Our Story
From a performer’s perspective to the screen
Stagereel was founded in 2005 by brothers Paul and David Morrissey around an early ambition to capture the immediacy of live theatre using emerging head-mounted camera technology. The idea was to let audiences experience a performance through the eyes of a player: a performer’s-eye, or “player-cam”, view of the stage. It was an exploration of how technology could extend the reach and intimacy of live storytelling.
The concept predated the launch of National Theatre Live, which began on 25 June 2009. Stagereel’s proposed player-cam format was distinct from the National Theatre’s multi-camera cinema broadcast model. As theatre-to-screen production developed, Stagereel expanded its ambitions into film and television, with projects structured around dedicated production vehicles.
The founders
Paul Morrissey
Technology entrepreneur, investor and senior adviser whose career spans digital transformation, artificial intelligence, telecommunications and the creation and scaling of innovative businesses. His contribution to Stagereel combines commercial development, technology-led experimentation, financing and executive production. The British Council credits him as a producer on Don’t Worry About Me (2009) and The Be All and End All (2010).
David Morrissey
Internationally recognised British actor and director with a distinguished career across film, television and theatre. His screen work includes State of Play, The Walking Dead and the crime drama Thorne. He directed Don’t Worry About Me (2009), on which he and Paul were credited as producers. His creative experience and industry relationships helped shape Stagereel’s transition from an experimental theatre concept into screen production.
Timeline
- 2005
Stagereel founded
- 2009
NT Live launches · Don’t Worry About Me
- 2010
Thorne · The Be All and End All
- Today
Development slate