Lloyd Peters
Lloyd is a professional actor, writer and director with over 45 years experience. Born in Leeds he went on to study at Manchester University and is now based in both London and the North. His acting and writing work have been broadcast all over the world and his passion for creating original work has been strengthened in the present cultural and political climate. His commitment to produce new exciting, provocative drama and comedy remains undiminished.
Lloyd Peters as 'Maurice' in 'The Night Alive', Chain Theatre, Broadway, New York. Photo: Valerie Terranova. See Theatre Reviews in Highlights Section below.
'Last of the Summer Wine' (Xmas Special Ep: ‘There Goes the Groom’ ) (L to R) Bill Owen, Frank Thornton, Lloyd Peters, Peter Sallis. Photo: BBC TV
Lloyd Peters as 'Dave Nutter' in 'Home Sweet Home' (BBC Film) Directed by Mike Leigh
Sir Antony Sher (Howard Kirk) and Lloyd Peters (Michael Bennard) in 'The History Man' series. Dir: Robert Knights. Photo: BBCTV
Sir Antony Sher (Howard Kirk) and Lloyd Peters (Michael Bennard) in 'The History Man' series. Dir: Robert Knights.. Photo: BBCTV
'Lair of the White Worm' (Dir: Ken Russell) Feature Film. Photo: First Independent Films
'Boys from the Blackstuff' (2022), L to R Lesley Nightingale (Veronica), Lloyd Peters (Morgan), Bernard Hill (Yosser) in 'Yosser's Story' ep. Directed by Philip Saville. Photo: BBCTV
'Bell In The Ball' (2010) written by Lloyd Peters. Directed by Gary Brown Photo: BBC
'Boy Who Won the Pools' Special Cinema Screening with Tony Virgo and Lloyd Peters (far right) August 2021
'Donal Fleet: A Confessional' Hampstead Theatre. (2009) Photo: Frances Piper
'Whatever Happened To' (2019) Photo: Brainne Edge. Edinburgh Festival.
'Steptoe and Son Returns' (2019) Photo: Brainne Edge
'Whatever Happened To...' (2019) Stephen Aintree and Lloyd Peters. Edinburgh Festival. Photo: Brainne Edge
Lloyd has worked with many leading writers and directors including Mike Leigh, Alan Bleasdale, Jim Cartwright, Ken Russell and Kathy Gail Macgowan on Broadway. Lloyd formed the ‘alternative comedy’ theatre company 20th Century Coyote with Rik Mayall whilst studying Drama at Manchester University. He also taught students such as Peter Kay and Jason Manford at Salford University.
Coming Soon in 2024:
Lloyd Peters as ‘Peter’ in ‘The Vanishing Cabinet’. In production throughout 2024
Highlights of 2022/23:
Lloyd Peters makes his New York Broadway stage debut as ‘Maurice’ in ‘The Night Alive’ by Conor McPherson, directed by Kathy Gail MacGowan. What the Reviews said:
‘…..Lloyd Peters is a true treasure as Uncle Maurice and practically gives a masterclass in acting in The Night Alive’. Eleni Sakellis, The National Herald, October 18 2022
‘ The real star of the night is Lloyd Peters as Uncle Maurice, at turns crotchety and weepy, but oh, the journey takes us on with his big monologue (and McPherson knows how to write a good monologue). Peters is a reminder of what a gift it can be to just listen to someone talk, to hear them think out loud, the thesis inside the ramble’. Zelda Knapp, Margin Notes: The Night Alive, October 20th 2022
‘Lloyd Peters’ (Maurice) heartbreaking turn as Tommy’s uncle, who struggles with powerlessness in the face of strife and loss, is delivered with incredible finesse…The Night Alive is a triumph.’ Zach Adler, My Entertainment World, New York Theatre Review, October 21st 2022.
Lloyd returns to ‘Coronation Street’ as Walter, Granada Television, Dir: John Greening, October 2022
BBC 100 years’ anniversary commemorations select ‘Boys From the Blackstuff’ for re-screening as one of its greatest ever groundbreaking dramas. Lloyd as ‘Morgan’ in ‘Yosser’s Story’ BBC 4 July 2022.
Lloyd appears in two prestigious BBC Radio 4 dramas - the final episode of ‘Brief Lives’ and ‘Trust’ with Julie Hesmondhalgh, both directed by Gary Brown.
Red-Roar Films
Lloyd created the production company Red-Roar Films in 1988 that has produced many independent films screened in cinemas and on television.
A passion for celebrating the experimental and political is often a feature of his work…..
… and comedy films too.
‘JACK-JACK DOG-DOG - BACK TO NORMAL’
Yes he’s back. Jack-Jack Dog-Dog returns in a brand new crazy adventure celebrating his normal life of hedonism and art. Paradise Regained with more Caravaggio and less Coprophagia.
Warning: contains adult humour and scenes some viewers may find offensive. Also available with age check on YouTube here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v+6TAtOit3doo
Director Lloyd Peters (centre) on location for the John Robb interview (right) with rock legend Shaun Ryder (second left)
(Red-Roar Films/Sparkle Street Projects 2021)
Red-Roar Films on location
‘First Cut’ a short screenplay by Lloyd Peters wins two Hollywood awards and is a Finalist in the NYC International Screenplay Awards 2022.
Platinum Award Best Short Script Independent Shorts Awards 2022
Nominated Finalist in the IndieX Fest competition 2022
Finalist in the NYC International Screenplay Awards 2021-2022
Quarter Finalist in the Chicago Screenplay Awards 2021-2022
Writer
‘Early Rik: Thoughts Of A Clown: A Rik Mayall biography ‘
by Chris Shields.
Foreword by Lloyd Peters
Now available from Amazon - Hardcover or Paperback.
https://amzn.eu/d/3Lmzxh8
(updated content below 20/10/23)
Interested in the roots of ‘alternative comedy’ and 20th Century Coyote - Lloyd, Rik, Mike, Mark and another guy with a motorbike? Forget the massaged, revisionist versions, this is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the Rik.
For those scholars craving even more authentic detail, access the peer-reviewed article in Comedy Studies:
Peters, LH 2013, ‘The roots of alternative comedy? - the alternative story of 20th Century coyote and eighties comedy’.
Comedy Studies, Volume 4(1): pages 5-21 DOI:10.1386
Writer
Academic
Dr. Lloyd Peters lectured at Salford University from 1993-2018. Lloyd was awarded a Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 2011, a PhD in 2014 and an Honorary Senior Lectureship in 2018-Present.
Lloyd has published many academic articles that focus on Comedy, Television, Radio, Theatre, Media and Performance. No Ivory Towers here. These easy-to-read articles explore in greater detail the nuts and bolts of the wider media and cultural industries that informed Lloyd's practical performances and production career.
Peer-reviewed articles of note:
Peters, LH 2013, ‘The roots of alternative comedy? - the alternative story of 20th Century coyote and eighties comedy’. Comedy Studies Volume 4(1): pages 5-21 DOI:10.1386
A must read for followers and scholars of 20th Century Coyote and Rik Mayall - the non-revisionist, unmassaged truthful version
Peters, LH 2015. ‘ A Higher Education - A Polemic (for a change).’ Sage Journals, Arts and Humanities in Higher Education, Volume 14, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1177/1474022215591102
Explores some of the political and cultural issues that surround Higher Education that inspired the writing and production of the hit BBC radio play ‘A Higher Education’, by Lloyd Peters, starring Rik Mayall,. Warning: includes funny lines!
Peters, LH 2018, ‘Reports of the death of British theatrical comedy? Greatly exaggerated or sadly accurate ?’ Comedy Studies Volume 9 (1): pages 76-83, Published online: 26 Feb 2018 https://doi.org/10.1080/2040610X.2018.1437166
With original interviews with UK theatre producers and commissioners, the paper poses the uncomfortable question, ‘Is ‘serious’ British theatrical comedy dead?’
Peters, LH and Becker, Sue ‘Racism in comedy reappraised: Back to Little England?’ Comedy Studies Volume 1 (2) pages 191-200, Published online: 03 Jan 2014https://doi.org/10.1386/cost.1.2.159_1
Much cited paper that examines racism in television comedy both explicit (eg Little Britain) and casual racism (eg Teenage Kicks.)
‘ Media Practice and New Approaches to Mise-en-Scene and Auteur Theory in Broadcast Radio’ (2014 PhD. Salford University repository)
Don’t be put off by the long title, Lloyd’s PhD thesis focuses on the practicalities of writing and producing his many broadcast BBC radio plays. There is a dedicated chapter on the writing and recording of ‘A Higher Education’, starring Rik Mayall.