Alexander ‘Sasha’ Stewart, born 1892 in Edinburgh, moved to London and launched his professional photography career in 1914. In 1920, Sasha opened his first London studio in Bloomsbury. A technical virtuoso and popular amongst the upper class, the photographer’s theatrical and society portraits were frequently seen in sophisticated journals such as The Tatler, The Sketch and Illustrated London News.
As brilliant as he was charming, Sasha was known for his inventions and studio innovations, none more so than the Sashalite. Produced by General Electric with key input from the photographer, the Sashalite debuted in 1930 and was the first commercial flashbulb available in the UK. Sasha used the powerful light generated by the bulbs to capture his trendsetting and signature dramatic shadows and frozen motion.
Esme Fitzgibbon British actress in costume as Madeline for a stage production of ‘The Ratby sasha.1924
The English ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn (Margaret Hookham) (1919 – 1991) holding a mask by sasha. 1920-30
Marika Rokk looking into a crystal ball.1930 by sasha
A Norman Hartnell evening gown. by sasha. 1920-30
The Australian beauty Dorothy Blanchard, who has just left London to join the Ziegfeld Follies, reclining on a sumptuous bed. by sasha. 1925
The English actress Hermione Baddeley (1906 – 1986).. by sasha. 19220-30
Alice Joyce (1890 – 1955) in London to play the lead in a film, ‘The Passionate Adventure’. by sasha.1925
A woman wearing a fashionable hat decorated with leaf motifs by Peron. by sasha. 1925
A woman wearing a cloche hat decorated with flowers by sasha.1925-30
A unknown model wearing a Paquin feathered headdress. by sasha.1920-25
A woman wearing a fashionable woven hat decorated with jewellery by Peron. by sasha. 1925
A woman wearing a jewelled headdress designed by Paquin by sasha.1924
advertissement for A Schiaparelli hat by sasha. 1930s
An actress appearing in the play ‘Libel’ at the Playhouse theatre. . by sasha.1934
Portrait if the Dancer Kyra Alanova. . by sasha.1929
Show ring rider Mrs Sam Marsh wearing a top hat and a veil over her face. . by sasha.1920
The English actress Vivien Leigh (1913 – 1967). Original Publication in People Disc by sasha.Nd
Frances Day (1907 – 1984) in ‘Floodlight’.by sasha.1925
American authoress Anita Loos, who wrote ‘Gentleman Prefer Blondes’.. by sasha. nd
British actress Dorothy Seacombe by sasha. 1926
Lady Castlerosse modelling the medieval-style costume and wimple she will wear to the Galaxy Ball Pageant, held at London’s Park Lane Hotel. by sasha.1929
The American dancer, Ardath de Sales in costume for ‘Mercenary’, a show at London’s Hippodrome Theatre. by sasha. 1925
Entertainer Elsa McFarlane stands on the bonnet of a Rolls Royce car, mimicking the Silver Lady figurine, in a production of ‘The Co-Optimists’, at the Vaudeville Theatre in Londonby sasha. 1929
Dancer Muriel Gaunt by sasha. 1939
The Australian dancer Dorothy Blanchard, who has just left London to join the Ziegfeld Follies, sitting by the fireplace by sasha. 1925
The Film actress Marjory Brooks. by sasha.1927
Cecily Byrne as Lydia Webster in the Lyric Theatre’s production of ‘Baby Cyclone’. by sasha.1928
Catherine Lacy as Ricciada in the first production of ‘Night’s Candles’, at the Queen Theatre. by sasha.1933
The Glamorous Australian dancer Dorothy Blanchard smoking a cigarette. by sasha.1925
Kyra Nijinsky (1913 – 1998), daughter of the famous Russian dancer and one of the principals of ‘Cochran’s Streamline Revue’ at the Palace Theatre, London.. by sasha.1930s
Chorus girls in Felix Ferry’s Monte Carlo Follies are performing in London at Grosvenor House.. by sasha. 1930s
The Dancer Laura Devine performing a shadow dance during a production of C B Cochran’s show ‘This Year of Grace’ at the London Pavilion. by sasha.1928
A dancer dancing in a British National Opera Company production at His Majesty’s Theatre, London by sasha. 1924
Stanislawa Welska performs an exotic dance which produces a dramatic shadow. by sasha. 19330s
A dancer cowering from a shadowed pair of hands looming over her on stage. by sasha. 1930
The Singer and dancer Bunty Pain, one of Cecil B Cochran’s chorus girls, wearing a diaphanous dress. by sasha. 1929
Tilly Losch (1904 – 1974) dancing in an extravagant costume, in a scene from the show `Wake Up And Dream’. by sasha.1929
The Dancer and actress Tilly Losch (1904 – 1974), one of the principals in ‘Streamline Revue. by sasha.1934
Tilly Losch and Tony Birkmayr in ‘Wake Up And Dream’ at the London Pavilion Theatre. by sasha.1929
Austrian dancer Tilly Losch and Roman Jasinsky dancing in a production of the ballet ‘Errante’ at the Savoy Theatre, London, with choreography by George Balanchine, and costumes by Paul Tchelitchev sasha. 19230s
A couple dancing the Charleston in a scene from the play ‘Just A Kiss’ at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London. by sasha.Nd
dancer and choreographer Serge Lifar and classical Russian ballerina Alice Nikitina performing the Russian ballet La Chatte (‘The Cat) Music H .Saguet, choreography G. Balanchine, designs Gabo and Pevsner. by sasha.1927
Nini Theilade, Indonesian ballet dancer, adopting a ballet pose for a studio portrait by sasha. 1933
Musical comedy actress Jessie Matthews (1907 – 1981) poses in a swimsuit. by sasha.1931
The Russian ballet dancer Alexandra Danilova (1904 – 1997) dancing in a Diaghilev production of ‘Swan Lake’ by sasha.1926
The Actress Binnie Hale dancing in the musical comedy, ‘Mr Cinders’, at the Adelphi Theatre, London by sasha. 1929
Dancing nymphs, in a scene from the play ‘Comus’ at the Open Air Theatre, Regents Park, London by sasha.1934
Members of the Margaret Morris dance troupe dancing out-of-door in accordance with the Margaret Morris Movement (MMM) interpretation of dance.. by sasha.1927
Tap dancers in ‘Voila Les Dames’ at the Prince of Wales Theatre. London hold hearts in front of them as they dance by sasha.1935
British actress Jessie Matthews (1907 – 1981) wearing a headdress decorated with ostrich feathers for her appearance in Charles B Cochran’s musical spectacular ‘Ever Green’ at the Adelphi Theatre, London. by sasha.1930
Binnie Hale surrounded by a huge plume of feathers in the show, `Mr Cinders’’. by sasha.1929
An unusual view of the ‘Albertina Rasch Girls’ who appear in the show, ‘Wild Violets’ at the Drury Lane Theatre, London by sasha.1933
The Albertina Rasch chorus girls who are appearing in ‘Wild Violets.by sasha.1933
The Albertina Rasch Girls who appear in the show ‘Wild Violets’. From top to bottom Inga Anderson, Nosie Dale and Vida McLain..by sasha.1932
The English ballet dancer Leslie Burrows performing a dance entitled ‘Fear’. by sasha.1934
A woman standing on a beach. by sasha.1930
A couple kissing in a scene from the play ‘Just A Kiss’ at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London. by sasha. 1926
American dancers Estelle & Leroy, in action at the Savoy Hotel, London. by sasha. 1934
Composer and actor Ivor Novello (1892 – 1951) with just his face seen peering through a spy hole in a door by sasha. 1928
The English ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn (Margaret Hookham) (1919 – 1991) holding a mask by sasha. 1920-30
A close-up of the hands of Jessie Matthews (1907 – 1981), dancer and film-star. by sasha.1930
Chorus girls singing on stage, whilst wearing eye masks by sasha.1930
A group in a model boat in a scene from the show ‘Peggy Ann’, at the Dalys Theatre by sasha.1927
English actress and dancer Phyllis Monkman (1892 – 1976) with Welsh composer and actor Ivor Novello (1893 – 1951) in ‘Downhill’ at the Queens Theatre. by sasha.1926
Noel Coward (1899 – 1973) and Gertrude Lawrence (1898 – 1952) in ‘Private Lives’ at the Phoenix theatre by sasha.Nd
Santa Proud Fashions by sasha.1930s
Ruby Stewart, currently appearing in a musical at the Gaiety Theatre, London by sasha.1937
Stage and screen actress Joyce Bland (1906-1963), who is currently playing the lead role in ‘Mary Bloome’ at the Embassy Theatre. by sasha.1931
Stage and screen actress Joyce Bland (1906-1963), who is currently playing the lead role in ‘Mary Bloome’ at the Embassy Theatre. by sasha.1931
