Picture House

Flashback to 2001 through the lens of Neil Soni.

Much of Manumission was done in the planning, 2001 was a year when it all came together, it was like a rebirth. Personally it was my first year back after the birth of our son Stanley. And there was lots of fun to be had. With the influence of our son in our lives Mike & I dreamt up a playful concept – classic 1950’s – a fantastical journey based on the maiden sea voyage of my father.

The right concept set the tone for the summer, then it was the stage design, the photoshoot, costume, props… (my favourite ever props were the Chitty Bang Bang inspired ship funnels – that me and Sara Cox stole one morning from the prop cage – squeezed ourselves into, and waddled into the Candy Bar! Much to the amusement of all the Radio 1 crew who were present!)

The Fantastic Sea Voyage of The Good Ship Manumission – each week we would sail into Salinas with The Manumission Girls, fight off the pirate clowns, deliver the picnic to the sounds of Jon Sa Trinxa and we were off. It was a heavy schedule, that started at midday and ended sometime after midnight on Tuesday – some 36 hours later.

Photographer Neil Soni was engaged to follow the cast and crew. His personality and sense of humour drew him towards the end of the night – once we had done the final Manumission show at 6am it was our turn to enjoy it…

Colin Peters with Manumission Girl Helen and myself.

Up on the Candy Bar…

Or on the dance floor…

Manumission Boys & Girls.

Backstage.

Or back on the bar…

…and then there was the after-party – CARRY ON in Space – before it was a super club, before Matutes turned it into Hi! – when it was a sun-bleached after-hours run by a sweet and efficient young German named Fritz who we would torture each week for drinks passes, tons and tons of drinks passes…