LONDON.- Dramatically uniting the worlds of film and art, 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”.

The 2009 tour includes:

West Yorkshire Playhouse 28 January – 1 March

Liverpool Playhouse 3 March – 3 April

The Drum, Birmingham 4 April – 1 May

Central Library, Cardiff 6 – 31 May

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 the West Yorkshire Playhouse and Northern Broadsides co-production of Othello starring Lenny Henry. 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.

Marcia Williams, Head of Diversity at the UK Film Council, said: “We are delighted with the success of the exhibition so far and now eager for Want to see more of me? to reach new audiences on its national tour. The issue of on-screen diversity and representation is important to the future of British cinema and I hope these dramatic and stirring portraits of some of our finest Black film talent continues to stimulate debate on this subject.”

Sheena Wrigley, General Director and Joint Chief Executive at West Yorkshire Playhouse said: “I’m really excited that West Yorkshire Playhouse has the opportunity to host this fantastic work, especially at a time when, as a building, we are presenting two shows which support the issues of diversity and awareness which the exhibition raises. We believe that the promotion of diversity within the arts is key, and I am delighted that we have this chance to join up with film and visual art to convey a unified message of celebration.”