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.
Rehearsal Photos : Astley's Astounding Adventures
Rehearsal photography from ‘Astley’s Astounding Adventures’ at the New Vic Theatre in Staffordshire.
September 2023: Rehearsal photography from ‘Astley’s Astounding Adventures’ at the New Vic Theatre in Staffordshire.
The Killing of Sister George - New Vic Theatre / Told By An Idiot
By Frank Marcus
Directed by Paul Hunter
A much-loved character on Applehurst, the BBC soap opera, Sister George is a cheerful nurse who cycles around the countryside singing hymns and doing good. In reality June Buckeridge, the actress who plays her, is a swaggering, foul mouthed loose cannon who has very little in common with her radio persona.
Due to low ratings, cut backs and June’s own bad behaviour, the BBC decides “Sister George” has to go…
for good!
The Killing of Sister George is an iconic black comedy shot through with surprising moments of tenderness. Famously adapted into a film in 1968 with Beryl Reid in the title role, the New Vic and Told by an Idiot will bring to life this bittersweet play with a unique visual flair and an audacious blend of raucous humour and compelling drama.
Join us as we premiere this ‘60s cult classic on our extraordinary stage!
‘Their work is never less than sublime’
The Independent on Told by an Idiot
The Pantomime Awards 2023
The UK Pantomime Association (UKPA) has announced the winners of The Pantomime Awards 2023 in association with Butlin’s at a star-studded ceremony which took place at the Trafalgar Theatre in London’s West End on the evening of Tuesday 11 April 2023.
The UK Pantomime Association (UKPA) has announced the winners of The Pantomime Awards 2023 in association with Butlin’s at a star-studded ceremony which took place at the Trafalgar Theatre in London’s West End on the evening of Tuesday 11 April 2023.
I was there to photograph it.
Alice in Wonderland - New Vic Theatre 2022
Revisit the greatest children’s story of all time this Christmas, and join us as we take a trip to Wonderland!
Journey with Alice as she follows the White Rabbit into a curiously enchanting new world, filled with even curioser characters.
By Lewis Carroll
Adapted and directed by Theresa Heskins
Revisit the greatest children’s story of all time this Christmas, and join us as we take a trip to Wonderland!
Journey with Alice as she follows the White Rabbit into a curiously enchanting new world, filled with even curioser characters.
As she searches for a way home, Alice encounters strange and whimsical people: a disappearing cat with a grin wider than she’s ever seen, a Mad Hatter whose tea party never quite serves tea, and a bad tempered Queen who is looking for her jam tarts…
An adventure like no other, Alice In Wonderland is filled with fun, laughter and lots of magical moments. Brought to life in the New Vic’s sensational trademark style, this is a story that will give the young – and young at heart – a joyful festive treat this year!
It was great to photograph this production again (I photographed it first in 2011)
Best of Theatre 2019
Here’s a little slideshow with my favourite Theatre Photography of 2019….
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).
