250707 Pre Show Arts, Wars and Other Catastrophes

Art War and Other Catastrophes: Tension, Timing & Honest Moments

I was supposed to shoot a different show that day, but nothing went to plan. I arrived later than intended and when I did, the original opportunity had passed. Downstairs, Goodnight Walter was deep in pre-show prep. I spoke briefly with some of the cast, but the intensity of that show weighed heavily in the space. I’d heard it in rehearsals for weeks - screaming and slamming doors. I knew it tackled OCD in a raw, confronting way. Just being near it made me feel uneasy, and I realised I wasn’t in the right place, emotionally, to step into that world with my camera. Maybe being late was for the best.

With nothing set to shoot, I went upstairs, where the Art War and Other Catastrophes cast were on a break after a long day. They’d been in the space since 10am; rehearsing, fixing props, making last-minute changes. I found a few cast members on the rooftop, having a laugh and decompressing. It was a rare in-between moment to connect with them. I didn't photograph this interaction. We were all tired and needed this break.

Later while I was shooting the cast getting ready for their opening night, Ella joked, “Lucky, you just can’t stay away,” and it’s true. I return to these spaces because I never know what I’ll catch—something small, fleeting, beautiful. Sometimes it’s the same cast, the same room, but a slightly different energy, and suddenly there will be something new to shoot. That’s what I’m drawn to - the moments you’d miss if someone wasn’t there to catch it.

Reflection

• What worked: Letting go of the original plan helped me find a new opportunity.

  Re-shooting the same backstage scene of a show I'd photographed before, with a little more familiarity and rapport between me and the cast.

• What didn’t: I didn’t manage my time well that day and missed the shoot I originally planned. I also hadn't stopped and considered into how much emotional energy Goodnight Walter was going to take to photograph until that day.

• What’s next: Keep showing up with flexibility. Stay open to where the energy really is, not just where I thought it would be. Consider the show more fully before deciding to photograph it.