Prohibition Cabaret Bar is an award-winning venue for live entertainment that is popular with performers and audiences. Located in the heart of Newcastle’s Pink Lane, just across the street from the city’s Central Station, Prohibition was developed to provide a stage for live music and cabaret-style acts.
So I was delighted to be asked by one of my favourite photographers – Phil of Phil Punton Photography – if I would like to be involved in the shoot he was planning at Prohibition, with a group of photographers whom Phil mentors and several friends who enjoy dressing in costume, Phil masterminded the logistics for the shoot. To get into the mood that Phil was creating for the evening I selected some suitably themed 20’s styled headwear to take along, too.
Prohibition offers an eclectic mix of music genres including jazz, blues, folk, soul, swing, bluegrass, roots, burlesque, variety, cabaret, music hall, drag, comedy, magic, theatre, and vaudeville acts.
Meanwhile, its historic interior makes it an ideal setting for a 20’s-themed photoshoot! Seen here are the two performers who provided the entertainment for the evening – Beth Ellis and Nadeem Shakir.
On the evening of the shoot, the bar and stage area were filled with an influx of 20’s styled ladies and gents who had dressed to suit the shoot’s theme.
They came with bundles of enthusiasm and quickly engendered a palpable sense of fun and enthusiasm, creating a genuine party atmosphere. The accomplished pianist Nadeem and singer Beth, whom Phil had specially booked for the evening, brought this atmosphere to life.
While the 20s-themed cocktail party went on at pace in the bar area of Prohibition, on the upper floor, several more intimate settings were suitable for portrait work. It was here that most of the images of the headpieces I had brought along were taken.
Steff Mossman wears Tiffany, an exuberant turban in ivory and black silk abaca with an upswept semi-bow at the front, finished with a stunning diamanté brooch as the focal centrepiece. Florence, a silk velvet headband with diamanté rope trim, is also featured here.
Meanwhile, Jeanette Punton is pictured wearing Emily.
Emily, a mid size perching beanie style headpiece, is a silk-lined button draped in beaded and bejewelled chartreuse lace, set over a base of chartreuse silk. The tonal qualities of the lace and its exquisite beadwork allow Emily to coordinate with various classically styled outfits.
Darcy, seen here worn by the talented musician Nadeem Shakir, is a dark midnight blue peach bloom felt fedora finished with a handmade Petersham hatband and a contrast pleated and beaded folded trim. The fedora is sized to be medium in head size.
Beth Ellis, who was accompanied on the piano by Nadeem for the evening’s shoot, is a wonderful performer, actor, and producer. So I was delighted when Beth enthusiastically tried on many of the hats and headpieces I had bought along for the evening. She’s seen here in action on The Prohibition’s stage, wearing my headpiece, Rosie.
Beth is pictured modelling two of her favourites; on the left, she wears Rosie. Rosie is a circular pillbox covered in delicate rose-tinted guinea fowl feathers, graduating to tonal grey, with a central beaded disc of black hackle feathers.
On the right is Evie, a twenties-style three-coloured plaited sinamay headband finished with a posy of hand-dyed cotton organdie roses and coque feathers.
Rachel Shakir, a model who you will see featured on my website from previous shoots, wears Charlotte—a wired crown of Sinamay finished with a feather flower with a beaded diamanté centre and a twist of powder blue Sinamay, finishing touches that create more height and drama.
Charlotte is available in a wide selection of colours and trim options—please ask for details. This piece, made from a preloved sinamay saucer hat, is an example of one of my upcycled pieces. The base materials and design of the original hat have been completely remodelled into a much more contemporary design.
Jenifer Horton wears Jenny, a classic beanie style silk lined button draped with cobalt blue sequin beads over cobalt blue silk.
The sequins are attached to the lace base cloth with golden thread, and together, they create a glistening three-dimensional top for this easy-to-wear button.
Finally, a wonderful image taken by Phil Punton. For me, Phil’s image epitomises the atmosphere of the evening at Prohibition and the essence of the shoot that Phil so carefully curated. It was a stylish, fun, and elegant occasion captured forever through the brilliant imagery of Phil and the group of photographers that he mentors.
Thank you, Phil, for the opportunity this occasion also gave me to showcase a selection of my headwear on what was a completely unique occasion. The other photographers (also referenced in their images) who have kindly allowed me to use their stills in this post are Jill Gallagher, Graham Thorpe, Janet Madison, and Melanie Wood.