Want to see more of me? On Tour

From January 2009 acclaimed photographer Donald MacLellan’s exhibition Want to see more of me? is set to challenge new audiences across the country to think about on-screen diversity.
The 25 striking portraits of well-known Black British actors including Ashley Walters, Sophie Okonedo and Chiwetel Ejiofor will follow an extended run at the National Portrait Gallery with a tour of four major cities in the UK this year.

Commissioned by the UK Film Council, the exhibition celebrates some of the UK's most successful Black actors, highlights the depth and range of talent in the field and raises questions about the roles that are available to Black British film actors. Says MacLellan: “This dynamic group of images, opulent and rich in colour, celebrates both the individual and collective achievement of these actors. If you look at my portraits you will see that each of the subjects is looking directly at you, most of them in a challenging way”.

Making its regional-debut at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, the exhibition will be framed by two significant theatre productions Eclipse Theatre’s The Hounding of David Oluwale, the true story of a man’s racial and social injustice at the hands of the police in 1970’s, and Lenny Henry’s run as Othello.  Again at Liverpool Playhouse The Hounding of David Oluwale, and the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Othello will provide a relevant environment for the exhibition.

Download the exhibition brochure

For further information, images and interviews please contact: Libby Appelbee or Ellie Backhouse at Colman Getty on 0207 631 2666 or libby@colmangetty.co.uk / ellie@colmangetty.co.uk
Notes to Editors

•    The actors photographed by Donald MacLellan for 'Want to see more of me?' are: Abdul Salis, Adrian Lester, Ashley Walters, Claire-Hope Ashitey, Colin Salmon, David Harewood, David Oyelowo, Don Warrington, Earl Cameron, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Lennie James, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Marsha Thomason, Mona Hammond, Naomie Harris, Nikki Amuka Bird, Noel Clarke, Paul Barber, Ray Fearon, Robbie Gee, Shaun Parkes, Sophie Okonedo, Vas Blackwood, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Julie Stewart

•    A portfolio of work by Donald MacLellan can be viewed at: www.donny-bygosh.com

•    'Want to See More of Me?' is a 'Leadership on Diversity' initiative under the Equalities Charter for Film funded by the UK Film Council