Shakespeare’s England applauds new Stratford Festival Faces website set up by award-winning Warwickshire photographer
From celebrity chefs Yotam Ottolenghi and Mary Berry, to best-selling authors and illustrators, broadcasters and actors - one Warwickshire photographer has snapped them all.
Since 2015, Lorentz Gullachsen has been the official portrait photographer for Stratford Literary Festival, held annually in the historic Warwickshire market town, and taken more than 400 portraits of guest speakers.
This year, Stratford Festival Faces (https://www.stratfordfestivalfaces.com/), a dedicated website went live featuring the entire collection of his portraits with galleries from every year, apart from 2020 during the pandemic, including the latest line-up from the six-day Spring 2022 event earlier this month. Headliners of which included Sir Derek Jacobi, Maggie O’Farrell, Shirley Ballas, Howard Jacobson, Jane Garvey and Fi Glover, Ed Miliband, Ali Smith, Julian Clary and The Great Pottery Showdown’s Keith Brymer Jones.
Lorentz, of Welford on Avon, near Stratford, said: “It’s a phenomenal event attracting world famous authors, actors, TV and radio presenters to Stratford-upon-Avon. The idea was to build up a small collection of photographs dating back from 2015 but it has bloomed into this mammoth body of work with more than 400 portraits.
“I am a bit of a foodie and so taking photographs of people like Rick Stein, Ottolenghi and Mary Berry has been something of a dream. Photographing Mary Berry was a bit like taking a portrait of the Queen!
“I am just very grateful they have each spent a few minutes of their time with me before going on stage. In terms of work, I am particularly proud of, I took a portrait of Sir Tim Rice which was quite powerful. I also photographed Parky – Sir Michael Parkinson - in his later years, and it was one of the most poignant. A good portrait is truthful.”
Both images were nominated for Association of Photographers Awards and exhibited in London.
Helen Peters, Chief Executive of Shakespeare’s England, the regional tourism organisation for south Warwickshire and surrounding areas, said: “Lorentz’s work is outstanding. Not only is he a hugely talented creative professional in his own right but a fervent supporter of Stratford Literary Festival, an excellent ambassador for South Warwickshire and a much-valued member of Shakespeare’s England. Lorentz’s support for the organisation and Membership is much appreciated.
“Shakespeare’s England is absolutely delighted to showcase Stratford Festival Faces and I would encourage everyone to log on and take a look to see Lorentz’s catalogue of who’s taken part over the last seven years. You will be amazed!
“Everyone who is anyone in the literary world has been to Stratford-upon-Avon’s acclaimed festival from literary treasures like Simon Armitage, Michael Rosen and Julia Donaldson, to acting royalty Dame Harriet Walter, Juliet Stevenson and Alison Steadman, top comedians Harry Hill, Paul Merton and Michael McIntyre as well as top TV broadcasters from Sir Michael Parkinson to Sir Trevor McDonald, as well as historian Lucy Worsley, football commentator John Barnes and Countdown’s Susie Dent.
“The festival, which has just celebrated its 15th year, always succeeds in having an eclectic, entertaining mix of speakers, masterclasses and workshops for adults and children!”
Annie Ashworth, Director of Stratford Literary Festival, added: “This is a unique project by the award-winning photographer Lorentz, who has taken a studio photo of everyone involved in the festival since 2015, including authors, interviewers, the festival team and our wonderful volunteers.”
To explore Stratford Festival Faces, visit https://www.stratfordfestivalfaces.com/
For more information on Shakespeare’s England and its members, visit https://shakespeares-england.co.uk/