Workshop with Stephen Moynihan

This workshop with Stephen Moynihan is part of the Down From the Attic series, hosted by Attic Projects and funded by a 2025 Arts Grant Award.

This workshop is for performers, dancers, and actors looking to deepen their physical presence and storytelling. Drawing on his experience as a movement director and choreographer in theatre, TV, and film, we will explore how movement enhances expression, presence, and transformation in performance.

Beginning with mindfulness, somatic bodywork, and sensory awareness to refine the connection between mind and body and through physical and imaginative exercises, the class will explore impulse, intention, and gesture to unlock new layers of expression. Participants will engage with methodologies including Laban Movement Analysis, Feldenkrais, Lecoq, Contact Improvisation, Chekhov’s movement work, and Meisner.

The workshop will also incorporate Animal Studies, exploring movement through structure, breath, weight, and spatial awareness, and will further develop the connection to space and other performers through sensory exercises and Contact Improvisation.

By the end of the workshop, participants will have a deeper understanding of their unique physicality and practical tools to enrich their movement choices, whether for stage, screen, or immersive performance.

Stephen Moynihan is a movement director, choreographer, and creature movement specialist with a career spanning over 20 years across theatre, television, and film.

Originally from Ireland, Stephen graduated from London Contemporary Dance School before embarking on a global performance career, collaborating with renowned creatives such as Akram Khan, Alex Reynolds, Polly Bennett, and Damien Jalet. His work has been featured in major TV shows such as Ted Lasso, House of the Dragon, and The Witcher, as well as in films including Aquaman 2, The Northman, and Lady Chatterley’s Lover, where he helped develop the choreography, creature movement, and intimacy direction. Stephen has also worked on commercials and music videos with production companies including Object & Animal, Riff Raff Films, and Greatcoat Films. In theatre, Stephen has worked on productions such as the UK tour of Frankenstein, where he developed the creature movement, and he choreographed The School for Scandal and the upcoming Spitfire Girls with Tilted Wig.

Known for his collaborative approach, Stephen’s work is deeply rooted in storytelling through movement, working closely with performers, directors, and creative teams to craft visually stunning and impactful performances. His process focuses on creating a safe, experimental space for performers to explore their physicality, ensuring every movement serves the narrative. In education, he teaches movement at some of the leading institutions, such as Rose Bruford, Drama Studio London and Trinity Laban.)