Alexander McPherson
Alexander McPherson started his working life as an apprentice scenic artist at The Little Theatre Bristol at the age of 14. In time he became their set and costume designer and from there moved to Bristol Old Vic where he worked as a scenic artist and prop maker, ultimately becoming Head of Design. His subsequent freelance career has included designing sets and costumes for numerous repertory theatres, production companies, opera companies and drama schools both in the UK and across Europe.
While at Bristol he began to develop his interest in masks and their history, first using them in Pantomime productions. He realised that they have the extraordinary ability to release the inner self of the performer or wearer.
Alexander now practices principally as a mask maker, offering bespoke fine quality masks to private and business clients. Having carried out extensive research into traditional construction techniques, tools and materials, he works in traditional styles, using leather, papier mache or buckram, He specialises in Commedia dell’Arte characters, and imaginative animals and insect.
While at Bristol he began to develop his interest in masks and their history, first using them in Pantomime productions. He realised that they have the extraordinary ability to release the inner self of the performer or wearer.
Alexander now practices principally as a mask maker, offering bespoke fine quality masks to private and business clients. Having carried out extensive research into traditional construction techniques, tools and materials, he works in traditional styles, using leather, papier mache or buckram, He specialises in Commedia dell’Arte characters, and imaginative animals and insect.
Clients include…
ROYAL ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ART
Alexander has had a long design association with R.A.D.A. and made masks for productions several productions. (He also supervised some of the student design activities.)
R.A.D.A’s M.A. Theatre Lab, an intensive post grad course specialising in improvisation and movement inspired performance, uses a complete set of Alexander's commedia masks. under the tuition and guidance of Peta Lily and course leader Ian Morgan
REGENTS OPERA
Alexander created a set of splendid gilt masks for Strauss’s Die Agyptische Helene
Alexander created a set of splendid gilt masks for Strauss’s Die Agyptische Helene
KALAMATA INTERNATIONAL SUMMER DRAMA SCHOOL (KaDISS)
Alexander created sets of neutral masks to a brief set by course leader Andrew Visnevski. This international English language course specialises in the immersive exploration of acting techniques through Shakespearean study and classical Greek theatre.
Alexander created sets of neutral masks to a brief set by course leader Andrew Visnevski. This international English language course specialises in the immersive exploration of acting techniques through Shakespearean study and classical Greek theatre.
GRIMEBORN at the ARCOLA
An annual festival of fully realised small scale operas, both traditional and modern. Alexander designed and created highly characterful animal and insect masks for Janacek’s The Cunning Little Vixen.
An annual festival of fully realised small scale operas, both traditional and modern. Alexander designed and created highly characterful animal and insect masks for Janacek’s The Cunning Little Vixen.
PANTOMIMES
Alexander has made numerous masks for Traditional pantomimes including work for theatres in Newcastle-on-Tyne, Bristol, Windsor, Barnstaple and York