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 July, Studio Lab was led by Than Hussein Clark, Katya Benjamin, Cassidy McCartan, Joanna Holden, Adrian and Polly Waldron.

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

Studio Lab

Dates and Times

Sat 18 May – Sun 19 May 2024

Location

Studio 1, London Performance Studios

Programme

Saturday 18 May 2024


  • 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.

    This workshop is open to everyone.


  • Workshop

    This workshop will explore some of the core principals of Alexander Technique.

    The technique can help to release tension and increase your wellbeing. It can be practiced wherever you are and is suitable for all ages and levels of physical fitness.


  • Workshop

    Explore how relaxation and breath freedom can put you into a place of curiosity and creativity. We will discover physical release, play with gravity, and free vibrations in the voice to ultimately free your creative self and spark your imagination through your voice and body.

    This workshop is open to everyone.

Sunday 19 May 2024

18/05

19/05


  • Workshop

    This workshop is about exploring our own ridiculousness through play.

    This workshop is open to everyone.


  • Workshop

    This workshop will focus on drawing being a physical and sensory experience, a way to make visible the invisible parts of a character’s world. The workshop crosses between visual and performing arts to see what each can offer the other.

    This workshop is open to everyone.


  • Workshop

    This workshop follows on well from Visual Art and Theatre Creation, using elements of Michael Chekhov technique to explore how imagination influences the body. We will look at how that work can help us to develop scenes and characters.

    This workshop is open to everyone.

About

Living Pictures is a sector-leading theatre training organisation that focuses on providing creative and professional development for theatre makers less represented in the arts. It was founded in 1999 by Elen and Robbie Bowman to provide training in Active Analysis and Meisner technique for directors and actors. In 2014, the organisation acquired a piece of land in Wales where it is now primarily based, which marked a shift in the organisation’s focus towards environmental and community initiatives, retreats alongside professional theatre training and stage productions. 

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.

Katya Benjamin (she/her) completed a three-year training as an Alexander Technique teacher in 1983 and proceeded to specialise in teaching the technique to performing artists. For the last 10 years has taught individual and group Alexander Technique, movement and physical performance at RADA.

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.

Joanna Holden (she/her) is an actor based in London. She trained in clown with Gerry Flannagan, John Wright, De Castor and Gaulier. She has performed clown with Cirque du Soleil.

Adrian (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.