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.
No Fit State Circus
Contemporary circus combines live music, dance, stage design, text, and film with traditional circus skills. It is rooted in the travelling community who turn up, pitch a tent, drum up an audience, and then leave with only flattened grass and a memory to show they were ever there. The circus are the strangers who live amongst us – and if we run away to join them we are throwing off our inhibitions, our conventions, the rules of settled society. We are taking to the road knowing that there is no destination - only a journey.
Today, NoFit State is the UK’s leading large-scale contemporary circus company, producing professional touring productions and a wide variety of community, training, and education projects for people of all ages. Over the last ten years NoFit State's touring productions have visited 19 different countries, played to audiences of over 460,000, as well as receiving critical acclaim and winning numerous prestigious international arts awards.
Queens of the Coal Age - Royal Exchange Theatre + New Vic Theatre
By Maxine Peake
Directed by Bryony Shanahan
“WE ARE WOMEN AGAINST PIT CLOSURES AND WE’RE OCCUPYING THIS PIT”
Anne, Elaine, Dot and Lesley. Four ordinary women, facing the closure of their community. It’s 1993 and the Parkside Colliery pit may be winding down, but they’re not giving up.
Their bras stuffed with contraband, they take a tour of the pit and refuse to come up. Settling into the depths of the mine, making tissue roses and walking imaginary dogs, they face bribery and threats. But as they dig in, those up top start to realise these ladies are not for turning.
This powerful play full of Northern wit by Maxine Peake follows on from the critically-acclaimed Beryl, and tells the true story of four women taking a stand in the face of a changing world.
CIRCOLUMBIA - Circus Photography
Here is some live performance photography from a show by CIRCOLUMBIA that I photographed recently...
From the New Vic Theatre website:
Circolombia’s Acéléré is a circus and a live concert rolled into one. Creating an experience like no other, a phenomenal cast of performers take it in turns to flip through the air at dizzying heights and perform insane feats of strength, whilst simultaneously singing and dancing their way through the night.
Performing in Kidsgrove as part of Circus Past, Present and Future, Circolombia come to our town as part of their European tour, fresh from dates in Amsterdam and Helsinki. Celebrating 250 years of circus in the town where its inventor – Philip Astley – was born, this is your chance to see unique circus stunts performed by this inspirational South American circus company in a rare UK appearance.
Be prepared to be on your feet and dancing along to the upbeat live music as you experience breathtaking circus skills in this thrilling, once-in-a-lifetime experience!
TREASURE ISLAND - Performance Photography: New Vic Theatre
Following on from last year’s spectacular adaptation of The Snow Queen, this Christmas we set sail on the high seas to bring to life a classic tale of buccaneers and buried gold in our stunning trademark style. Filled with swashbuckling sword fights, live-on-stage music, humour, puppetry and lots of excitement, this is the perfect festive treat for the whole family!
1750, Sleepy Cove. Tired of the quiet life, Gem dreams of adventure and excitement. When a mysterious stranger comes to stay at The Admiral Benbow Inn, she believes her luck is about to change.
And so begins an epic journey. A journey filled with pirates and possibilities; buried treasure and blue horizons; seafarers and scallywags. And in the middle of it all, a good-hearted cook called Long John Silver – but is he friend or foe?
As Gem helps search for treasure on faraway shores, meeting larger than life characters along the way, she discovers there’s far more to a life of adventure than she ever imagined.
PLAYHOUSE CREATURES - Performance Photography: New Vic Theatre
1663. Charles II reopens the Playhouses and for the first time, allows women to take to the stage.
For four women, this signals the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. On stage, the women become household names; behind-the-scenes, they develop strong friendships and fierce rivalries. As the camaraderie and chaos of the dressing room ignites their ambitions to play a bigger part in the theatre, can the women stick together to negotiate greater roles? And will their new-found fame bring with it better fortunes?
This vivacious comedy takes us backstage in a Restoration playhouse to celebrate a bold moment in the history of modern theatre. Telling the story with bawdy comedy, theatrical flair and emotional poignancy, April De Angelis’ Playhouse Creatures will make you laugh and cry in equal measure.
Rehearsal Photography - TREASURE ISLAND - New Vic Theatre
Here's some rehearsal photography from the New Vic Theatre in preparation for their production of 'Treasure Island' in November 2017.
The Last Testament of Lillian Billoca - Hull Truck Theatre
Site specific theatre as part of Hull's year as the UK City of Culture:
‘Time is as short as her skirt and she’s as high as her hair…because these are our men and they measure up in more ways than one.’
An extraordinary night of love, life and loss in a major new commission for our final season.
Follow Hull hero Lillian Bilocca and her crew of head scarfed women through The Guildhall, joining them in 1968 as they dare to speak out and take action to improve the safety conditions for their men at sea.
Witness the Three Day Millionaires’ riotous return home from the wet and wild west, and dance at the ghostly Silver Cod Ball, the trawler owners’ annual slap on the back. Become part of their story as it unfolds and immerse yourself in Hull’s fishing community. Celebrate the vivid and dangerous lives of its trawler men and unite against the feudal power of the ship owners.
Written by Maxine Peake, directed by Sarah Frankcom and Imogen Knight, and with an original live score by folk’s finest – The Unthanks, this unique site-specific production will take you on an unforgettable journey using music, storytelling, movement and performance to celebrate an inspirational period in Hull’s history and a force for change that resonated far beyond the city.
A Christmas Carol - Hull Truck Theatre - December 2017
I'm painful aware I'm a little bit behind in keeping my theatre blog up to date!
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE, FOUR SPIRITS CONSPIRE TO SHOW EBENEZER SCROOGE THE ERROR OF HIS WAYS. HIS OLD BUSINESS PARTNER, JACOB MARLEY HAS RETURNED FROM THE DEAD TO OFFER HIM A SECOND CHANCE, IF HE CAN CHANGE HIS MEAN AND MISERLY BEHAVIOUR.
Nowhere are the effects of poverty more keenly felt than in the Cratchit family, especially by their youngest son, Tiny Tim. As Scrooge’s inspirational journey shows him both the hardship and love of those around him, he is reminded of his own powers of charity and kindness.
This fresh adaptation of Dickens' classic Christmas ghost story, set in Hull, is a magical, festive treat for all the family.
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."
