Actors & Actresses Headshots - Manchester & West Midlands

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.

Email Me!

Rehearsal Photography : Beryl - New Vic Theatre

I was across at the New Vic Theatre in Stoke again on Tuesday afternoon to photograph rehearsals for Maxine Peake's play 'Beryl' which opens next week.

" Maxine Peake’s critically acclaimed first play – a warm and witty celebration of the life of unsung sporting legend Beryl Burton. A working class mum from Leeds, she cycled her way into the record books, becoming the greatest ever woman on two wheels. But her remarkable story was, largely, forgotten – until now!

Nobody expects young Beryl Charnock to amount to much. She never makes it to grammar school and, after a serious illness, is told to avoid exercise. Then she meets keen young cyclist, Charlie Burton, and finds herself smitten – not only with Charlie, but with the thrill and freedom she finds on her bike.

With husband and daughter at her side, the determined Beryl defies the world, embarking on a journey that leads to true sporting greatness. She dominates cycling throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s, becoming five-time world champion and best British all-rounder for 25 consecutive years. And still makes it home in time for dinner!"

Directed by Gemma Fairlie

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.

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.

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!!

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. 

Rehearsal Photography : Treasure Island - Hull Truck Theatre

Yesterday evening I popped across to Hull and Hull Truck Theatre to photograph rehearsals for their Christmas show. I love it when it gets to this time of year as lots of theatre companies are gearing up for Christmas and it really gets me in the festive spirit!

This year Hull Truck Theatre are staging ‘Treasure Island’ and if rehearsals are anything to go by it looks like an action-filled musical treat!

Artistic Director Mark Babych says:

“Hull Truck Theatre Christmas shows are all about providing magical adventures in storytelling that all the family can enjoy. Highly visual, with great original music, our team creates that extra special bit of Hull Truck magic to bring familiar and wondrous stories to life in the intimate, welcoming surroundings of our beautiful theatre. Debbie Oates has created a sparkling new version of a great tale.”

Rehearsal Photography - The Snow Queen - New Vic Theatre

This is some rehearsal photography from last week of 'The Snow Queen' at the New Vic Theatre in Staffordshire.

I'll be returning at the end of the month to photograph the dress rehearsal, and if the rehearsals are anything to go by it looks like it's going to be a corker!

Theatre Photography : The Gaul at Hull Truck Theatre

The second part of the Hull Trilogy recently opened at the Hull Truck Theatre and I was lucky enough to go along and photograph it.

From their website:

Kay’s Dad and brother both work on the ships, so having them come and go is part of the ebb and flow of life. Even so, as she helps Dad to pack for his next trip on the Trawler Gaul, Kay slips her Sindy-doll into his bag, just for luck.

When the 36-man crew is lost off the coast of Norway the close-knit community cling together in the search for the truth. Was the Gaul the victim of a storm, or a casualty of Cold War hostilities? Or is this a case of fault and blame? As the mystery ripples through the years and life moves on, Kay struggles to free herself from the tragedy and all that remains unanswered.

No trawler tragedy has caused as much controversy as the loss of the Gaul in 1974. This new play by Hull-born writer Janet Plater explores the journeys of the wives and relatives who were left behind, through the discovery of the wreck by a TV documentary crew in 1997 and the government inquiry in 2004 to the present day.

Rehearsal Photography : Kitchen Sink : New Vic Theatre

In the week when the New Vic Theatre celebrates it's 30th anniversary it was great to go back and photograph rehearsals for their next play - Kitchen Sink.

From the website:

"An irresistibly funny and huge-hearted play about marriage, families, making ends meet – and dodgy plumbing. One of the biggest hits of 2012, it helped Tom Wells win both the Critics Circle and the George Devine Awards for Most Promising Playwright. 

In their down-at-heel Yorkshire seaside town, things aren’t going to plan for Martin and the family. Bits keep dropping off his milk float, son Billy’s obsessed with Dolly Parton, whilst daughter Sophie’s dreams of teaching ju-jitsu are fast disappearing down the plughole. And something’s up with Kath’s kitchen sink.

Amid the dreams, the dramas and the dirty dishes, something’s got to give. But will it be Kath or the kitchen sink? And, if they all carry on as they are, maybe Martin’s milk float won’t be the only thing falling apart."

Rehearsal Photography : Peter Pan in Scarlet - Oxford Playhouse & New Vic Theatre

Here is some from rehearsal photography from the forming premier production of the sequel to the classic children's tale 'Peter Pan - 'Peter Pan in Scarlet'.

The official sequel to J M Barrie’s Peter Pan by the three-time Whitbread Children’s Book Award winner, this awfully big adventure has been adapted for the stage in her trademark all-action style by New Vic Artistic Director, Theresa Heskins.

It’s 1929, Wendy and the Lost Boys have all grown up. Then, suddenly, 20 years after they left, they begin to dream of Neverland – of pirates and mermaids, war paint and crocodiles. Something is wrong and Peter Pan needs their help.

So Wendy, John and the Lost Boys put on their children’s clothes and, armed only with fairy dust, fly back to Neverland to join Peter for one last adventure. But everything has changed. And the dangers they meet are beyond their wildest dreams.