When you're in the theatre business, and you want to sell your play, I think you've got to get right to the heart of the action. My own experience has taught me that audiences respond best when they thoroughly believe in who is on the stage, what is going on in front of them, or both.

That was certainly the case with Pintsized Productions' adaptation of A Cock & Bull Story, directed by Terry Keeley and produced by Gerard McCabe. Pintsized are compact in budget but large in heart - they're all about bringing emerging professionals together with established artists to create engaging experiences. The venue is nothing like you'd expect. The performances are usually impressive, if not revelatory.

And the passion roared from the souls of actors Daniel Kelly and Conor Doran in an hour's worth of driven, complex, physical and psychological intensity which fascinated and entertained everyone on a cold winter's night in The American Bar. Producer McCabe, a long-time friend and very good dramatic & comic actor in his own right (you can see him now alongside Jo Donnelly in Conor Grimes and Alan McKee's What The Reindeer Saw at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast), assigned me with the task of bringing the play to life. I've been told I did a very good job indeed - I hope you think so too. Enjoy the photos... and have a very Merry Christmas!

So what better time to share a collection of professional photos, and more? All taken by yours truly?

The opportunity to photograph actresses Orla Mullan, Naomi Rocke and Rosie Barry - all friends - in their Andrews Sisters, swing and jazz guise was first presented to me a matter of weeks ago, in a series of promotional headshots and group shots. For everyone involved, photographer included, it was an absolute pleasure: the costumes were varied and the craic was mighty. So much so, in fact, that when the chance came to take some photos of the trio in a live performance at Derry-Londonderry's Carnival Of Colours came about, I couldn't resist.

As I prepare to head on down to enjoy watching the girls come on down to entertain us all, I hope you enjoy this small collection of promotional and gig photography. Needless to say, I might just have the camera out again tonight...