Photographing the National Theatre Shop Collection

Photographing Original Stage Props for the National Theatre Shop

I recently had the pleasure of photographing a collection of original props from past National Theatre productions for the National Theatre Shop.

The collection brings together objects that once existed as part of fictional worlds on stage—pieces of furniture, tableware, glassware, costumes and handwritten documents that quietly preserve the traces of performances, characters and the many hands that brought them to life. Removed from the stage, these objects become artefacts in their own right, carrying both theatrical and historical significance.

The visual approach combined clean product photography with carefully styled still-life compositions, allowing each object to retain its individuality while conveying the atmosphere and narrative of the collection as a whole.

It was a pleasure to work alongside Eleanor Binns, E-commerce Executive at the National Theatre, in creating a series of images that celebrate this unique collection and help give audiences the opportunity to own a small piece of theatre history.