Clues, improvisation and anti-pigeon devices – the vision behind Mike Leigh’s new film Hard Truths

The director’s trademark extemporising extends to touring suburbia to find the perfect setting for his latest production

Mike Leigh is known for asking his cast of actors to develop their characters in rehearsal. It is an improvisational method that has helped make the British director’s long run of acclaimed films so distinctive. But the production team who worked closely with Leigh on his upcoming release, Hard Truths, have revealed they had to follow the same creative process to find the suburban settings and locations for his latest story.

“I went on a similar journey to the actors,” said Suzie Davies, production designer on Hard Truths, who spoke to the Observer fresh from contrasting work on the glamorous hit Saltburn and the papal screen drama, Conclave. “Working with Mike, I discover the story as the characters are developed. It is a case of dipping in and out and learning as much as I can. Mike gives me what he can. He is pragmatic and knows the designers need to find out who these people are as soon as they can. Then, eventually, I will sit down with the actors, one by one, to hear the detail.”

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