Imelda Staunton, Benedict Cumberbatch and Mark Rylance Featured in New Book CURTAIN CALL: A YEAR BACKSTAGE IN LONDON THEATRE

Curtain Call has announced the publication of their inaugural book, which boasts never before seen photography from nearly 60 London theatre productions in 2015/16. CURTAIN CALL: A YEAR BACKSTAGE IN LONDON THEATRE, created by photographer Matt Humphrey and actor/director John Schwab, features an extraordinary collection of fly-on-the-wall backstage images, offering glimpses of big names like Benedict Cumberbatch, Nicole Kidman, Mark Rylance, Imelda Staunton, Kristin Scott Thomas, Mark Strong and Damian Lewis. Inspired by the 40th anniversary of the Olivier Awards, it's the first in a planned series of photography books.

Curtain Call includes a foreword by renowned actor David Suchet and extended interviews with Chief Executive of the Old Vic Sally Greene, Artistic Director of the Royal Court Vicky Featherstone, casting director Jessica Ronane, and actress Kate Fleetwood. Curtain Call: A Year Backstage In London Theatre is priced at £45 and available for pre-order from www.curtaincallonline.com. Curtain Call will also be available to purchase at the V&A and National Theatre bookshops from 28 March.

Curtain Call is a new company founded and managed by John Schwab and Matt Humphrey, people who work in - and are passionate about - the world of theatre. Matt Humphrey and John Schwab were given unprecedented access backstage in London's theatres, and the book features exclusive photography taken on stage, in the wings and behind the scenes from over 50 productions, including HAMLET at Barbican Theatre starring Benedict Cumberbatch, AMERICAN BUFFALO at Wyndham's Theatre starring John Goodman, Damian Lewis and Tom Sturridge, and THE AUDIENCE starring Kristin Scott Thomas at the Apollo Theatre.

John Schwab said: "I am very grateful to all of the cast, crew, creative, production teams and agents who allowed us into that wonderful space that is backstage during a show. Having spent nearly 20 years on stage in London and around the world, it is an absolute pleasure to invite the public to take a glimpse at this magical world and gain an insight into what it's like to be a theatre professional backstage during a London theatre show. I look forward to starting something that we hope will become an industry staple for both the theatre fan and professional alike."

Matt Humphrey said: "The backstage life of a production can be as intriguing, beguiling and choreographed as the show itself. I feel extremely privileged to have been allowed to photograph such an array of productions throughout the year, each of which has their own unique character. It has been a rewarding photographic challenge to shoot in low light and to combine reportage with portraiture. This book is a celebration of the expertise, diversity and extraordinary talent that characterise this thriving industry."

Matt Humphrey and John Schwab met while working at the Old Vic Theatre in 2009 (John on stage, and Matt backstage). Together they founded Curtain Call in 2015, with a view to celebrating and promoting the work of cast, crew and creatives that work behind the scenes. As well as the book, they have been developing a database and networking website for the theatre industry, populated by exclusive visual and non-visual content.

A selection of Matt Humphrey's photography is currently on display as part of the exhibition Curtain Up: Celebrating 40 Years of Theatre in London and New York at London's Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) until 31 August. The display will then transfer to New York Public Library for the Performing Arts from 19 October 2016 until June 2017.

The Olivier Awards with MasterCard will take place on Sunday 3 April at the Royal Opera House and will be broadcast on ITV.

Curtain Call: A Year Backstage In London Theatre features exclusive backstage photography from the following productions: A Christmas Carol (Noel Coward Theatre), A Number (Young Vic), A View From The Bridge (Wyndham's Theatre), Ah, Wilderness! (Young Vic), American Buffalo (Wyndham's Theatre), American Idiot (Arts Theatre), Assassins (Menier Chocolate Factory), As You Like It (National Theatre), As You Like It (Shakespeare's Globe), Billy Elliot The Musical (Victoria Palace Theatre), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Closer (Donmar Warehouse), Dear Lupin (Apollo Theatre), Death of a Salesman (Royal Shakespeare Company and Noel Coward Theatre), Di & Viv & Rose (Vaudeville Theatre), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Savoy Theatre), Elf: The Musical (Dominion Theatre), Everyman (The National Theatre), Farinelli and the King (Duke of York's), Guys and Dolls (Savoy Theatre), Gypsy (Savoy Theatre), Hamlet (Barbican Theatre), Hangmen (Royal Court Theatre), Happy Days (Young Vic), Hay Fever (Duke of York's), Henry V (Royal Shakespeare Company and Barbican Theatre), How To Hold Your Breath (Royal Court Theatre), Husbands and Sons (National Theatre), King Charles III (Wyndham's Theatre), King John (Shakespeare's Globe Theatre), Kinky Boots (Adelphi Theatre), Linda (Royal Court Theatre), Made in Dagenham (Adelphi Theatre), Matilda The Musical (Cambridge Theatre), McQueen (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Medea (Almedia Theatre), Memphis (Shaftesbury Theatre), Mr Foote's Other Leg (Hampstead Theatre), My Night With Reg (Apollo Theatre), Oresteia (Trafalgar Studios) Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre), Sinatra: The Man and His Music (London Palladium), Splendour (Donmar Warehouse), Temple (Donmar Warehouse), The 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre), The Audience (Apollo Theatre), The Beaux Stratagem (National Theatre), The Father (Wyndham's Theatre), The Homecoming (Trafalgar Studios), The Importance of Being Earnest (Vaudeville Theatre), The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare's Globe Theatre), The Ruling Class (Trafalgar Studios), The Trial (Young Vic), The Twits (Royal Court Theatre), Three Days in the Country (National Theatre), To Kill A Mockingbird (Barbican Theatre), Urinetown: The Musical (Apollo Theatre), Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Playhouse Theatre) and wonder.land (National Theatre).

John Schwab is an actor, director and producer. His recent theatre credits include the World Premiere of Our Ajax (Southwark Playhouse), Yellow Face (Park Theatre), The Lesiure Society (Trafalgar Studios), True West (Sheffield Crucible), Speed The Plow (Old Vic Theatre) and 6 Dance Lessons for 6 Weeks (Theatre Royal Haymarket). In addition to his work on stage, John has appeared on screen in television productions such as Ridley Scott's The Vatican, Doctor Who, Episodes, The Special Relationship, Hotel Babylon and Doctor Who. On film, John has appeared in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, The Fifth Estate, Kick Ass 2, Zero Dark Thirty, The Boat That Rocked and Buffalo Soldiers.

As well as acting, John also produces film, has been nominated for a British Independent Film Award for producing his debut feature film The Hide, which The Times called "A macabre little gem." He has directed numerous award winning short films, with his film The Applicant being named Best Short Film (Fiction) by Moving Pictures Magazine.

Matt Humphrey is a professional portrait and production photographer, and has worked in theatres throughout the West End, and on international film productions. Matt has had had 3 solo exhibitions, including back-to-back years of the 31thirtyone portrait project (to photograph 31 artists in 31 days, raising money for charity). The first year of this project featured 31 actors, including Kevin Spacey, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sheridan Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Dockery and several others. The second year of the project included portraits of 31 musicians including Lee Scratch Perry, Razorlight, Metronomy, Noddy Holder, Lauren Laverne and Goldie.

Matt was commissioned by the Hackney Empire to document a year in the life of the theatre, photographing behind the scenes and backstage on a variety of productions. It was here that he really honed his craft of capturing moments throughout the production process, and working with and alongside cast and crew at all stages of the shows.

See more exclusive photographs below.

All photographs: Matt Humphrey/Curtain Call

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