COLIN David Reese brought John Heminges to life in his one-man show A Gift To The Future, which visited St Columba’s Church, York, last night.

John Heminges was the man responsible for bringing Shakespeare’s work to print. Reese resurrected this relatively unknown character through a natural, convincing performance and audience engagement.

Reese’s Heminges travelled into the future to see if the audience knew “Young Will’s” name. He added just the right amount of humour, asking how the union with Scotland was going.

Reese’s passion for John Heminges’s life was obvious in his one-hour act, which he had researched and written himself. He laughed, “I see myself almost as his reincarnation”.

At the end, Reese brought a tear to the eye as he begged the audience to spread Will’s name and ask that they might remember him, Heminges, too.

The performance was complemented by Jean-Noel Vandaele’s art, which depicts scenes from Shakespeare’s plays. Vandaele uses a unique pencil technique which is precise and effective.

On show until February 27, the figures in Vandaele’s work do not have eyes, yet they portray so much emotion. His most famous figure is Yello Head, who regularly appears in his work. At the minute he does not sell his work, although he will soon start selling prints to meet rising demand.

This event was produced by Mei Wilshire, who runs the Theatre and Art Performance York project, which produces monthly events at St Columba’s.

For more information, visit: artperformancespace.co.uk

- Bethany Copeland