.5 fingers-width as a rough guild. We can provide if not possible.


  • Workshop

    In this session we will work from Chekhov's Uncle Vanya. You don't have to have read the play before doing the session but please feel free to read it if you want! Robbie will be doing his version of Active Analysis mixing Meisner and Stanislavski together.


  • Workshop

    Adrian is exploring how visual art can be used as a tool for actors. Pulling from various techniques, we will look at how drawing can generate a bond to the character’s life, ultimately allowing us to put decisions into our body quickly.

    Drawing can get cut off as a mode of expression when we are told it doesn’t look realistic- the workshop will try to bring us back to physical sensation, focusing on what feels good rather than what looks correct.

Dates and Times

Sat 15 – Sun 16 June 2024


Location

Studio 3, London Performance Studios

15/06

16/06

About

Than Hussein Clark (he/him) is a theatre director and visual artist. He is the artistic director of The Director’s Theatre Writer’s Theatre, and founder of London Performance Studios. He completed an MA in Theatre Directing with Katie Mitchell (OBE) at Royal Holloway.

Cassidy McCartan (she/her) is a London-based actor and Designated Linklater Teacher, native to the United States. Cassidy received her BFA in acting from the University of Rhode Island, and her MFA in Linklater Teaching Practice from Rose Bruford College in London, UK.

Florence Dobson (she/her) is originally from the Lake District, Florence trained on the BA Acting at RADA. Since graduating in 2021, she has worked professionally as an actor and producer across Theatre and Screen, with a desire to direct . Florence wishes to share Alexander Technique, amongst other practices she has a fascination for, with anyone who wishes to continue or begin embodying techniques they can apply to their lives and/or creative processes.

Adrian Greensmith (he/him) works as an actor and facilitator. He trained on the Collaborative and Devised Theatre course at Central. He has been influenced by his work with collaborator and visual artist Lilian, as well as his time training in Michael Chekhov technique with Sinead Rushe.

Polly Waldron (she/her) works as an actor and facilitator. She trained on the Collaborative and Devised Theatre course at Central, where she discovered Michael Chekhov through her classes with Sinead Rushe.

Robbie Bowman (he/him) is an actor, director and acting tutor. He has worked in theatre for the last 42 years in over 50 productions ranging from the West End, National, The Gate and the Sherman in Cardiff. He co-runs Living Pictures and Coed Dylan with his partner Elen Bowman.