Pascal Molliere - Possibly the next best London Theatre Photographer

Other well known theatre photographers such as John Haynes and Knobby Clarke, who have both been photographing the likes of Dame Judy Dench and Sir Ian McKellen are among other well known names have been around literally for decades. But in this short time, Pascal Molliere has produced some of the best richly observed theatre stills in the business.

At Pascal's first exhibition this week at the Victoria & Albert Museum's premiere exhibition room Pascal's work was likened to that of the late Ivan Kyncl who passed away earlier last year and left an enormous void in the creative arena of theatre photography in London. "Ivan was the one we would always call for" said playwright Mike Poulton, "Ivan's work was really outstanding, he was one of the few photographers who could just instinctively know when to click the shutter, but Pascal has certainly produced some special work and in my opinion from what I've seen, Pascal Molliere would be my first choice as a London theatre photographer".

Pascal who lives in Surbiton started his career in theatre photography after having been asked to work alongside one of the most well known theatre photographers in London, John Haynes. John was photographing at the MacCowan theatre which is part of LAMDA's acting school's faculty.

Pascal was then asked by LAMDA to shoot for their new theatre The Linbury and his work is now hanging on the famous wall space at the 100 year old drama school.

I asked Pascal where he thinks he gained such an aptitude for shooting great theatre stills "I can only assume that it's in the blood!" Pascal's grandfather was a street photographer in Versailles and his father studied photography in Paris before coming to England when he was just 19. "It was my dad who first introduced me to photography, he gave me a Zenith 35mm film camera when I was quite young and I have always really been interested in photography, I have also been intrigued by the theatre and so when I got the chance to combine the two, I jumped at the chance".

Susan Wilson is news and art writer who covers most events in the United Kingdom to do with the arts and theatre. She has a PhD in Literature and Art History and also has a degree in drama from the Central School for Speech and Drama.