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.
One of Them Ones - Pentabus March 2023
It was great to photograph for the wonderful touring theatre company Pentabus earlier the week.
Their new show tours till May and is a corker:
“Pentabus are delighted to present One Of Them Ones an inspiring and celebratory new play by rising star Charlie Josephine who wrote the critically acclaimed I, Joan - ***** The Times, **** The Guardian, **** Independent
An uplifting new play about two siblings living in a rural community trying to get their heads around gender identity. Frankie is desperate to be understood, accepted, loved. But LGBTQ alphabet soup has got Michael’s head spinning. Why's it gotta be so complicated? Why can't they understand? Why can't things go back to the way they always were? Unpicking the complexities of identity and the fierce family love that hopefully holds us together.
"Frankie said we should do this, tell our story, cus yeah, it’s a mad one, and maybe someone might like it, and find it useful or whatever? So, that’s why we’re here...."
Rehearsal Photography - 'Quality Street', Northern Broadsides
Here’s some rehearsal photography I did at the New Vic Theatre for Northern Broadside during their production of ‘Quality Street’ in 2023.
As always with rehearsal photography my approach is to not interrupt the session, work in a way that captures process and the flavour of the performance.
I’ll typically send an hour or so in the rehearsal room and look for images that let the viewer inside the rehearsal process, are useful for marketing the show and act as a record of the production.
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)
Quality Street - Northern Broadsides at the New Vic Theatre
From the writer of Peter Pan, this delicious farce was such a sensation in its day that it gave its name to the UK’s most loved chocolates.
By J.M. Barrie
Directed by Laurie Sansom
From the writer of Peter Pan, this delicious farce was such a sensation in its day that it gave its name to the UK’s most loved chocolates.
Phoebe Throssel runs a school for unruly children on Quality Street. Ten years since a tearful goodbye, an old flame returns from fighting Napoleon. But the look of disappointment on Captain Valentine’s face when he greets an older, less glamorous Phoebe, spurs our determined heroine to action.
She becomes the wild and sparkling Miss Livvy, a younger alter-ego who soon beguiles the clueless Captain. As their romance is rekindled, can she juggle both personas? Or will the deception scandalise the town and wreck any future with the man she loves?
Northern Broadsides revive their hit regency comedy, stirring in a good helping of Yorkshire wit from the retired workers of the Halifax factory where Quality Street have been proudly made since 1936. Think Bridgerton meets Inside the Factory.
Marvellous - SohoPlace Theatre + New Vic Theatre
Marvellous @SohoPlace Theatre
This is the second time I’ve photographed this production at The New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-lyme and it remained as fresh and enjoyable as ever.
Here’s a selection of images from the show and I’m so pleased that it is going to be the opening show at a new theatre in London’s West End - SohoPlace Theatre.
As You Like It - Northern Broadsides
Northern Broadsides tour of ‘As You Like It’ 2022.
What a joy to be asked to photograph Northern Broadsides latest production.
It ‘s a company I’ve seen and adored for years and it was a great to be able to provide the publicity material for their latest tour….
Best of Theatre 2019
Here’s a little slideshow with my favourite Theatre Photography of 2019….
Beauty and the Beast - Key Theatre - Panto
Beauty & the Beast
Peterborough's longest running traditional family pantomime
Join us for a brand new panto written for the Key Theatre by Simon Egerton.
This year it's Beauty & the Beast: the story of a young woman who is caught up in a handsome chevalier's struggle to defeat an evil Wolf Queen's curse.
Prince & The Pauper - NVT - December 19
Prince and the Pauper
By Mark Twain
Adapted and directed by Theresa Heskins
Classic stories, spectacular adventures and lots of fun are the hallmarks of a New Vic Christmas show, and this year will be no exception! Bringing together the same creative team who brought to life our adaptations of The Borrowers, Treasure Island and the UK Theatre Award-winning The Snow Queen, this year we bring to life another classic adventure story in our stunning trademark style!
Prepare for a tale full of heart, filled with imaginative storytelling, live music, humour, puppetry and festive magic as we stage a brand new adaptation of The Prince and The Pauper.
Join us and be enchanted by this story of a chance meeting between two people, which might just change their lives….and the lives of everyone around them.
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.”
