Behind the Street: An exhibition of Coronation Street portraits

During Coronation Street's 50th year, the show's photographer Rob Evans took a series of cast portraits on the Street. Here Katherine Kelly, who plays Becky McDonald, poses on set Photograph: Rob Evans

The idea was to capture the actors behind the characters – such as Bill Tarmey, much loved as Jack Duckworth Photograph: Rob Evans

… And Michelle Keegan, who plays Tina McIntyre, looking very dressed up for a trip to Roys Rolls Photograph: Rob Evans

The pictures – including this shot of Chris Gascoyne (Peter Barlow) – are being exhibited at Manchester gallery Generation Pop from 27 January Photograph: Rob Evans

Evans, who has been Coronation Street's photographer for three years, captured actors including Craig Gazey, above, who plays Graeme Proctor Photograph: Rob Evans

'The cast work really hard creating the characters we all know and love on screen, yet they are so rarely seen as themselves,' Evans says. This picture shows Samia Smith (Maria Connor) Photograph: Rob Evans

His pictures, such as this shot of Mike Le Vell and Alan Hansall who play Kevin Webster and Tyrone Dobbs, are intended to reveal the people behind the characters Photograph: Rob Evans

They show 'the real people behind the characters, but surrounded by elements that relate to their "Corrie world"'. Here, William Roache – Ken Barlow – stands in front of the tram crash wreckage Photograph: Rob Evans

The pictures will be auctioned on Thursday 17 February in aid of the Coronation Street 50th anniversary appeal Photograph: Rob Evans

The show's creator Tony Warren stands on the set of the Rover's Return Photograph: Rob Evans