Welcome to True Life Productions CIC (TLP), a professional theatre company working with emerging local talent creating truth-based performances and maximising human connection. TLP aims to work as a platform for promising artistic talent, enabling them to develop their craft and grow professionally.
Audiences:
Productions & Book Tickets
Artists:
Workshops & Opportunities
Supporters:
How You Can Support TLP
Based on the border of Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, TLP is a Community Interest Company dedicated to producing high-quality, inclusive theatre plays and workshops for the community. Whether you're an aspiring artist looking to develop your career or an audience member seeking meaningful theatrical experiences, TLP offers a welcoming and inspiring space to connect with the power of live performance.
As a nonprofit organization, we are deeply grateful for the generosity of our supporters. Your contributions enable us to continue our mission and make a meaningful impact in the community.
Past Productions
Poison by Lot Vekemans
Cockpit Theatre
Continuity(7)
Cockpit Theatre
Continuity(7)
Mumford Theatre Cambridge
Workshops & opportunities
Workshop (7 to 12 years old)
Theatre Club
2025-2026
2026
Poison
by Lot VekemansTranslated by Rina VergamoPresented by arrangement with IPR Ltd, London in association with Kiepenheuer Buehnenvertriebs-GmbH, BerlinDirected by Rosina Piovani
A marriage destroyed by grief. A former husband and wife are reunited to protect the memory of their lost child. Lot Vekemans’ play is raw and emotionally intense and asks a simple question: is it possible to move on?
Martin Maynard and Lynne Livingstone star in this compelling story, directed by Rosina Piovani. True Life Productions brings “Poison” to the stage this Spring hoping to create space for collective reflection, honesty, opening and healing.
Video editing credits: Samantha Baillie
Photo credits: Samantha Baillie
2025
by David Sear
“Continuity” is a satirical and darkly comic tale about humanity’s yearning for immortality – and what happens when technology and vast wealth manipulate the very essence of what makes us human. In a world where the pace of change is unprecedented and our ability to adapt to that change is struggling to evolve, Continuity asks the existential questions: ‘What is the value of my continued existence? And, more importantly, can I get a better phone?’. David Sear’s new play could not be more relevant to a world where billionaires control 50% of global wealth and exercise ever increasing power over humanity.
see more
Productions Workshops About Contact
Our 2025-2026 season features 'Continuity' by David Sear, a darkly comic satire, playing at the Mumford Theatre in Cambridge and the Cockpit Theatre in London
past productions
2026 | Cockpit London
Poison
2026 | Junction Cambridge
Poison
2025 | Cockpit Theatre London
Continuity(7)
2025 | Mumford Theatre Cambridge
Continuity(7)
Productions Workshops About Contact
Poison
By Lot Vekemans
Translated by Rina VergamoPresented by arrangement with IPR Ltd, London in association with Kiepenheuer Buehnenvertriebs-GmbH, BerlinDirected by Rosina Piovani
A marriage destroyed by grief. A former husband and wife are reunited to protect the memory of their lost child. Lot Vekemans’ play is raw and emotionally intense and asks a simple question: is it possible to move on?
Martin Maynard and Lynne Livingstone star in this compelling story, directed by Rosina Piovani. True Life Productions brings “Poison” to the stage this Spring hoping to create space for collective reflection, honesty, opening and healing.
Cambridge Junction 2026
Photo Credits: bonsaimedia.co.uk
"The production really gets under your skin.
Maynard and Livingstone both gave spell-binding performances.
I found myself holding my breath at several points during the show.
Rosina Piovani’s excellent direction contrasted highly charged scenes with tender moments.
I came away reflecting on how unfair life can be (…) and to be grateful for the small things…"
Alex Elbro"A beautifully directed production of a play dealing with a very emotive subject.
Superb acting
An extremely moving piece of theatre"
Julie Petrucci"A masterclass in contrasting grief
Maynard’s performance is outstanding both subtle and real.
Livingstone’s portrayal is visceral.
Rosina Piovani’s direction is masterfully uncomfortable.
A hauntingly beautiful expertly acted experience."
Davinia Fisher
Video editing credits: Samantha Baillie
Cambridge Junction 2026
Productions Workshops About Contact
Poison
By Lot Vekemans
Translated by Rina VergamoPresented by arrangement with IPR Ltd, London in association with Kiepenheuer Buehnenvertriebs-GmbH, BerlinDirected by Rosina Piovani
A marriage destroyed by grief. A former husband and wife are reunited to protect the memory of their lost child. Lot Vekemans’ play is raw and emotionally intense and asks a simple question: is it possible to move on?
Martin Maynard and Lynne Livingstone star in this compelling story, directed by Rosina Piovani. True Life Productions brings “Poison” to the stage this Spring hoping to create space for collective reflection, honesty, opening and healing.
Cockpit Theatre London 2026
Photo Credits: David Sear
"The subtle evocation of Michelangelo’s Pietà in Suzanne Emerson’s austerely beautiful set, positioned at an angle as if the whole world has been spun off its axis, prefigures the tragedy at the heart of the piece.
Superbly acted, brilliantly cast and well directed by Rosina Pivani, this is a thought-provoking piece, which could have had an even greater impact if some of the simmering emotion had come to the boil more. When the pair finally embrace before they separate forever, there is a hint of what might have been."- Read moreSimon Ward, The PEG
"An emotionally charged, beautifully written and acted, two-hander about almost unbearable loss.
SHE, played with courageous self-revelation by Lynne Livingstone,
'Poison' is the second production from True Life Productions, set up by Maynard and 'Poison' director, Rosina Piovani, in 2024 as a CIC "to create bold, high-quality theatre". Both this and their first production - 'Continuity' by David Sear, (…) unquestionably deliver on TLP's mission statement." - Read moreMarcus Pollet
"We found the play both tender and powerful, with superb performances throughout. There is no doubt it will resonate deeply with many people who have experienced grief in their lives." - Read moreCulture Calling
"Rosina Piovani’s austere and atmospheric revival at the Cockpit foregrounds the piece's oppressive claustrophobia and boasts fine performances from Martin Maynard and Lynne Livingstone.
Maynard and Livingstone deliver finely drawn portraits of characters whose cleverly observed bickering hints at a knowing intimacy that has been put on hold by absence and divorce, but not quite extinguished.
Director Rosina Piovani does claustrophobia well (...) The couple circle each other warily, scared of touching, but seeking comfort as a decade of emotional poison slowly leeches out. Suzanne Emerson’s purplish set subtly evokes jarring municipal indifference, a distorted mirror to the couple’s inner turmoil.
This is a fine production of an affecting study of loss." - Read moreJohn Cutler
Video editing credits: Samantha Baillie
Cambridge Junction 2026
Productions Workshops About Contact
by David Sear
“Continuity” is a satirical and darkly comic tale about humanity’s yearning for immortality – and what happens when technology and vast wealth manipulate the very essence of what makes us human. In a world where the pace of change is unprecedented and our ability to adapt to that change is struggling to evolve, Continuity asks the existential questions: ‘What is the value of my continued existence? And, more importantly, can I get a better phone?’. David Sear’s new play could not be more relevant to a world where billionaires control 50% of global wealth and exercise ever increasing power over humanity.
London Cockpit Theatre, 2025
Photo Credits: Lidia Crisafulli
"An intriguing and challenging work."
Simon Ward, The PEG"The piece raises challenging ethical questions"
John Cutler, The Reviews Hub"the core storyline was genuinely intriguing"
Natasha U'Ren-Ashdown, The Light Review London
Behind the scenes at rehearsals, 2025
"Continuity (7) is an entertaining and enjoyable enquiry into the impact of tech lifesavers on the ordinary lives of our fellow humans.‘Y’, played with winning gusto by Christian Burton (…)The acting was universally impressive, with Maynard, who of course carries most of the story, delivering an assured and credible performance as Stevie. Newcomer, Guy, was a grounded and watchable Dylan, Catherine Watson brought a wry humour to her role (…) and Lesley (The Parent) was realised with clarity by Geraldine Hindley as a familiar character in family drama. (…) And from leftfield comes Morgan, a religious zealot, who brings a spiritually darker hue and discordant energy to proceedings in a strong, returning-to-theatre performance by Iain Mahony.Effectively directed by Rosina Piovani, worked well in this space and added to a denouement that was delivered with panache and just the right amount of surprise."By Marcus Pollett, playwright ('Mummified’) and arts reviewer.
Productions Workshops About Contact
by David Sear
“Continuity” is a satirical and darkly comic tale about humanity’s yearning for immortality – and what happens when technology and vast wealth manipulate the very essence of what makes us human. In a world where the pace of change is unprecedented and our ability to adapt to that change is struggling to evolve, Continuity asks the existential questions: ‘What is the value of my continued existence? And, more importantly, can I get a better phone?’. David Sear’s new play could not be more relevant to a world where billionaires control 50% of global wealth and exercise ever increasing power over humanity.
"Christian Burton is excellent as the tech bro – arrogant, cunning, but ultimately evil."
– Mike Levy, Cambridge Critique"The acting performances are top notch"
– Poppy Saunders, East Midland Theatre ReviewsYou’ll be talking about it for hours afterwards
– Poppy Saunders, East Midland Theatre Reviews"Continuity was the perfect play to showcase what True Life
Productions are all about."
– Alex Elbro, Cambridge Radio
ARU Mumford theatre, 2025
"Maynard carries the show, bombarded by the opinions of the others on his choices and having to navigate the severe and bizarre consequences of them"
– Poppy Saunders, East Midland Theatre Reviews"The acting was authentic and delivered with superb intensity in key scenes.
I’d highly recommend this play and I’m delighted to hear it will be moving to London in
November of this year."
– Alex Elbro, Cambridge Radio"The play was everything you wanted from a piece of theatre; thought-provoking,
challenging, and emotional in places."
– Alex Elbro, Cambridge Radio"Maynard and Walston make the relationship realistic, fragile and brittle."
– Berenice Mann, Backstage View
Behind the scenes at rehearsals, 2025
"The play tackles some challenging and fascinating topics, with some humorous and ironic moments, smart dialogue and discussions and held the attention well."
– Berenice Mann, Backstage View"Reminded me of a Black Mirror episode"
– Berenice Mann, Backstage View"The acting throughout is of a high standard, we get the characters quickly, and the discussions are heated and heartfelt. Maynard and Walston portray the couple beautifully and they have some top class bickering and moving moments."
– Berenice Mann, Backstage View"Absorbing, interesting, humorous and somewhat worrying…"
– Julie Petrucci, Combinations
Supporting Local theatre community
Alongside our professional productions, TLP Studio is our community-focused branch dedicated to nurturing local talent across Cambridge and the surrounding areas. TLP Studio is the heartbeat of our local theatre community — creating opportunities for emerging and amateur artists. Through productions, festivals and amateur competitions, TLP Studio provides opportunities for local talent to develop, collaborate and share their passion for performance — while remaining connected to the wider creative vision of True Life Productions.
TLP Studio Past Productions
Coming Soon
Workshops & Opportunities
Looking to hone your acting skills? True Life Productions CIC offers a range of workshops and classes in Cambridge designed to nurture local talent and provide valuable training for aspiring theatre professionals. Discover upcoming opportunities to learn from experienced practitioners and connect with the vibrant arts community in Cambridgeshire.
Theatre Club (7 to 12 years old)
The theatre class for kids (7 to 12 years old) aims to introduce young children to the basics of theatre and dramatic arts through fun, engaging, and interactive activities. The class will focus on fostering creativity, teamwork, and self-expression while teaching essential theatre skills such as voice projection, movement, character development, and storytelling. It focuses on developing an understanding of basic theatre concepts, enhancing communication and social skills, encouraging creativity and building confidence and teamwork abilities.
About us
Meet the Team Our Mission Support Us
Welcome to True Life Productions CIC (TLP), a professional theatre company working with emerging local talent to create truth-based performances and maximise human connection. TLP exists as a platform for promising artists, enabling them to develop their craft, gain professional experience, and grow within the creative industry.Based on the border of Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, TLP is a Community Interest Company dedicated to producing high-quality, inclusive theatre productions and workshops that inspire, connect, and engage communities. Whether you are an aspiring artist looking to develop your career or an audience member seeking meaningful theatrical experiences, TLP offers a welcoming and inspiring space to discover the power of live performance.Alongside our professional productions, TLP Studio is our community-focused branch dedicated to nurturing local talent across Cambridge and the surrounding areas. As the heartbeat of our local theatre community, TLP Studio creates opportunities for emerging and amateur artists through productions, festivals, and amateur competitions. It provides a space for local performers, creatives, and theatre-makers to develop their skills, collaborate with others, and share their passion for performance — all while remaining connected to the wider creative vision of True Life Productions.As a nonprofit organisation, we are deeply grateful for the generosity of our supporters. Your contributions enable us to continue our mission, champion local talent, and make a lasting impact within our communities.
Meet The Team
About TLP Our Mission Support Us
Rosina Piovani
Artistic Director
Rosina Piovani (1982) is a theatre director, actor and producer. She holds a Bsc. in Drama from the Escuela Multidisciplinaria de Arte Dramatico Margarita Xirgu, from her native Uruguay and has been working in theatre professionally and semi-professionally since 2007. She has multiple credits working as an actress; has produced a variety of plays and multidisciplinary shows; and is a theatre director, having successfully directed several plays both in Uruguay and the UK. Rosina also has great experience in teaching, having led theatre courses in community-based organisations in Cambridge and in schools, working with children and young people (Rosina currently is the lead of teaching at TLP, running all the school workshops).
She has also worked as a radio broadcaster in local community radios in Cambridge and in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Rosina’s latest directing ventures include Hansard by Simon Woods performed both in Cambridge and Royston (this play was named best play of 2024 and its actors were jointly best actors of 2024 by Cambridgeshire magazine Combinations). Working with TLP she directed Continuity(7) by David Sear in 2025 which was TLP's debut production played in Cambridge and London to great audience reviews. She is currently directing Poison by Lot Vekemans, a TLP production set to open in April 2026.www.rosinapiovani.com
Martin Maynard
Artistic Director
After studying the 3 year Acting course at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Martin worked professionally in Stage, TV, Film and Radio - most notably playing the guy that wrote the ‘dodgy dossier’ in Peter Kosminsky’s BAFTA winning ‘The Government Inspector’. After leaving the business 10 years ago (apart from playing Iago in ‘Othello’ in 2015) has found a new acting community around Royston/Cambridge working with a variety of companies, playing Frank in Educating Rita, and Col. Nathan Jessup in A Few Good Men alongside the wonderful Davinia Fisher. Winning Best Performance at the Cambridge Festival of Drama in 2021 & 2022 for ‘Strangers on a Film’ (CADS) & ‘The Medici Stars’ (CAoC).In 2024 Martin started the Cambridge Meisner Studio to pass on his acting knowledge to the next generation of budding actors! A chance meeting with Rosina in Costa Coffee in September 2024 has led to the beginnings of True Life Productions.Showreel
Suzanne Emerson
Set Designer
Suzanne graduated from Royal School of Speech and Drama in Design for Stage in 2022. Recent designs include Hadestown, Jesus Christ Superstar, (ADC, Cambridge), Bonnie and Clyde, Nativity, Guys and Dolls, Everybody’s Talking about Jamie (Great Hall theatre, Cambridge), Press, Anything with a Pulse (Park Theatre, London).
how to support
True Life Productions CIC (TLP) was born from a desire to create a dynamic bridge between the thriving artistic community in Cambridgeshire and the professional theatre world, particularly in London. As a Community Interest Company (CIC), our core purpose extends beyond producing theatre; we are deeply committed to the professional development of local artists, fostering inclusive and engaging performances, and connecting communities with the transformative power of the performing arts.
"Our vision for TLP is to be more than just a theatre company; we want to be a catalyst for artistic growth in Cambridgeshire, providing a vital link to the professional opportunities that London offers, all while creating theatre that truly resonates with our audiences."Martin & Rosina | Artistic Directors
Tier 1 | A TRue arts supporter
Grow Community Theatre with TLP.
Your donation actively supports our latest productions, the talent and arts community.
Includes everything in tier 2, and: Early Bird Tickets & Workshops, Exclusive Seating
Tier 2 | friends of TLP
Support Community Theatre with TLP.
Your donation actively supports our latest productions, the talent and arts community.
Includes everything in tier 3, and: Early Bird Tickets & Workshops, Exclusive Seating
Tier 3 | Donor
Tier 3 Supporter
Includes: Personal thank you letter from the TLP team
Support Talent at TLP
Your donations directly support artists, talent, playrights and creatives
"Our vision for TLP is to be more than just a theatre company; we want to be a catalyst for artistic growth in Cambridgeshire, providing a vital link to the professional opportunities that London offers, all while creating theatre that truly resonates with our audiences."Martin & Rosina | Artistic Directors
Our Mission
Working with emerging local artists to produce high quality, inclusive artistic performances prioritising human connection and the search for truth in every actor's work.
Our Vision
Creating a platform for local artists to develop their craft and grow professionally.
Aiming to link communities with performing arts creating safe places for expression, building emotional connections and celebrating local identities.