A new exhibition celebrating the talented women of Tauranga's theatre scene is on display at Baycourt Community and Arts Centre.

Great Women of Tauranga Theatrefeatures photographs of 22 actresses captured by Pyes Pa actor, playwright and man of many hats Liam Hagan.

Local actress Carlie Howe as Eponine from ‘Les Miserables'. Photo: Liam Hagan.

A handful of the women are featured, including Michelle Coombe, Sara Toomer, Carlie Howe, Dallas Baker, Jan Beets, Christine Giddens and Gin Mabey.

Having taken up photography recently, this is Liam's first exhibition and he's understandably proud of the results.

'There are lots of great women involved in Tauranga theatre and it seemed like a really good excuse to showcase a handful of them,” he explains..

'I'm very happy with how the photos turned out, and as a fledgling photographer it's exciting to have the work out there to be seen.”

Liam says each actress chose a person or character whom they had a special connection with and which they wanted to portray.

Many of the shots replicate famous photos, for example, actress Charlotte Davies channelled Marilyn Monroe for her shoot.

'So we staged that famous moment with Marilyn standing above the subway vent and her dress blows up,” he says.

Great Women of Tauranga Theatre will be on display in Baycourt's foyer until August 22, then relocate to 16th Ave Theatre from Thursday, August 27.

It will remain at 16th Ave during the upcoming season of Snip & Bonking James Bond – a double bill of one-act plays written by Kiwi playwright April Phillips, which Liam will be appearing in.