A FREE and family-friendly exhibition is set to mark the 400th anniversary year of William Shakespeare’s death.

The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Well Said! exhibition opened at the weekend at Stratford-upon-Avon’s Royal Shakespeare Theatre and will continue through to mid-September.

It reveals some of the Bard’s most memorable and inspiring lines transformed into artworks, with many influential figures - such as renowned author Margaret Atwood, comedian, writer and actor Russell Kane, Tanika Gupta, the award-winning playwright, and forthcoming RSC Hamlet lead Paapa Essiedu - having chosen their favourite quotes.

These and others have been transformed by artists and craftspeople from a range of disciplines using textiles, illustrations, calligraphy, and audio and performance art, to interpret the quotes as artwork.

All will be on display in the theatre’s Paccar Room from 10am each day the theatre is open through until the time it closes - right up until September 18.

The exhibition will present work from illustrator Jonny Hannah, sound artist James Bulley, letterpress company Harrington & Squires, lettering sculptor Gary Breeze, graphics studio An Endless Supply, and seven other accomplished artists, all inspired by the words of Shakespeare.

Doc Brown, who selected the quote : ’The course of true love never did run smooth’ from A Midsummer Night’s Dream said of his choice: “Shakespeare had an uncanny knack for blending the profound with the relatable and this is one of the greater examples.”

The quote will be visually transformed by hand-painted sign makers The Brilliant Sign Company.

Among the works displayed will be a two-minute British Sign Language film by the Deafinitely Theatre - inspired by Sonnet 30; a stone sphere carved  by Gary Breeze inspired by a quote from Hamlet; and a crown inscribed with Islamic calligraphy by Soraya Syed inspired by a quote from Henry IV part II.