Although I mostly cover news and PR, I am in love with performance photography, be it theatre or live gigs, I have done quite a few.
Starting in May 2017, and during five days, four of which in mid-September, I had the great privilege in documenting production behind the scenes of We’Re Still Here, a play by the National Theatre Wales and Common Wealth.
The obvious challenges were the lack of light during the two dress rehearsals and trying to guess what the plot may be, in a production, taking place in a disused recycling industrial unit, a stone’s throw away from the Steel Works in Port Talbot.
It is never easy trying to produce news-worthy imagery in a dark place but given that I was allowed on two consecutive days, I managed to pull it off.
I always try and offer the best service to my clients and I am led to believe that they were happy. Quite a few newspapers reviewed the play in a positive way and my pictures certainly got used.
This is an excellent opportunity for me as a person, and for my small picture agency business which gives me pride being trusted to deliver my services in a photography subject which I adore.
Our theatre and live music photography gallery is here.
The following is from: https://www.nationaltheatrewales.org/were-still-here
15 – 30 September, 2017
Port Talbot
WE’RE STILL HERE
National Theatre Wales & Common Wealth
People have forgotten how to say ‘no’. That’s the problem in this country. We are allowed to say ‘no’.
Port Talbot steelworks; site of one of the last heavy industries in Wales, and threatened with closure in 2015. The story made headlines around the world, and the Save Our Steel campaign was quick to respond, gathering a momentum that captured the spirit and uncertainty of our times. So what happens when we come together? What happens when we say ‘no’?
In Port Talbot, leaders, workers and unions all said no. These people came together to save their jobs and their community.
These are the people behind the headlines and the politics, living and working at the heart of the machine. These are their lives, hopes, fears and dreams and this is their story, told with humour, passion and pride.
Based on interviews with steelworkers, union representatives and the people of Port Talbot, We’re Still Here is a site-specific performance. Dynamically staged in the disused Byass Works, it celebrates the unique spirit of the town.
Dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”
Dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”
Steel worker and actor Sam Coombes during the dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”
Dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”
Dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”
Actor Jason May during the dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”
Dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”
Dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”
Dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”, a play created by Rachel Trezise, Common Wealth and the National Theatre Wales about steelworkers, which will be performed in Byass Works, a disused industrial unit, in Port Talbot, south Wales, UK.
Actor Sam Coombes during the dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”
Actors Jason May, Sion Tudor Owen and Simon Nehan during the dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”
Dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”
Dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”
Actor Sion Tudor Owen during the dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”
Writer Rachel Trezise (L) during the press rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”
The four main characters perform a dance scene during the press rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”
Actor Sam Coombes who plays Lewis during the press rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”
L-R: Co-director Evie Manning, artistic director Kully Thiarai, writer Rachel Trezise and co-director Rhiannon White
Actors Simon Nehan and Sion Tudor Owen during the press rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”
Actor Ioan Hefin who plays Adrian during the press rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”
Actor Jason May
“We Are Still Here” rehearsal
Actor Ioan Hefin rehearses for “We Are Still Here”
Directors Rhiannon White and Evie Manning
Actor Sion Tudor Owen
Actors Simon Nehan
Actors Jason May, Sam Coombes, Sion Tudor Owen, Ioan Hefin and Simon Nehan
