The Attitudes
A dramatic portrait project drawing on my previous career as an actor and shot to benefit charity Acting for Others.
Featuring a broad span of contemporary stage & screen performers, from Olivier winners to newly-minted drama school grads. Inspired by ‘The Attitudes’ a school of acting that held sway for centuries, whereby actors learned specific postures to communicate emotions like fear, despair, joy, or love. There are nearly 100 in ‘Lessons in Acting’ (1870). Some seem deeply melodramatic or laugh-out-loud funny to a modern eye, others still ring true today.
Using one light and a textured background, shooting for no more than 30 minutes with each actor, we remade a classic pose or found its modern incarnation, trying to find the truth in each posture and feeling. About the project
The project was later exhibited at The Globe Theatre.
'Lessons in Acting' (1870), including 100 + 'Attitudes'
An Attitude from 'The Attitudes'
The Attitudes Logo
The Attitudes - Book Cover
Stealth
'Stealth' David Rintoul
Classic Stealth, The Attitudes © Michael Wharley Photography 2016
Joy
'Joy' Monica Dolan
Horror
'Horror' Christopher Logan
'Horror' Malcolm Sinclair
'Horror' David Fielder
'Horror' Greg Haiste
Courage
'Courage' Charity Wakefield
Disconsolation
Daydreaming
Zara Jayne, 'Daydreaming', Access All Areas
'Daydreaming' Malcolm Sinclair
Drunkenness
'Drunkenness' Thomas Coombes
Arrogance
'Arrogance' Martin Delaney
Pondering
'Pondering' Beth Mullen
Shame
'Shame' Matthew Durkan
'Jealousy' Gemma Arterton
Contemplation
'Contemplation' Mark Springer
Anguish
'Anguish' Olivia Poulet
Strength
Modern 'Defiance' Fraser Ayres
Hopelessness
'Hopelessness' Chris Logan
Mental Pain
'Mental Pain' Chizzy Akudolu
Shouting
'Shouting' Femi Oyeniran
Silence
'Silence' Gemma Arterton
The Attitudes - Silence
Defiance
'Defiance' Fraser Ayres
Attention
'Attention' Susie Trayling
Unpleasant Sounds
'Unpleasant Sounds' Lisa Kerr
'Unpleasant Sounds' Zoe Zak
Threatening
'Threatening' Nicholas Pinnock
'Threat' Nicholas Pinnock
'Defence', Sam Swainsbury
Rejection
'Rejection' Wil Johnson
'Refusal', David Gant
Jealousy
'Jealousy' Ben Addis
Enlightenment
'Enlightenment', Jackie Clune
Hatred in Horror
'Hatred in Horror' David Gant
Page from the project book
Faith
'Faith' Lisa Kerr
Fright
'Fright' Emilio Dorgasingh
Hatred
DJ Hassan, Hatred, Access All Areas
'Hatred' Sam Swainsbury
Disguise
'Disguise' Greg Haiste
Love
'Love' Charity Wakefield
'Love' Katie Redford
'Love' Michelle Crowe
'Love' Fraser Ayres
Brown Study
'Brown Study' Matt Connor
Despair
'Despair' Victoria Rigby
Discouragement
'Discouragement' David Newman
Beseeching
'Beseeching' Gina Beck
Rage
'Rage' Tony Pitts
The Attitudes exhibit at The Globe Theatre
The Attitudes exhibit at The Globe Theatre