Mitchell Pope (SCAD) and Dan Blick (BA, Cambridge University) met while studying at the acclaimed William Esper Studio in New York City. Two years after meeting at the studio, and significantly inspired by the direct tutelage of Suzanne Esper, Mitchell and Dan began Telos Ensemble with the first performance of 'Telos', an original play written by Dan Blick and performed at the Chain Theatre.
Mission Statement
The name for our Ensemble is derived from the Aristotelian concept of ‘Telos’ often translated as ‘end, purpose or goal’. We strongly believe in the role of art, specifically theatre, giving purpose and meaning to mankind, which we strive to achieve through the messages that we advocate in our original works. There is a consistent theme within our work of ethical questions and the moral code that man can choose to live by or ignore, and the consequences of such decisions. We are driven by the aim of leaving our audiences with their own thoughts on how their personal understanding of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ affects their unique everyday lives, through examining content specifically surrounding romantic relationships and family dynamics – two essential and inescapable aspects of humanity.
We tend to take on work that examines the 'darker' side of human nature, bringing to light truthful aspects of human existence that we may tend to ignore or overlook in our everyday experience: the things that we do not admit to thinking or feeling, even to ourselves. Telos Ensemble does not shy away from taking the intrusive thoughts that we, as humans, experience daily and placing them under the microscope for an audience to see; through examination of the private lives of others, on stage or in film, we hope to inspire audience members to turn an introspective eye onto their own experiences.
Performance History
Telos Ensemble was formed in September 2023 by Mitchell Pope and Dan Blick. Both Pope and Blick had recently completed the two year full-time actor-training course at the William Esper Studio (NYC) under the direct tutelage of Suzanne Esper. Preceding the Esper Studio, Pope had graduated from SCAD whilst Blick graduated from St John’s College, Cambridge University with a BA (Hons) in Theology and Religious Studies, having received the 2019 Sheikh Zayed Prize from the university for his work in Islamic Studies. Blick and Pope produced and acted in Blick’s first play, ‘Telos’, at the Chain Theatre in September 2023. The production ran for only three shows, selling out every night. Following this, Telos Ensemble brought ‘Telos’ back for two further runs at the Chain Theatre in May and June 2024, once again for multiple sold out shows, with Telos Ensemble producing the work and Pope and Blick reprising their roles alongside a new cast and team.
The next Telos Ensemble production was ‘Lake George’, Blick’s second play, which ran at the Chain Theatre in November 2024 and March 2025, this time with Pope acting alongside a new cast - including lead Tora Hallstrom - under the direction of Blick. Additionally, Blick’s one-act play ‘Akrasia’ was selected to feature at the Chain Theatre’s one act winter festival. Once again, Telos Ensemble produced, Pope acted and Blick directed. From December 2024 Telos Ensemble introduced ‘Purgatory’, a bi-monthly theatrical reading series which focused on the development of new work for theatre, ensuring that emerging playwrights would have their work read publicly by professional actors in front of a live audience. ‘Purgatory’ took place initially at the Priv.y gallery in Manhattan both in December 2024 and February 2025, before Telos Ensemble made their international debut with a rendition of ‘Purgatory’ in London at the Omnibus Theatre (April 2025). Following this, Telos Ensemble brought ‘Purgatory’ to Brooklyn for two shows at Unit J (July and September 2025).
In March 2025, Telos Ensemble began pre-production on Blick’s first feature film, ‘Black Lake’ - an adaptation of his play ‘Lake George’, starring Pope and Tora Hallstrom. ‘Black Lake’ was shot in East Tawas, Michigan, in August 2025 with a team of twenty cast and crew over twelve days. Telos Ensemble raised over $117,000 in donations through The Field to fund the film. ‘Black Lake’ is currently in post-production and due for film festival submissions in 2026. More recently, in October 2025 Telos Ensemble produced Blick’s play ‘Castles’, which ran at the Drayton Arms Theatre for five performances, featuring Blick and Berlin-based actress Antonia Reinisch.
Donations:
We have an incredibly exciting plan for 2026, which we cannot wait to share with you. However, in order to make that plan a reality, we do have to raise a certain amount of money to cover our operating costs as a company. Any donation that you are able to give goes directly towards our ability to continue providing original work through the mediums of film and theatre. It will directly contribute towards aspects such as venue hire, rehearsal spaces, paying performers, technicians and more, ensuring that we can provide the highest quality of our work to you, our patrons.
If you are able to help in any way, you can do so here. Once again, we are indebted to your support - Telos Ensemble would not continue to exist without you.
Thank you. We cannot wait to share with you what’s next.
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