Reissued to coincide with the second Anniversary of Pip Simmons’ death on Jan 24 2024, Theatre Photographer Sheila Burnett’s Offstage: The Pip Simmons Theatre Group is a snapshot of avant-garde theatre in the 1970s and 80s. Order now.
Charting 12 years of European touring with one of the foremost experimental theatre groups of the time, Offstage: The Pip Simmons Theatre Group is a photographic record featuring over 200 black-and-white photographs and written testimonials from those who were there, including a foreword by Chris Jordan.
Photos taken by company member and performer Sheila Burnett before she began her 40-year career in theatre photography, the book offers backstage insight into the productions. Amongst the shows are their 90-minute rock version of The Tempest, an adaptation of Dostoyevsky’s The Dream of a Ridiculous Man, and An Die Musik, described by Michael Coveney in Pip Simmons’ Guardian obituary as “one of the finest avant-garde productions of my lifetime, a gruesome, overwhelming masterpiece.” The book has been re-released to coincide with the second Anniversary of Pip Simmons’ death on Jan 24 2024, at the age of 80.
“Offstage: The Pip Simmons Theatre Group” by Sheila Burnett. Photo: Rodney and Chris-Breakfast in Aix. Nuclear Future Tour 1980. Photo © Sheila Burnett
Pip Simmons and his eponymous theatre group were at the forefront of the experimental theatre movement of the 70s, taking inspiration from American counterculture alongside contemporaries such as the Portable Theatre of David Hare. His theatre was known to be confrontational, blasphemous and explosive, often featuring loud rock music and nudity. Founded in 1968, he toured Europe extensively, where funding support was more accessible than in the UK. While in the UK, he was known at venues including the Royal Court, Traverse, Oval House and Riverside Studios.
Sheila Burnett said, “I studied at art school and always carried a compact camera. When I joined the Pip Simmons Theatre Group in 1974, I continued taking photos as I always had, but this time on the hoof, taking photos of the company as we travelled. I still marvel that I managed to retain the negatives for so long. Having turned to digital in 2003, by then a pro photographer, curiosity compelled me to digitise these scruffy old photos from 30 years ago, which was a profound and moving experience.
Another 20 years later, in 2024, it was the company’s 50th Anniversary, the same year Pip Simmons sadly died, and with him died an extremely beautiful, crazy, visionary, one-of-a-kind, wonderful man. I mentioned to Pip how much I would like to do some sort of book, and he said, ‘Remember the good times and laugh, and be sad for those who are gone. Offstage was written and published in one year, and now, in memory of Pip Simmons, I am re-launching Offstage in 2026 on the second Anniversary of his death, Jan 24 2024.”
“Offstage: The Pip Simmons Theatre Group” by Sheila Burnett. Photo: Rodney and Chris-Breakfast in Aix. Nuclear Future Tour 1980. Photo © Sheila Burnett
Sheila Burnett joined the Pip Simmons Theatre Company in the 70s as a performer, leading to a 40-year career in theatre photography, working with venues across the UK. Sheila has exhibited with Geraldine Pilgrim, TWO HOTELS, at the old Midland Grand Hotel, St Pancras, an exhibition of photographs and installations documenting two site-specific performances that took place at the Midland Hotel, Morecambe Bay, and the Old Midland Grand Hotel, St Pancras, in 2000. Other exhibitions include: Hand-tinted production photos of The Drill Hall Pantomimes at The Drill Hall 1990 and ‘The Female Gaze‘ Photos of Women in Theatre, Chats Palace 2023.
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