About the Visual Shakespeare Project
I am interested in narrative painting and am currently exploring the works of the playwright, William Shakespeare, who needs no introduction. I have created a project called The Visual Shakespeare Project which is intended to promote Shakespeare's work and my interpretation of it, via the visual arts. Additionally, I provide financial support for small Shakespeare theatre companies, by selling these paintings and prints. We welcome new actors into our Project, so please send a photo of you performing as a Shakespearean character and include a few words explaining it. With your permission, we may use you as a model in a painting! Contact Rodolphe Fonty: rodolphefonty@gmail.com
Our Paris Exhibition
The project has proven to be a great success, thanks to the inclusion of some wonderful and talented actors. The first of these was the Parisian actor/director Rodolphe Fonty from The Theatre du Nord-Ouest in Paris, who has become a dear friend and permanent collaborator in this Project. He is pictured on this webpage. Rodolphe and his actor friends have appeared in these paintings and Rodolphe curated an exhibition of these paintings in Paris. You can view a discussion of two paintings from the theatre event, which opened the exhibition, here:
Henry VIII and Macbeth
Alternatively: download a catalogue of the paintings
Another successful actor is the New York actor/director/film-maker Chelsea LeSage. Like Rodolphe, she is a very versatile actor. Her acting ranges from Shakespeare to the horror/thriller genre. She and her actor friends dressed and posed for a painting based on the play Much Ado About Nothing. I look forward to working with her in future paintings based on the play, Henry VI, when she will pose as Joan of Arc. Chelsea is also pictured on this page.
Another group of actors are based in York and are part of the York Shakespeare Project. Many have expressed an interest in appearing in one of these paintings and I will contact them in due course.
In each case the theatre companies that my actor friends belong to will, or have, benefited form the sales of the paintings that I have created for this Project.
Each painting captures a significant moment in a specific play, and all around are related objects, places and people that give clues to what is happening at other points in that play. I describe my paintings as a theatrical performance that is captured for the viewer to enjoy whenever they gaze upon the artwork. As such, I have left room for me to reinterpret the plays, so as to allow me to express my reaction to events. I want people to be able to return to the painting again and again and discover more of its iconography and symbolism. I would be delighted if you kept an eye out for upcoming paintings which will be added to this gallery.
Shakespeare in Words and Pictures: University of York, 18th April 2024
On 18th April we had the great honour of holding a Shakespeare themed event at the University of York, one of the top Russell Group Universities in the UK. Over 220 tickets were acquired. We staged a 2 hour event, during which I drew the participating actors, live. This was projected on a large screen, and the audience loved this. Rodolphe Fonty gave a fascinating and informed talk on Shakespeare's responses to painting. Actors joined in to provide illustrative examples of Rodolphe’s observations and I read sonnet no. 24. Chelsea LeSage from New York visited us and took part in our event, which was delightful. We had the honour of having Tina Packer, and her son Jason Asprey, in our audience too.
During the interval the audience had the opportunity to view an exhibition of all the Shakespeare inspired paintings. After the interval the audience were treated to 4 short cameo performances in front of 4 of the paintings, which Rodolphe directed and performed in. The event ended with a musical finale, sung by Rodolphe and the cast.
This project tries to help early and mid-career actors gain exposure, and to network. We are always open to working with other people when possible, so please do get in touch. If you wish us to perform for you, we would be delighted to discuss this.
Cast list, Alphabetically: Nick Clark, Christopher Commander, Rodolphe Fonty, Evie Gallagher, Freya Leadbetter, Chelsea LeSage, Erin Martin & Iain Will.
You can read this wonderful MUSE newspaper review of our Shakespeare in Words and Pictures event, by Emily Stevens, via this link:
MUSE arts review
York City Screen Exhibition: 15th July to 11th August 2024
Our exhibition of the Visual Shakespeare Project paintings took place at York City Screen Cinema, from 15th July to 11th August 2024 and we were delighted by the positive feedback from those who saw them. There were 16 paintings in total, and many people visited the exhibition, which was located up-stairs along a beautifully lit corridor gallery. Each painting had an informative explanation next to it. The exhibition included a portrait of Dame Judi Dench, who was delighted to be included in our project.
Link: back to the Shakespeare paintings
Our Paris Exhibition
The project has proven to be a great success, thanks to the inclusion of some wonderful and talented actors. The first of these was the Parisian actor/director Rodolphe Fonty from The Theatre du Nord-Ouest in Paris, who has become a dear friend and permanent collaborator in this Project. He is pictured on this webpage. Rodolphe and his actor friends have appeared in these paintings and Rodolphe curated an exhibition of these paintings in Paris. You can view a discussion of two paintings from the theatre event, which opened the exhibition, here:
Henry VIII and Macbeth
Alternatively: download a catalogue of the paintings
Another successful actor is the New York actor/director/film-maker Chelsea LeSage. Like Rodolphe, she is a very versatile actor. Her acting ranges from Shakespeare to the horror/thriller genre. She and her actor friends dressed and posed for a painting based on the play Much Ado About Nothing. I look forward to working with her in future paintings based on the play, Henry VI, when she will pose as Joan of Arc. Chelsea is also pictured on this page.
Another group of actors are based in York and are part of the York Shakespeare Project. Many have expressed an interest in appearing in one of these paintings and I will contact them in due course.
In each case the theatre companies that my actor friends belong to will, or have, benefited form the sales of the paintings that I have created for this Project.
Each painting captures a significant moment in a specific play, and all around are related objects, places and people that give clues to what is happening at other points in that play. I describe my paintings as a theatrical performance that is captured for the viewer to enjoy whenever they gaze upon the artwork. As such, I have left room for me to reinterpret the plays, so as to allow me to express my reaction to events. I want people to be able to return to the painting again and again and discover more of its iconography and symbolism. I would be delighted if you kept an eye out for upcoming paintings which will be added to this gallery.
Shakespeare in Words and Pictures: University of York, 18th April 2024
On 18th April we had the great honour of holding a Shakespeare themed event at the University of York, one of the top Russell Group Universities in the UK. Over 220 tickets were acquired. We staged a 2 hour event, during which I drew the participating actors, live. This was projected on a large screen, and the audience loved this. Rodolphe Fonty gave a fascinating and informed talk on Shakespeare's responses to painting. Actors joined in to provide illustrative examples of Rodolphe’s observations and I read sonnet no. 24. Chelsea LeSage from New York visited us and took part in our event, which was delightful. We had the honour of having Tina Packer, and her son Jason Asprey, in our audience too.
During the interval the audience had the opportunity to view an exhibition of all the Shakespeare inspired paintings. After the interval the audience were treated to 4 short cameo performances in front of 4 of the paintings, which Rodolphe directed and performed in. The event ended with a musical finale, sung by Rodolphe and the cast.
This project tries to help early and mid-career actors gain exposure, and to network. We are always open to working with other people when possible, so please do get in touch. If you wish us to perform for you, we would be delighted to discuss this.
Cast list, Alphabetically: Nick Clark, Christopher Commander, Rodolphe Fonty, Evie Gallagher, Freya Leadbetter, Chelsea LeSage, Erin Martin & Iain Will.
You can read this wonderful MUSE newspaper review of our Shakespeare in Words and Pictures event, by Emily Stevens, via this link:
MUSE arts review
York City Screen Exhibition: 15th July to 11th August 2024
Our exhibition of the Visual Shakespeare Project paintings took place at York City Screen Cinema, from 15th July to 11th August 2024 and we were delighted by the positive feedback from those who saw them. There were 16 paintings in total, and many people visited the exhibition, which was located up-stairs along a beautifully lit corridor gallery. Each painting had an informative explanation next to it. The exhibition included a portrait of Dame Judi Dench, who was delighted to be included in our project.
Link: back to the Shakespeare paintings
Me, Rodolphe and Joanna at The Theatre du Nord Ouest, Paris
Me and a very generous patron of the theatre
Chelsea and the cast of Much Ado About Nothing at the Stag and Lion Theatre, New York
Chelsea LeSage receiving her portrait from Iain
Iain and part of his University of York Exhibition
Rodolphe Fonty at our York City Screen Exhibition
Iain Will at the York City Screen Exhibition