Live Performance

Play With Fire Productions contacted me for a publicity photo for their upcoming performance of The Effect by Lucy Prebble.
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My process began with reading the play and discussing requirements with the director and designer - from the themes and colours to highlight, as well as practical considerations (space for copy, logos etc.)
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I compiled a mood board to develop a range of shots I wanted to capture, but also left time to play in the space with the actors to allow moments to arise organically.
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The final image is an allusion to the climax of the play - a powerful scene in which the female character puts a pill in the mouth of the male character and holds his mouth closed. I got the two performers to connect to that moment and we recreated it in a more calm and caring way. The intention was that the reference was subtle enough that the audience going in would be intrigued, and during the play would come to understand the meaning of the image.
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The image had fantastic feedback on social media and in the press. Most notably, the writer Lucy Prebble (Succession, I Hate Suzie, Enron) tweeted: “I would like this photo to advertise all my writing”.
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I have since worked with the same client several times to create arresting and eye catching images. What I love most about creating promotional material for theatre shows is that I have to tell the story in one frame. I have worked with many companies on their publicity images and the photos have been seen all around the country - see below for some examples.