Theatre Royal, Brighton: Photographing The Kinks Musical Behind the Scenes
Working at the Theatre Royal in Brighton is always a pleasure. Whether I am shooting backstage photography, theatre production photography or, in this case some theatre PR photography. Whatever the theatre throws my way, I am always happy…
This time, I was asked by the marketing team at the Theatre Royal to photograph a PR shoot promoting The Kinks Musical.
I’m a 70’s kid, so I just missed the legendary 60’s music era, but everyone knows their music, and I got to go back in time and do a 60’s rock band shoot, which was amazing! (The closest I have come to working with iconic music legends before was a photoshoot in Paul McCartney’s office last year for The Royal Mint, but unfortunately, that legend wasn’t there when we were.)
A Backstage Start at Theatre Royal Brighton
We met backstage at the Theatre Royal Brighton (with the bonus of some free food), before heading to the venue’s beautifully styled Georgian pub, The Colonnade Bar.
Two of the actors, playing the ‘brothers’, were finishing an interview, so we started with a few shots in the dressing room. From the outset, it was clear this was going to be an easy and enjoyable shoot.
Danny Horn and Harry Curley slipped straight into character, giving exactly the mix of attitude and humour you’d expect from a band dynamic. That energy continued when the rest of the cast joined us.
On Location: From Brighton Lanes to the Beach
From the Theatre Royal, we moved quickly through a series of locations to capture a variety of PR images.
First stop: Quadrophenia Alley: somehow a place I had never noticed despite living in Brighton for over 20 years. With a BBC crew filming alongside us, plus wardrobe, hair and makeup teams, producers and family members, we had quite the entourage.
It’s unusual to have a full cast in costume outside the theatre, so there was a real sense of controlled chaos (and a slightly nervous wardrobe assistant as one actor climbed the wall). A member of Hair and Makeup also came along (someone had to deal with the seaside wind), plus the producer, director and the fabulous marketing team from The Theatre Royal Brighton. Not forgetting Danny’s wife, the BBC’s cameraman and journalist too. We had become quite an entourage!
Creating Theatre PR Photography on the Move
With limited time, we headed down to the seafront. I spotted a great patch of low sunlight on the way but made a mental note to return. It’s often about anticipating the shot even if you can’t take it straight away.
We captured a series of images along Brighton’s iconic railings, with Brighton pier in the background, before moving onto the beach.
The brief was simple: keep things relaxed, natural and full of energy. The cast delivered exactly that: messing around, interacting naturally and creating the kind of authentic moments that make for strong theatre PR photography.
Working alongside a TV crew can sometimes be challenging, but this time it was seamless. We took turns and worked collaboratively to get the shots we each needed.
Capturing the Final Shot
For the final image on the beach, I positioned the group walking towards me: Danny at the front with attitude, the others relaxed and playful behind. It felt like the perfect ‘band’ image.
As always, time moved quickly. On the walk back towards the Theatre Royal Brighton, I looked for that patch of low sunlight I had spotted earlier, but the light had shifted. Instead, I found a small window of light in the Brighton Lanes and quickly captured the final shots before wrapping up and heading back to the Theatre Royal.
Delivering Fast, High-Impact Results
I have worked with the marketing team at The Theatre Royal Brighton quite a lot, so the brief was pretty loose. They chose the venues, and we moved quickly between them.
In just over an hour, we created:
Multiple setups in The Colonnade Bar
Portraits in Quadrophenia Alley
A series of images on Brighton seafront
Final shots in the Lanes
That’s at least eight strong setups delivered efficiently and with minimal disruption.
The response from the Theatre Royal Brighton marketing team said it all:
“Shut up, these are bloody incredible!!!! By far some of my favourite pics yet!! Thank you SO much for shooting today—you always make it so much less stressful.”
That kind of feedback is what makes shoots like this so rewarding.
Why Theatre Royal Brighton Shoots Are So Unique
Every shoot at the Theatre Royal Brighton is different. From backstage access to iconic Brighton locations, the variety of environments allows for creative, story-led photography that goes beyond standard promotional images.
And when you’re working with talented performers, a great team, and a bit of seaside chaos, it rarely feels like work.
Need a Theatre Photographer in Brighton?
If you’re looking for a theatre photographer in Brighton, or need PR imagery for a production at the Theatre Royal Brighton, I’d love to help.
Danny
P.S. My bald head made it onto BBC South East news - haha! (see below)
About Theatre Royal Brighton
The Theatre Royal Brighton is one of the UK’s most established regional theatres, hosting touring productions, musicals and performances throughout the year. Its central location and historic character make it a key venue for theatre photography in Brighton.