A very technical production of 1984 left us with no time to shoot the usual full production for the Royal Exchange Theatre. 10 minutes with Jonathan McGuiness, who plays Winston Smith, left us with few options but a stunning Front of House image. In the 60x40 inch FOH poster you can see his hands holding a bottle of 'Victory Gin' reflected in his eyes.

Raisin In The Sun

An exiting new departure for me was this video shot for The Royal Exchange Theatre as a pilot to future work. I managed to team up with a talented visual effects editor and editor who really brought this together. This was a relatively simple run through a scene but we have plans to incorporate interviews and other footage to create trailers for chosen plays later in the season. Fascinating to be learning new skills and adapting old ones in this way.

Macbeth

Macbeth. What can you say (or not say if your an old school thespian)? There's got to be blood and this press shot has plenty of it.

Nicholas Gleaves was swimming in the stuff whilst Hilary Maclean as Lady Macbeth looked on.

There are many different types of stage blood. Thick and thin and even minty (for use when it has to be placed in the actors mouth) but thick was the only way to go. Kind of put us all off the light snacks though.

We got a lot of good press for this relatively small production of Robert Holman's Jonah and Otto at Royal Exchange Studio. It helps when you have the ruler of the Universe (or Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars) to command the critics attention but most importantly you need fabulous acting, a great set and an 'achingly beautiful new play' as the Guardian writer Lyn Gardner put it. I still must admit to a bit of a buzz from meeting Ian McDiarmid though.

A Taste of Honey

Google the Smiths and it won't take you long before you come across a picture of the band outside the Salford Lads Club. Stephen Wright’s photograph was taken 24 years ago. In it, the four members of the band are seen outside the Club and was used for the inside of the album The Queen is Dead in 1985.

A Taste of Honey, By Shelagh Delaney, is set around this location and is a play that Morrissey is reportedly a fan of. I'll add myself to that list. The inspiration for this photograph is therefor obvious and the foreboding rain clouds and circling scallies on mountain bikes set the scene well. Sally Lindsay and Jodie McNee looked right at home and made my job easy. The weather was also co-operative and waited until about 5 second after I shot my last frame before it poured it down. Luckily for us one of the Club officials was passing and proceeded to give us a guided tour of the wonderful building. One room has the walls covered with hundreds photographs of Smiths fans who have visited from all over the world to take their picture outside the gates. I can now proudly say that our photograph has been added to the collection (but I'm guessing not as prominently as Stephen's classic).

Antigone by Sophocles

This striking image shows how well a simple idea can work when done well. The shot is for large posters publicizing The Royal Exchange Theatre production of Antigone. The actress is Matti Houghton and her eyes draw you in from way down the street.

It is always a real pleasure to work with the actor playing the actual part. They have immersed themselves in the character and will bring much more to the shot than I could come up with alone. Despite being a simple idea for a shot it was important the mood was just right which is where their research and character understanding is so important.

The Glass Menagerie

Brenda Blethyn was kind enough to let us use her office in London to get this shot of her for the pre-publicity for the Royal Exchange Theatre production of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. It's a shame I don't have a 'behind the scenes' shot for this image as it would make an amusing picture.

Poor Brenda had to perch on an occasional table in the corner, sandwiched between a filing cabinet and kitchen whilst my assistant raided her broom cupboard for sticks on which to hang the 'glass menagerie'. Meanwhile the marketing officer is busy trying not to drop the delicate glass pieces, whilst attaching them to fishing line and various broom sticks, and I am trying to light the corner with whatever lighting we had been able to carry on the train. How we managed to to come away without any breakages or injury I don't know but I think it was worth the effort. Brenda Blethyn was a delight to work with.

The production was a joy to photograph as well.