Annand is a fine photographer who specialises in theatrical subjects. His pictures have often graced the pages of The Oxford Times beside reviews from such venues as the National Theatre, The Old Vic and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

At present (until February 16) there is a splendid exhibition of his work on display at the RSC’s Stratford headquarters. The Half, from London’s V&A, fills the walls of the Ferguson Room, which is above the bar at the Swan Theatre. Anyone lucky enough to have tickets for Wolf Hall or Bring Up the Bodies (or indeed for Wendy & Peter Pan at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre) should take the chance to visit.

Those familiar with theatre speak will know that ‘the half’ is the 35-minute period before curtain up, during which all but cast and crew are required to leave the area backstage as the actors make mental preparation for the performance ahead.

Granted a rare access at this special time, Annand has captured, mainly in black-and-white, some of the biggest names in the profession — including Judi Dench, Jeremy Irons, Daniel Craig and Cate Blanchett — engaging in the rituals they adopt as they make the transition into character.

Present, too, are a number of younger stars, including Ben Whishaw getting ready to play Hamlet, and Daniel Radcliffe in Martin McDonagh’s The Cripple of Inishmaan, which will soon be getting a Broadway run.

In a special version of the exhibition for the RSC, there are additional colour photographs of actors from recent company productions. They include David Tennant playing the title role in Richard II, which completes its run at London’s Barbican Theatre in nine days time.