Looking back - Man of La Mancha

Surprisingly… before these blogs started, I did exist and have a life of sorts, so for this post I am looking back at a project from July 2017. This was when I was commissioned to do the official photography for the stage show “Man of La Mancha” staged at the City Varieties theatre in Leeds.

Man of La Mancha is a musical originally written and first performed in 1964 from a book by Dale Wasserman with lyrics by Joe Darion, music by Mitch Leigh. It was originally inspired and loosely adapted from Miguel de Cervantes and his 17th Century epic Don Quixote. It tells the story of the mad knight Don Quixote as a play within a play, performed by his fellow prisoners as he awaits his hearing with the notorious Spanish Inquisition.

Most may not know the musical, but all will likely have heard the main song “The Impossible Dream”. See a movie version of the song here on You Tube (from the 1972 film starring Peter O’Toole and Sophia Loren).

Anyway… Back to the show. I was asked to come and for various reasons couldn’t get to the dress rehearsal so had to take pictures on one of the production evenings. This just meant I couldn’t achieve all the angles I might have liked, but did have a good position from the dress circle.

I had never seen the show but enjoyed all I saw. The direction (by Jonathan Walker-Kane) was paced well, the acting and singing was excellent and the lighting too was also excellent (and helps the quality of the photos!). Everyone in attendance gave the show rousing applause with each major scene or song and gave the cast a standing ovation at the end of the show. I am not a theatre critic or reviewer so will leave it there, but recommend the show if you are a musicals fan or even if not!

Useful Info:-

Man of La Mancha

Directed by : Johnathan Walker-Kane
Music Director : Robert Owen
Musical Staging : Elaine Wormwald
Lighting Design : Simon Lord
Sound Design : Jim Noble

Endellion Theatre Company Facebook Page : https://www.facebook.com/EndellionTheatre/

Facebook Page for Man of La Mancha : https://www.facebook.com/events/1710671639230567/?active_tab=discussion

Impossible Dream – 1972 Movie Version on You Tube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfHnzYEHAow

Please add any comments at the bottom of the post.

Some more photos!