Viewpoints &

Speaking Practice

Ellen Lauren offered a 6-day intensive experience training in Viewpoints and Speaking Practice. The training was based upon the physical and creative practices innovated by Mary Overlie, SITI Company, and the Suzuki Company of Toga, as part of over 40 years of collaboration and productivity.

This workshop included rigorous physical training, vocal somatic practices, and creative problem-solving, and was based upon the discoveries of pioneering theatre-makers Mary Overlie, Wendell Beavers, Tadashi Suzuki, Anne Bogart, and SITI Company. The materials used are sourced from investigations and practices in visual art-making, music, choreography, contemplative dance practice, somatic movement practice, and composition theory.

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

Dates and Times

Mon 14 October – Sat 19 October 2024

Location

Studio 3, London Performance Studios

14/10

19/10

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.

Ellen Lauren (she/her) was a founding member and co-artistic director along with Anne Bogart of the renowned SITI Company for over 30 years. She toured nationally and internationally as a member of the acting ensemble, as well as being the Director of Education for all SITI’s extensive training programs around the world. 

She has been an Associate Artist with the Suzuki Company of Toga (SCOT) under the direction of Tadashi Suzuki for the last 40 years, performing in SCOT’s repertory worldwide. On behalf of SCOT, she also teaches the Suzuki Training for their Toga International Summer Festival Program each year. 

She is currently starting her 30th year as an ongoing faculty member at the Juilliard School of Drama at Lincoln Center in New York, where she has won the Presidents Medal for Service to the Arts, and  most recently the John Erskine Prize. 

Past collaborators include :Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Martha Graham Dance Company, visual artist Ann Hamilton, Elizabeth Streb Extreme Action Dance and New York City Opera among others.