Snakehead at The Hope Theatre — production photograph 15 of 31

The Hope Theatre2023

Snakehead

The Production

The Hope Theatre’s in-house production Snakehead was a gig-theatre reimagining of the Medusa story, performed by Sian Maxwell at the intimate Islington venue. Combining spoken performance with an original post-punk, electronica and pop-inflected soundtrack, the production explored consent, accountability, class and the male gaze.

31 photographs in the curated edit

Director: Samuel Rees
Musical Director: Max Alexander-Taylor
Lighting Design: Laurel Marks
Commissioned by: The Hope Theatre
Photography: Steve Gregson

Snakehead at The Hope Theatre — production hero photograph

Close-up of headphones and a sound mixer glowing under purple light.

Sian Maxwell stands at a microphone on a dark stage, lit in purple, with black reflective shapes on the floor.

Sian Maxwell poses with both hands behind her head under vivid pink and blue lighting.

Sian Maxwell sings into a handheld microphone beside an acoustic guitar and sound equipment.

Sian Maxwell sings into a microphone, fingers raised beside her eye, under stark stage light.

Sian Maxwell sings into a microphone with one arm raised; a guitarist plays in shadow behind her.

Sian Maxwell sings into a microphone with one hand lifted high against a black background.

Sian Maxwell sits cross-legged on the floor as another performer plays guitar behind her.

Sian Maxwell crouches low, singing into a microphone, with instruments and a laptop in the shadows.

Sian Maxwell leans forward singing into a microphone on a blue-lit stage with instruments and cables.

Sian Maxwell leans into a handheld microphone, arm outstretched under blue stage light.

Sian Maxwell stands in a black sleeveless top against darkness, lit by green and amber light.

Sian Maxwell stands centre stage with arms spread, microphone cable hanging in blue light.

Sian Maxwell arches back with hair moving, lit by a spotlight; a red guitar rests behind her.

Sian Maxwell holds a microphone close, leaning forward; a red guitar is visible in the shadows.

Overhead view of Sian Maxwell with a microphone and cable amid blue light and dark stage reflections.

Sian Maxwell clasps a microphone with both hands, face lit in intense blue against a black background.

Close-up of Sian Maxwell in front of a seated person in a cap, with a red guitar blurred at left.

Sian Maxwell stretches both arms wide, microphone in one hand, under green and blue light.

Side view of Sian Maxwell singing into a handheld microphone, sharply lit in blue.

Sian Maxwell sings into a handheld microphone on a dark stage, with a guitar and cables to one side.

Sian Maxwell sings into a microphone, one arm outstretched, lit by warm stage light against black.

A performer stands in silhouette under a bright overhead light, facing a musician at a workstation.

Sian Maxwell sings beside a microphone stand, face turned upward in vivid blue light.

Sian Maxwell sings at a stand microphone with both hands raised, lit in purple and red.

Sian Maxwell grips a microphone and leans forward under warm orange light, one hand at her side.

Sian Maxwell sings into a microphone in blue light, arms extended toward the audience.

Sian Maxwell crouches over a microphone in blue light, with a musician and laptop blurred behind.

Sian Maxwell stands at a microphone on reflective black floor pieces, cable trailing across the stage.

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