A blog for the latest theatre, music, dance and performance photography from Andrew Billington - live performance photographer based in Staffordshire and photographing across the UK.
Don Giovanni - Clonter Opera
Don Giovanni is a bedazzling tragicomedy showcasing the genius of Mozart and Da Ponte at the height of their powers. The Martin Lloyd-Evans production will transport this serial seducer and charismatic anti-hero into the midst of contemporary society to reveal staggering hypocrisy hidden beneath a surface of respectability.
“Compelling, stylish, imaginative, colourful, gripping and refreshingly unpretentious.”
39 Steps - New Vic Theatre
I love a good piece of theatre and this is a fabulous piece of theatre.
And one that can only exist on stage as the joy is in the theatricality and conceit of 4 actors playing 120 roles between them….
From the New Vic Website:
Following on from our hugely successful productions of Around The World In 80 Days and Astley’s Astounding Adventures, thrilling spy drama The 39 Steps gets the New Vic treatment!
Richard Hannay, upstanding gent and all-round good guy, finds himself in a bit of a pickle when he wakes up to find a mysterious woman in his apartment. Dead. Now on the run, pursued by all manner of suspicious characters, can Hannay evade capture and clear his name of murder before it’s too late? Will he fall in love along the way? And what exactly are The 39 Steps?
A thrilling, inventive, fast-paced caper, four actors will play over 120 characters in this side-splitting comedy based on John Buchan’s famous spy novel.
Starring New Vic favourites: Rebecca Brewer (Playhouse Creatures), Gareth Cassidy (Treasure Island), Michael Hugo (Around The World In 80 Days) and Isaac Stanmore (Peter Pan In Scarlet).
GLORY - Red Ladder Theatre Company - The Dukes Lancaster
I love working with new people and it was great to go to The Dukes Theatre in Lancaster to photograph the new play from Red Ladder Theatre Company, directed by Rod Dixon.
I love working with new people and it was great to go to The Dukes Theatre in Lancaster to photograph the new play from Red Ladder Theatre Company, directed by Rod Dixon.
From the Red Ladder website:
The Dukes and Red Ladder in association with Tamasha present
Glory
Meet Dan, Ben and Sami.
Three wrestlers compelled over the ropes and into the ring to fight for glory. Three men wrestling with demons, life, each other.
Jim ‘Glorious’ Glory used to be somebody. In the heyday of British wrestling, he was a colossus. Now his empire has crumbled.
Through Dan, Ben and Sami, Jim catches a glimpse of resurrection; a chance to re-establish his great name and his decaying gym. But do they want to wrestle and restore Jim’s glory? Or do they have a different fight in mind?
Only one hero can emerge.
A new play from the writer of Partition and the award-winning The Chef Show – GLORY takes us into the wrestling ring in this painfully funny, sweaty and gutsy story about what people will do to achieve glory.
Glory has been supported through Arts Council England’s Sustained Fund.
Water Fools By Ilotopie - Central Forest Park, Hanley
On Friday I photographed a spectacular piece of theatre that took place on a lake!
It was also very challenging because it couldn't start till after sunset and we were in the middle of a summer rain storm - but these are the challenges that you get faced with when you are photographing live events that are site specific.
From the Appetite website:
"Appetite presents Water Fools by ilotopie an outstanding outdoor show performed entirely on the lake at Central Forest Park. A spectacle like no other, this show sees performers walking on water, floating cars, bikes, and beds, astonishing original music and a frenzy of fireworks all combining to create a dreamlike and visually stunning performance which, for this very special evening, transforms a lake into a stage.
Water Fools is full of beautiful and extraordinary moments that you’ll never forget. Dip into the unusual with a splash of the unexpected, as visiting company ilotopie flood your senses with this once in a lifetime experience set against the unique backdrop of Central Forest Park."
Theatre Photography : Anna of the Five Town - New Vic Theatre
On the 150th anniversary of Arnold Bennett the New Vic Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent mounts a new adaptation of his most famous novel adapted by Deborah McAndrew.
Directed by Conrad Nelson it's a lovely version of the book that uses not only a cast of professional actors but members of a local community choir - The Phoenix Singers - to populate the stage and add a musical accompaniment.
" Anna Tellwright’s 21st birthday brings with it newfound responsibilities, wealth and a suitor for her heart.
Courted by desirable bachelor Henry Mynors, Anna struggles to gain her independence. She finds herself torn between trying to please her tyrannical father and a desire to help young Willie Price and his family from the brink of ruin.
As pressure mounts, tragedy strikes, and Anna must discover where her heart truly lies before it’s too late. "
Rehearsal Photography : Mighty Atoms - Hull Truck Theatre
With Hull being the 2017 City of Culture there is a lot of attention being directed o the North East of England. I was lucky enough to go along to Hull Truck to photograph rehearsals for the third part of the Hull Trilogy - Might Atoms by Amanda Whittington.
I've photographed the preceding two parts of the Trilogy - Dancing Through The Shadows & The Gaul - and it's great to complete the cycle.
From the theatre website:
"In a struggling pub on one of Hull’s toughest streets, ex-pro boxer Taylor Flint runs a women’s boxercise class. For Lauren, Jazz, Aneta and Grace the class is much more than a way to lose weight and have a laugh – they’re fighting the grinding challenges of everyday life.
When the pub is threatened with closure, the women agree to be part of an unlicensed fight night to raise money and rally the community. They’re ready to prove themselves in a world that shows them little respect, but Taylor knows that once the gloves are on, the real test will be going toe to toe with friends and neighbours.
Inspired by Hull’s original Mighty Atom, Barbara Buttrick, this new play by award-winning writer Amanda Whittington (Ladies Day, Be My Baby, Amateur Girl) pulls no punches."
Here's a quick peek at rehearsals in progress - I'm looking forward to popping back in a couple of weeks for the dress rehearsal...
Actors & Actresses Headshots - Manchester & West Midlands
As I photograph a lot in theatres I quite often get asked about taking actors and actresses headshots.
As I photograph a lot in theatres I quite often get asked about taking actors and actresses headshots.
This week I was in Stoke to do some headshots for Cara Sutcliffe.
It's always an enjoyable thing to do as you get to spend an hour with someone creating a portrait that says something about them and hopefully communicates their personality as an image to a future employer.
I've never taken the studio route with actors and actresses headshots but prefer to work outside in natural light - which I think creates a more pleasing and flattering image.
If you are looking for theatre headshots please feel free to get in touch.
The Snow Queen : New Vic Theatre
I had the chance to photograph this gorgeous adaptation of 'The Snow Queen' at The New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-lyme at the end of November. It's a classic Christmas show and visually a joy to photograph.
I had the chance to photograph this gorgeous adaptation of 'The Snow Queen' at The New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-lyme at the end of November. It's a classic Christmas show and visually a joy to photograph.
This week's Guardian as well as running the photos made it the number one show to see in the UK - great stuff:
"The Guardian - Friday Dec 16th 2016
1. The Snow Queen
Once again, Theresa Heskins delivers a wonderful festive show. This tale of friendship, self-sacrifice and adventure should thaw the most wintry of hearts as Gerda sets out to save her friend Kai from the clutches of the icy Snow Queen, with Heskins drawing as much on Dickens as she does on Hans Christian Andersen’s original tale." - Lyn Gardner
Theatre Photography : Treasure Island - Hull Truck Theatre
This year's Christmas show at Hull Truck Theatre is a great adaptation of Treasure Island. Hull Truck have started a great tradition of presenting a play for children rather than a pantomime over the festive season and this production is certainly continuing that.
This year's Christmas show at Hull Truck Theatre is a great adaptation of Treasure Island. Hull Truck have started a great tradition of presenting a play for children rather than a pantomime over the festive season and this production is certainly continuing that.
A great revolving set forms the backdrop for a capsule company presenting this great tale of adventure.
Have a peek at some of my production photography from this fun, colourful and exciting show.
Rehearsal Photography : Cinderella - Lawrence Batley Theatre
Today was a trip to The Lawrence Bately Theatre in Huddersfield to photograph rehearsals of 'Cinderella', their Christmas Pantomime. I love it when the Christmas shows begin because that really marks the start of the festive season for me!!
Today was a trip to The Lawrence Bately Theatre in Huddersfield to photograph rehearsals of 'Cinderella', their Christmas Pantomime. I love it when the Christmas shows begin because that really marks the start of the festive season for me!!
From their website:
In a fairy-tale kingdom, poor Cinderella is a servant to her cruel stepmother and ugly stepsisters. When a handsome prince invites all the maidens of the land to his party, she only has rags to wear. With the help of her friend Buttons, and a sprinkling of magic from her Fairy Godmother, will she make it to the ball after all?
This classic rags to riches story includes everything you love about a traditional pantomime - sparkling scenery, stunning costumes, plenty of audience interaction, well-known songs and live music - with two dames for twice the laughs.
New to the LBT this Christmas, CINDERELLA is the creation of pantomime royalty Joyce Branagh and Andrew Pollard.
