Touching the Void (production) – for Stageworks Theatre

In addition to the promotional photography, I also had the opportunity to photograph Stageworks Theatre’s full production of Touching the Void, capturing the show in performance. Production photography presents a very different creative challenge than promotional work — instead of building images from scratch, the focus shifts to anticipating movement, emotion, and lighting cues in real time. This production, in particular, demanded precision, timing, and a deep respect for the physical and emotional intensity unfolding on stage.

A centerpiece of the show was its custom-designed 18-foot climbing wall, built locally specifically for this production. The towering structure transformed the stage into a vertical environment, allowing performers to scale, rappel, and suspend themselves in ways rarely seen in theatrical storytelling. Photographing this dynamic set required careful positioning, fast reaction times, and a strong understanding of how to convey height, exposure, and isolation through composition. The result was a series of images that highlight both the technical ambition of the design and the raw vulnerability of the performances.

Directed by Producing Artistic Director Karla Hartley, this production leaned heavily into realism, physicality, and emotional tension. Her direction emphasized authenticity and human connection, creating moments that felt both intimate and epic. Capturing those fleeting moments — a strained grip, a moment of doubt, or the sheer exhaustion etched across a performer’s face — is what makes production photography so compelling. These images now serve as both archival documentation and powerful marketing assets, preserving the intensity and artistry of a remarkable theatrical achievement.