Getty Images gallery event

Picture: Exposure’s creator Mike Dyer (left) with Matthew Butson, vice president of Getty Images’ Hulton Archive, pictured at the Getty Images Gallery in London last week. The show – due to open in spring 2012 – explores the relationship between fame and photography

Photo credit: Dave Hogan/Getty Images

A West End show about a paparazzi photographer and a mysterious Leica camera used by his photojournalist father is due to open in London next spring.

The musical, called Exposure, will feature a fictional photographer called Jimmy Tucker whose career path is inspired by a Leica camera used by his father who died in strange circumstances.

?Jimmy?s determination lands him a job on a local newspaper. [In] his story highlighting the plight of the London homeless, Jimmy secretly photographs a young girl outside Angel tube station,? states the production?s website.

?On developing the picture, he falls in love with its subject, Tara. The shot wins him a prestigious photographic award.’

But Jimmy?s euphoria is short-lived as Tara confronts him for taking the picture ?without permission?.

On a mission to complete a project started by his late father Jimmy discovers that the secret of his dad?s death lies in the Leica camera he used.

Jimmy is then lured into the ?seedy world of paparazzi journalism? sliding inexorably into the corruption of sex, drugs and toxic fame?.

A key part of the show will be its photographic content, according to its creative team led by theatre producer Mike Dyer who unveiled details of the production during an event held at the Getty Images Gallery in London recently.

Getty Images plans to showcase recently unearthed photos of Marilyn Monroe as part of its agreement to supply images for the show.

For more details see the Exposure website