A Chaotic, Glorious Month of Stage & Dance Photography

Ah, July. That most treacherous of months when the British calendar conspires to drag innocent, peace loving individuals away from the god given right to a hot dinner and thrust them into the dimly lit, mildly frantic universe of amateur theatre photography.

In the grand and inexplicably chaotic cosmic tapestry of MJC Photography, July is universally recognized as Show Month, a time when sleep becomes an abstract theoretical concept and one’s camera gear begins to feel less like professional equipment and more like a set of heavy iron weights designed to test a human’s mental fortitude.

Act I: The Emotional Rollercoaster of West Side Story

We kicked off this month of stage photography with West Side Story, a production that was, quite frankly, an absolute emotional rollercoaster.

One minute you're marvelling at the choreography through the viewfinder; the next, you're deeply concerned for the vocal cords of a teenager who is giving it their absolute all while wearing a remarkably convincing 1950s leather jacket.

Act II: The Great Culinary Betrayal & Emergency Theatre Shoot

The following week offered up an abundance of drama, though I regret to inform you that the most harrowing scene did not actually take place on stage.

There I was, floating merrily down the highway in the soothing, bumper to bumper bliss of British rush hour traffic. My mind had comfortably uncoupled itself from reality and was happily floating toward a future that involved a magnificent, freshly cooked dinner. Life was good.

Then, the phone rang. It was Laura of LS Drama workshops.

"How far away are you?" she asked.

Now, those five words delivered in a tone that suggests someone has either left the oven on or accidentally declared war on a small European nation, are guaranteed to make an event photographer's stomach drop directly into their socks. All thoughts of a delicious meal instantly vanished, replaced by the icy grip of sudden panic.

You see, in my innocent mind, I wasn't scheduled to photograph the show until Friday night. What I had critically failed to appreciate was that the universe (via the theatre management) had concocted a completely different cast for Thursday night, and Laura wanted both captured for posterity.

The Sprint of a Lifetime

I am reasonably certain it violates several international treaties to make a person sprint through their own home, madly hoovering up camera lenses and tripods, while the glorious, taunting aroma of an unattended home-cooked meal wafts through the hallway.

Consequently, the Thursday night cast were greeted by a theatre photographer who was:

1. Unusually sweaty,

2. Decidedly hangry, and

3. Secretly calculating if it was socially acceptable to eat a granola bar during a dramatic monologue.

Miraculously, my visible distress did not derail the proceedings. The cast was utterly faultless, and the entire production was a visually stunning triumph, ably abetted by the splendidly dramatic lighting provided by the good folks at MB Productions.

Act III: Freezing Time with Dance Photography

Having survived the pint sized thespians, I was promptly hurled into the breathtakingly athletic world of dance photography courtesy of the Linda Mortimore and Charlotte Smith School of Dance.

People often ask me whether I prefer theatre photography or dance photography. To which I say: How does one choose between a lovely cup of tea and a brisk walk through a hurricane? They are entirely different beasts.

Photographing live dance is fundamentally an exercise in defying the laws of physics. It’s about freezing a fleeting micro second of kinetic energy, capturing a high leap at the exact moment gravity seems to take a short tea break.

Defying Camera Settings & Stage Lighting

Now, while MB Productions once again provided stage lighting that was rich, dramatic, and intensely atmospheric, it was also the sort of low light environment that makes a camera sensor weep quietly in the dark. In order to catch every flying kick and high speed spin without turning the performers into blurry streaks of colour, I had to dial my camera settings up to ISO levels that would make the chief technicians at NASA tilt their heads in quiet awe.

The Final Bow

When the dust settled and the digital noise cleared, I was genuinely thrilled with the results. It is a rare privilege to document so many remarkably agile, dexterous, and endlessly energetic teenagers doing what they love (even if it does occasionally interrupt my tea time).

So, that was July: sweat, missed meals, and sheer theatrical triumph.

Now then... what on earth is August planning to throw at me?

Looking for Stage or Event Photography?

Whether you need high-speed dance performance photography or full theatre showcoverage, MJC Photography is ready for the action (and hopefully, a full meal beforehand). Get in touch today to book your show

A Heatwave, a Heartbreak, and Plymouth’s Finest: Why West Side Story at the Quad Theatre Blew Me Away

Well, folks, it is that time of year again. The moment where I dutifully pack away my mud caked hiking boots and all the other outdoorsy paraphernalia usually reserved for my occasional, breathless jollies across the moors.

Why, you ask? Because July has arrived, which means I am now custom bound to spend my evenings perched in the front row of the Quad Theatre at Marjon University, eagerly anticipating an absolute extravaganza of singing and dancing.

The Great Plymouth Heatwave Tradition

For those unfamiliar with my annual theatrical excursions, a brief word of warning: by some bizarre trick of meteorology, every single show I attend is miraculously matched with a rather spectacular British heatwave. The immediate result of this is yours truly sitting in the audience, gently radiating heat and strongly resembling an over ripe tomato.

Honestly, if the local tourist board ever needs to drum up some PR for our spectacular corner of Devon, the solution is simple: just invite the world to Plymouth whenever Laura of LS Drama Workshops put on a show. Glorious weather is practically guaranteed.

West Side Story: West End Quality in Plymouth

Opening this year’s theatre season was West Side Story, and let me tell you straight out of the gate: this production was entirely worthy of the West End.

A Quick Tip for Theatre Lovers: If you haven’t booked a show at Marjon University yet, you are missing out on one of the best cultural gems in the South West.

The staging and lighting, masterfully handled by MB Productions, was worth the price of admission alone. We are talking grand, meticulous shop fronts that effortlessly opened up to reveal hidden interior rooms, not to mention an actual, fully functioning first floor balcony! It was a triumph of local set design.

West Side Story professional show photography by MJC-photography

An Emotional Rollercoaster (Junior Edition or Not)

Now, it’s worth noting that the show was billed as the Junior Edition, but you shouldn't let a title like that fool you into thinking you’re getting off lightly. What followed was a bruising, exhilarating emotional rollercoaster.

West Side Story professional show photography by MJC-photography

These incredibly talented young thespians carried the audience squarely on their shoulders, wringing out every possible emotion along the way:

• Sparkling hope and youthful romance

• High-stakes drama and tense choreography

• A closing scene so devastatingly powerful it had most of the audience sobbing directly into their programmes.

It is a rare thing to see a youth production command that kind of raw power, but this cast absolutely nailed it.

Mark Your Diaries for Next Year

Consider this my official public service announcement: mark your calendars, plot the dates in your diaries for next summer, and get your tickets early.

Yes, if history is any indication, you will almost certainly be incredibly hot. But I promise you, you will be utterly thrilled that you saw the show.

West Side Story professional show photography by MJC-photography

A Night at the Theatre (And Other Minor Miracles)

I recently found myself, camera bag in tow and feeling slightly more precarious than usual navigating the corridors of the Quad Theatre at Marjon University. The occasion was the end of year showcase for LS Drama Workshops and The Linda Mortimore and Charlotte Smith School of Dance, and I must say, it was a thoroughly restorative experience.

There is something profoundly humbling about watching young performers. While I often struggle to navigate a supermarket aisle without bruising an elbow, these individuals managed to leap, pirouette, and deliver complex lines with a level of grace and confidence that, quite frankly, borders on the suspicious.

It was an evening of immense talent and infectious energy. From the first curtain up to the final bow, the stage was a whirlwind of activity that reminded me that, despite the general muddle of the world, there is a great deal of excellence being nurtured right here in Plymouth. My hat is off to the students and the tireless teachers who made it all look far easier than it has any right to be.

For those looking to witness this talent firsthand (or perhaps enroll a child who possesses more coordination than I do), do look up the marvelous work being done by LS Drama and the LMSD School of Dance.

"A group of young performers from LS Drama Workshops demonstrating a level of focus and enthusiasm that I usually reserve exclusively for the arrival of a Sunday roast. They are, quite impressively, the 'Little Stars with Big Imaginations' promised on the tin."

"Members of the Linda Mortimore and Charlotte Smith School of Dance mid flight. I spent most of the sequence worried about gravity, but they seemed to have reached a very polite, very graceful understanding with it."