Lloyd Productions GHQ

Love The Walls, A Quick Photo Below.

Well I have to say I am very excited. Not A great picture above, but it gives you the idea and of feel of the place. Very much the 50's influence to the building. Strong, sound resistant and in touch with the surroundings. It looks over some beautiful Devon Country Side with Dartmoor just behind it. 

There are some Interesting Artisan Units around and the Landlord seem to put a lot of time and energy in keeping the place looking good.

So with all that in Place now, back to getting the artists juices flowing.  

Housing Lloyd Productions

This Could be It

This old factory could be the New House of Lloyd Productions. Loads of space to rehearse in and be loud as we like. Marvellous and also at any hour of the day, always a bonus. I find nothing worse than waking up at 3am with an idea and having to sneak around the house with it, being super silent as not to wake the world around me. Or being on a roll and having to vacate the area as a person with a key has arrived to lock up. So no creative juice will be lost. It is three miles from where I dwell as well, so no time at all getting there.

The office space is large, so sofas, dining room, kitchen and play areas for the children can be set up, plus a music room.

As I have said before I will keep doing the odd screen printing Job, to keep the family tradition going and as luck would have it there is space for that. I am also liking the fact that when we are putting a show together there is enough room for friends and family to view it before we take it to the Theatre or film set.

So on Monday at 9am another viewing and take it from there. Wish me luck folks, I want this place really Bad.

  

It is Important to Include Your Children In Your Work

Here is Carys On the Set of Waiting in the Wings

Carys was born the Tec week of The Sound of Music at the Civic Theate in Grand rapids, where I was Playing Uncle Max. She saw her first show at four weeks old. This Production above was a year later & she was able to lap it all up. Plus woo the whole cast. I remember walking out on stage as Cliff to hear her say, "that's Daddy." from the back of the circle. A heart warming moment.

That Christmas she was with me every step of the way in producing Jack and the Beanstalk at the Wealthy Theatre, Grand Rapids. In fact she was good at the castings, as if she sat and watched an actor audition with out a word, then I knew I had a good one and engaged them.

So should you want to come work with me at Lloyd Productions, you will meet all three of my children. If you have children they are welcome to the work place as I will not produce anything child unfriendly. Lloyd productions is a Family Business. Yes there will be adult nights and certain times when they can not be present, but I find my children understand that and still feel included in what we do.

Getting the Jack & the Beanstalk ready for the public in Torquay in 2013 for New Pantomime Productions, they did not see much of me, but once we were up and running, you could not keep them out of the Theatre, they saw nine shows and wanted more. Really in this line of business it is great to be able to share what you do with all ages and everyone in your circle, or there would be no point.      

So What Has Been Happening

This Is What I Have Been Doing For The Last Four Years

After living and working in the USA with my family for some time and the birth of my children, the big recession started in 2008. Lloyd Productions had been formed, our first production "Jack & The Beanstalk" had been produced, I had been enjoying a great career with Kramer International. Plus working as A Profession Actor, in Film and on Stage, as well as enjoying the odd bit of air time on Radio.

Alas that party had to stop as the money started to run out and as an Immigrant I felt guilty taking up good American Jobs as Michigan had been hit Hard. So when My father offered me a Job back in the UK as Production Manager within the Family Business Devontees we jumped at it, very exciting time for the family to sample British life. So I put my Theatre and entertainment days on hold and got busy Hand Printing & decorating garments for leisure, schools, colleges & business uniforms. Plus all the other groups that want their name on a Hoody, Vest or T-shirt. Entertainment became a side line for a while. 

Sadly my marriage did not stand the move, but we managed to keep it clean for the children. As we all ventured into our first Christmas apart my father passed away. It was all very sudden, I take December off and do a Christmas Production in Torquay. So I was not with him at the factory when he Left Us. (something I do not like myself for right now) I will not go into detail about this part of my life right now, but what I will say is; the Company closed down in Tribute to him.

So again I am at the cross road, the path I am taking is to continue as a side line the printing for selected customers keeping the family history going, (my hobby in fact) & throw my full weight into Lloyd Productions. I have become a massive fan of twitter and have been finding many talented people out there. There is a Brand New Show in production and my resume is going out again to Casting Directors. Busy times are back.

Life is a marvellous gift, you will find knocks that will slow you down, confuse you and change your thinking. If you listen to the ambitious child inside; the journey to recovery is extremely rewarding. That child never changes and in the times when you do not know what to do, lost, miserable and in need of a hand back up, visiting the early memories, connecting with yourself again and starting out fresh again is to my mind the only way forward.

So please do join me and should you want to chat, tweet or mail me on here. Thank you for reading.

Charles x 

Lloyd Productions First Show

Jack & The Beanstalk

A sample of the Poster up there.

 In Grand Rapids Michigan I was Lucky Enough to Team up with The Wealthy Theatre & grabbed the opportunity to produce the Cities first Anglo Panto.

I had just Finished Playing Uncle Max in The Sound Of Music at The Civic Theatre there and had met some some Very Enthusiastic Local Talent. 

So in 2008 we started production.

My idea was Penned by Jeff Duncan and an Original Score was created By Jon Lee.

The local Media were fantastic and as an Englishman I was shocked at how much support I got, as in the UK you have to open an vein to get a paragraph in the local rag or sleep with the editors cousin.

Bad Charles, should not have typed that.

As the Theatre had 400 seats a large cast was not an option, So we used puppets for the Cloud-land scenes. For those from the UK reading that remember Sooty & Sweep you do not need this Link which shows a clip of Harry Corbett with his puppets Sooty & Sweep. That will give you a general idea of the style.

Below is a photo of the one puppets rehearsing, with The Jon Lee   

The stage was small, so rather than have set fill Loads of it, we back projected the scenery, leaving plenty of space to perform in, Below you will find dame trots House which was painted By Steven Waulkazoo

The Beanstalk was the next issue, hurrah we came up with the idea of a cartoon beanstalk, Steve got busy with Jon and a great visual and musical effect was created. 

The great people of Grand Rapids came to see us in droves, even though the snow was pouring down. If I had not come back to the UK in 2009 then I would have done Another. I will be going back to produce Again at some point.        

It's Casting Time

I Enjoy The Virgin Script

Here we go, been looking all over twitter and spotting talent. Now it is back to the old ways, I love pouring over a script at my desk with a flow of tea. The iPad, iPhone and my PC by my side. For me you can not beat the pencil marks and rubbings out on paper as you put something together. Later in the week will meet with the creator of the idea and the final touches will be made ready to call in the talent. Popped a post up on the Lloyd Production's putting a loose call out, but no hurry. 

Lloyd Productions Starts Trading Again

Here We Go

Yes an exciting idea has been brought to me, I like to work the project out myself performing the roles to an empty room before calling in the team. So I have been a Hermit in January, like a madman with voices & tunes running through the brain. YEP this idea is stinking HOT!!! 

READY

This is my blog, so this is me talking. The Lloyd Productions Website, App, Blog, Twitter Page and so on are on being developed. In the meantime I am on Twitter @thecharleslloyd #thecharleslloyd #lloydproductions looking for the talent to support the team. Come Join In The Fun.

Life Is Good