• I photograph comedians! Photography by Andy Hollingworth will close on Sunday 31 May

• Exhibition of nearly 80 studio portraits, off-stage moments and live performances

• Comedy memorabilia on display includes a signed pair of Rik Mayall’s underpants.

A major exhibition of photography featuring comedy legends past and present currently on show at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery will close on Sunday 31 May.  

I photograph comedians! Photography by Andy Hollingworth, which opened on Wednesday 18 February in the museum’s Gas Hall, is an exhibition of nearly 80 studio portraits, images of rare contemplative moments off-stage and live stage performances.  

The exhibition has a strong local connection, featuring comedians from Birmingham and the West Midlands such as Jasper Carrott and Stewart Lee, as well as brand new, never-seen-before portraits of Lenny Henry, Joe Lycett, Jo Enright and Shazia Mirza taken by Hollingworth especially for this show.

Produced by Showtown, the museum of fun and entertainment in Blackpool, it celebrates some of the iconic comedy greats who entertained for decades, including Ken Dodd, Sean Lock, Rik Mayall and Victoria Wood, alongside portraits of current, established and rising stars, such as Maisie Adam, Rhod Gilbert, Rosie Jones, Sarah Millican and Paul Smith.  

The exhibition also contains items of comedy memorabilia such as costumes, backstage passes, programmes and tickets. Items on display include a tour jacket worn by Lenny Henry on his 1984 tour, a signed pair of Rik Mayall’s underpants, Joe Lycett’s teddy suit, a costume from Victoria Wood’s Dinnerladies and the ‘accordian’ handbag belonging to Janice Connolly’s comedy creation Mrs Barbara Nice.  

A free audio guide is available to accompany this exhibition, with 10 new audios recorded with Andy Hollingworth exclusively for this show.

Andy will also be leading a special lunchtime tour of the exhibition on Saturday 9 May, during which he will share the stories behind the photographs with visitors.

Exhibition photographer Andy Hollingworth said:

“I’m delighted that this retrospective of my work is being displayed at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery,  

“A particular highlight for me has been being involved in the programme of events running alongside the exhibition and to share my insights and experiences with so many visitors.”

Zak Mensah and Sara Wajid, co-chief executives of Birmingham Museums Trust, said:  

“Andy Hollingworth has spent over three decades documenting some of the most recognisable and influential figures in comedy. His work goes beyond traditional portraiture, telling stories through his images and giving a deeper appreciation of the personalities in his photographs.  

“Whether you are a fan of comedy, photography or contemporary portraiture, this exhibition offers a memorable and engaging experience which we encourage visitors not to miss.”

For more information, including opening hours and ticket details, please visit the Birmingham Museums website.