The Big Front Room | H P Photography

THE BIG FRONT ROOM

The 02 Apollo Manchester - A Year in Pictures

A photo documentary centred around the iconic Manchester Apollo Theatre. The images explore the relationship between the theatre, the fans and the visiting artists. The work was created over a 12 month period from 2018-2019 as part of a Postgraduate MA.

The 02 Apollo Manchester is arguably the city’s most loved entertainment venue. Affectionately referred to as ‘Manchester’s big front room’, the theatre over the years has played host to many of the world’s most famous entertainers: The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Prince, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Bruce Springsteen and Michael Jackson to name but a few. The visiting artists to the Apollo cross all genres of music and comedy – a real mix of the emerging and the established. The Apollo first opened its doors in August 1938 during the golden age of cinema. In 1977 the theatre became exclusively a music and comedy venue. There is a real sense of continuity, nostalgia and history about the building, qualities that seem to appeal to both the fans and performers alike.

The 02 Apollo Manchester

Dua Lipa fans

Dua Lipa

The Apollo street frontage

The horn section of Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra warm up backstage

Capacity: All seated, 2,693. For gigs of a more raucous nature, the stalls seating can be removed and crush barriers installed – increasing the capacity to 3500. The process takes around seven hours and it is not uncommon for seats to be removed and reinstated several times in a week.

Johnny Marr photographed against the theatre's stage pulleys

Apollo from the air: The theatre sits at the junction of Hyde Rd and Stockport Rd in Ardwick

The Art Deco splendour of the circle landing

The Circle Bar - Art Deco lighting

Proscenium Arch: The ornate plasterwork surrounding the stage

Backstage directions

Dressing room corridor

Marilyn Manson

Manson fans

The Old Projection Box: Untouched since 1977 when the last celluloid film spooled through the projectors and the theatre became exclusively a music and comedy venue.

The auditorium – a view from the rear circle

Scorched brickwork

Film reel storage boxes

The auditorium – as a cinema in the 1950s

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Heritage mural wall - Circle Bar

The Bootleg Beatles

Following in the footsteps of the Fab Four’s famous 1963 and 1965 Apollo Shows

Rag 'N' Bone Man

Iconic Manchester Apollo shows

Roy Chubby Brown relaxes in his dressing room before his annual Christmas comedy show

Harry Styles: Fans camped out and queued for up to three days to guarantee the best view of their hero

The main corner tower which welcomes visitors to the theatre

Hyde Road view of the theatre

Two tour buses and snow

The stage door

Kaiser Chiefs

UB40

Sting & Shaggy

The rear stage wall

Paint it Black: Theatre technicians keep the stage and its walls painted black, providing a blank canvas for the visiting stage shows

Stalls crush barriers

Rear circle, gents toilet: 80 years of makeshift glazing

Jools Holland in his dressing room pre-show

Heritage

The Apollo is a Grade II listed building: Characterised by its Art Deco architecture. The focal point of its exterior is the magnificent glazed white terracotta frontage, the curves and decorative detail define its public persona

Exterior surfaces

Johnny Marr

Ultimate Elvis: Ben Portsmouth

Elvis fans

Elvis live at the Apollo

Big show! Three trucks and two tour buses

Circle auditorium signage

Circle seating entrance

The main artist's dressing room

The Green Room: Located underneath the auditorium, this is a place where artists and roadcrew can relax and also a space for backstage meet and greets.

Robert Plant

Amy Macdonald

Steel Panther

Rock 'n' roll excess

Heavy Metal mayhem

Apsley Cottage: The iconic pub which stands adjacent to the theatre’s stage door is a regular haunt for artists, roadcrew and fans alike. The walls of the pub are covered with backstage passes and laminates from past Apollo shows.