This is a multi-track improvisation in search of Marie Henderson. Now a footnote in British theatre history, but in her time (1860-1880) and place (Royal Colosseum, Britannia and Elephant and Castle Theatres) she was a potent force in the world of melodrama. 
This orchestration explores her public and private life. 
The first section evokes the power of her performance in the play, Faith, Hope and Charity. She is a ghost that returns to haunt the villainous aristocrat. This play employed the latest technology of the Victorian stage, Professor Pepper's optical illusion for a ghost scene. As an orphan that returns from beyond the grave, she is repeatedly stabbed by the despairing villain; but she cannot be vanquished due to the use of special effects involving mirrors. Glockenspiel and bells are used to provide either delicate or harsh surfaces that play off harp, strings and clarinet. 
For the finale, we find Marie Henderson acting out her death. The actress had contracted syphillis (undiagnosed at the time) and ended her days in Bedlam Hospital with her husband by her side. An electric guitar sets the otherworldly tempo and is a poignant farewell to a theatrical force that had once captured the imagination of London theatre goers. 
For more information: http://www.grasart.com/1/post/2014/02/marie-henderson-victorian-actress-of-melodrama.html

The Ghost Of Marie Henderson

This is a section of music scored by DJ Lysergide for a stage play, The Melodramatic Elephant in the Haunted Castle. It is a play about the intertwined fate of a Victorian actress and the Coronet theatre in the Elephant and Castle, London. The building will close down after 147 years ahead of demolition as the area is being regenerated. 

The music provides the emotional tempo for a dance scene in which Marie Henderson, the actress, has just witnessed her theatre being burnt down and is driven to despair because she has lost all her costumes. She is draped in fabric by three ghostly figures as a premonition for her "madness" and subsequent internment in the mental hospital, Bedlam. 

These are the notes written by the composer, DJ Lysergide: 
"I knew from the minute I was told about composing a score for this melodramatic project, that I would be stepping out my comfort zone as I usually produce 200 – 400 BPM Hardcore Techno, the music used in the rave scene for the play. 
Thankfully, I was supplied with a script with detailed musical notes and many examples of music from the 1800’s. I was kept up to date with video clips from the actors performing to get more ideas. I still had to do a lot of research on instruments used during this period and on melodrama as this was all new to me!
The majority of the pieces I produced were dark, eerie and atmospheric. I did a lot of layering with different instruments and pitches to achieve the sound I wanted. Everything was recorded with Ableton Live on either keyboard or guitar.
It did not take me long to come up with the main theme tune for the play as I felt comfortable after preparations. I recorded a few pieces and Constantine Gras chose the Atmos piece. This 8 minute composition was scored with 22 different instruments but the main tune theme is a mixture of violin and cello. It ended up being used in two sections of the play, the Bedlam dance scene and for Sandra Crisp’s animated movie. 
What I enjoyed most about this project was that I had to write everything from scratch. There was no sampling. This really pushed me and I have a lot of material now for other projects".

The Melodramatic Elephant in the Haunted Castle play was performed by The People's Company on 8 November 2017 at the Coronet Theatre. 

The art exhibition about the project that includes, drawings, films and installation art, is being shown at The Art Academy Gallery, 155 Walworth Road, SE17 1RS from 9-20 December 2017. 

More detailed information can be found on the project website. 
https://www.elephantmelodrama.com

This is an Arts Council England funded project.

Bedlam Dance (Atmos) from The Melodramatic Elephant in the Haunted Castle

Vinyl Replay

A film soundtrack composed by Laurence Toms-Arbel in 2010. Flood Light is a reflection on the inter-related history of the Grand Union Canal and Westway (A40) in West London.

Flood Light

I'm a multimedia artist who uses photography, film and fine art to explore social, cultural and environmental issues. I regularly use music for film projects. 

In 2009, I was awarded a bursary to develop a West London Story for the Cultural Olympiad. Water - Way of Life was an arts and environmental project that creatively connects people with the theme of water. Water Works (2010) and Ea Eard / Water Earth (2012) are both community art projects exploring our relationship with water.  

I have also made a series of short films about the urban environment of North Kensington: Flood Light (2010) was about the interrelationship between the Grand Union Canal and Westway (A40); Home (2012) explored the last house demolished for the Westway flyover. Nursery (2013) involved collaborating with other artists working at a temporary art project space.

In 2014, I was the first V&A Museum artist in residence to have a studio outside the museum as part of a housing development in North Kensington. This resulted in Vision of Paradise (2015, an artist's journey in search of home, community and art that was filmed around Lancaster West estate. This film used an original score produced by the guitarist, Roberto Bove. 

Lancaster West Estate - The Forgotten Estate was made in 2016 and was a portrait of residents living on the estate, including two from Grenfell tower. This was my first film that had no score. 

The Melodramatic Elephant in the Haunted Castle (2017) was an Arts Council England funded project about the Coronet theatre that is scheduled to close at the beginning of 2018. A play was staged by the People's Company and this involved the extensive use of music and film.