Wicked is the highly anticipated prequel to The Wizard of Oz, based on the hit Broadway musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman. This epic fantasy tells the untold story of two iconic figures—Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), a misunderstood young woman born with green skin, and Glinda (Ariana Grande), a popular, ambitious student. Set at Shiz University, the film follows their unlikely friendship as they navigate prejudice, power, and the dark political forces in the Land of Oz. While Glinda basks in privilege, Elphaba’s defiance of the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) leads her down a path that transforms her into the Wicked Witch of the West. As their lives take opposing directions, their choices ripple across Oz, forever altering its future. Featuring stunning performances and iconic music, Wicked delivers a reimagined origin story of the witches of Oz, challenging what it truly means to be “Wicked.”
Moana 2 is the thrilling sequel to Disney's beloved 2016 animated musical. This time, Moana, now a seasoned wayfinder, receives an unexpected call from her ancestors that leads her on a daring new adventure beyond the familiar shores of Motunui.
Accompanied by the ever-powerful demigod Maui and a fresh crew of unlikely seafarers, Moana embarks on a journey deep into the far seas of Oceania. Their mission: to break an ancient curse that threatens a long-lost island once vital to her ancestors. Along the way, Moana and her companions must face dangerous waters, hidden islands, and mysterious foes—including a formidable sea monster.
The third instalment brings Paddington's story to Peru as he returns to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who now resides at the Home for Retired Bears. With the Brown Family in tow, a thrilling adventure ensues when a mystery plunges them into an unexpected journey through the Amazon rainforest and up to the mountain peaks of Peru.
The incredible ensemble cast includes Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Antonio Banderas, Olivia Colman, Julie Walters, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, Carla Tous and Jim Broadbent. Ben Whishaw and Imelda Staunton both return as the voices of Paddington and Aunt Lucy.
From legendary director Ridley Scott, Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.
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A celebration of youth, friendship and the everlasting magic of the movies, Cinema Paradiso won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and is considered a classic of world cinema. Restored in 4K.
Giuseppe Tornatore’s loving homage to the cinema tells the story of Salvatore, a successful film director, returning home for the funeral of Alfredo, his old friend who was the projectionist at the local cinema throughout his childhood.
Soon memories of his first love affair with the beautiful Elena and all the highs and lows that shaped his life come flooding back, as Salvatore reconnects with the community he left 30 years earlier.
A homage to the inspirational power of the moving image, played out to a gorgeous score by the maestro Ennio Morricone..
Screening as part of our year-long season - CINEMA ON SCREEN
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The lives of three women intersect and overlap in a haunting drama that sees the city of Mumbai play a central role. Prabha, Anu and Parvaty are employees at a hospital in Mumbai. They grapple daily with the opportunities and hardships of existence in the city. Balancing an immersive verité style with a touch of the surreal, Payal Kapadia’s Cannes Grand Prix-winning drama captures the many shades of working-class life in Mumbai. The result is a profound and deeply humanist meditation on urban migration and dislocation.
Neil’s Pick of the Month and in his Top 3 films of 2024
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Fundraising evening in aid of St Mary's House and Church, Woodbridge - at the heart of the Market Hill!
We are delighted to welcome Griff back to The Riverside stage, join him as he shares more funny observations and comic stories. Griff rambles on the developing national permacrisis. Age. Family. Fraud. Nostalgia. The Tik Tok generation. Crocodile smuggling and noodling in Australia. Travel, dogs, hotels, drink and midnight trains. He takes questions from the audience and lets rip as his associations wander.
Away from the stage, Griff is best known for his countless TV appearances, including as the star of ten series of Smith & Jones and one quarter of the ground breaking Not The Nine O’Clock News, whilst his multiple documentary series – most recently Griff’s Canadian Adventure (Channel 4) – have been critically acclaimed ratings hits.
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The documentary film Oyster Land spends time with the oystermen of Mersea Island, Essex and explores the ancient oyster culture of the city of Colchester. It’s an atmospheric journey of working on the waters of an estuary that has sustained a local trade for thousands of years.
Directors statement
"Throughout the two-and-a-half year production, I have been sincerely touched by the timeless simplicity and dedicated continuation of an ancient way of life. Towards the end of the editing process, I couldn’t help but realise that I’d made a film about the fundamental struggle of survival. It was always important for me not to romanticise the life of the oystermen, for the north sea wind, the ice cold rain, the gruelling dredging and the fear of a bleak future are all daily struggles for the Blackwater oysterman. Similar to how an oyster soaks up all the flavour from the estuary where it grows, I wanted my film to feel like the place it was filmed in. The film needed to capture the alluring atmosphere of Mersea Island, a feeling I find so poignant when crossing the ancient Saxon causeway into this land of the oyster."
We are delighted that the film's director, Matthew Harrison, will be joining us to introduce his film with some live maritime music beforehand and talk about the film after the screening!
For more information visit http://www.eudo-films.co.uk/
Wind, Tide & Oar is a compelling exploration of engineless sailing, shot on 16mm film over three years. The film delves into the experiences of those who travel solely by harnessing the natural elements alone, following a diverse array of traditional boats and uncovering the unique rhythms and motivations of engineless navigation.
Journeying through rivers, coastlines, and open seas, spanning the UK, the Netherlands, and France, Wind, Tide & Oar creates a contemplative space, addressing themes of ecology, heritage, traditional skills, and maritime history. Using a 1960s hand-wound camera, Wahl offers a poetic and intimate perspective on a millennia-old craft, upended by the invention of mechanised power.
Through the film’s reveries, sailing becomes a means to explore our interaction with and responsibility to the environment. It invites deep reflection on our relationship with nature, our understanding of and commitment to sustainability, and our care for the world around us.
The film is shot around Suffolk, Cornwall and Essex.
PREVIEW SCREENING AS THIS WILL NOT BE OFFICIALLY RELEASED UNTIL APRIL 2025
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Please note this screening is part of Woodbridge Film Society's 2024/2025 Season and therefore not open to the public. You can read more about the Film Society and how to join here
Two childhood friends meet after years apart and rekindle a deep bond, in Celine Song’s remarkably assured feature debut.
This outstanding first feature by Celine Song is a beautiful, deeply romantic modern love story that embraces destiny, nostalgia and the immigrant experience. Na Young’s family emigrated from Seoul to Canada when she was 12. She left behind and lost contact with her childhood best friend Hae Sung. A decade later, Na Young is now ‘Nora’, an aspiring New York playwright. She becomes curious as to the whereabouts of her playground sweetheart, so searches for him online, only to find him looking for her.
Song’s profound romantic drama is an astonishing debut. Greta Lee and Teo Yoo bring nuance and sensitivity to their portrayal of Na Young and Hae Sung at different points in their lives, drawing out the subtleties of their internal selves. The relationship unfolds against a gorgeously shot backdrop, which is complemented by Daniel Rossen and Christopher Bear’s (Grizzly Bear) elegant score. A divine cinematic experience, this is what we go to the movies for.
The film is partly in English and in Korean with English subtitles
The latest film from John Crowley is a poignant British romantic drama, strikingly led by Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield.
Rather than a meet-cute, restaurateur Almut and recent divorcee Tobias’s first encounter is quite literally a car crash. After such a memorable meeting, an instant spark forms between the pair, overpowering any disagreements they may have about matrimony and children in their future. However, this romance is far from a fairytale when the cruel realities of mortality creep into Tobias and Almut’s lives, leaving them to reassess what they want from their careers and the life they are building together. Spanning the highs and lows of a decades-long relationship, Crowley’s (Brooklyn) drama is a fresh, funny and deeply moving romance that, thanks to Pugh and Garfield’s incredible chemistry, feels authentic and alive.
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Inspired by Chris Marker’s La Jetée and with overtones of Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker, Asif Kapadia delivers an unsettling commentary on the state of the world today… and tomorrow.
Director’s Statement: 2073 is about a feeling of dread at what is happening and being normalised around the world. The film started after seeing Brexit happen through lies and corruption in the UK, I felt I had to make a film to understand why the world seemed to be moving towards lies, authoritarianism, violence. I interviewed journalists around the world, was I going crazy, or was something happening? The journalists agreed, there was a global trend, a democratic recession, technology played a huge part and this was also helping the destruction of the planet's ecosystem. 2073 has come out of those interviews and research. My aim was to connect the dots between many complex issues and countries in a single cinematic film.
Asif Kapadia is an Academy Award, BAFTA, Grierson and Grammy Award winning film director, writer and producer and one of the most influential filmmakers of our generation. Perhaps best known for his acclaimed trilogy of films AMY, SENNA and DIEGO MARADONA, he also directed eps of the MINDHUNTER series for Netflix, series directed and exec produced the critical hit music series 1971: The Year Music Changed Everything (AppleTV+) and he also co directed and exec produced the mental health series THE ME YOU CAN’T SEE (AppleTV+). We are delighted to welcome him back to The RIverside stage to present his new work.
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Olivier award-winning director Damiano Michieletto (Carmen, Cavalleria rusticana/Pagliacci) returns to The Royal Opera for a new production of Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann. Conductor Antonello Manacorda, with whom Michieletto previously collaborated on Carmen, leads Juan Diego Flórez and Leonardo Caimi, who share the role of the poet E.T.A. Hoffmann, Alex Esposito as the Four Villains, Julie Boulianne as Nicklausse and Ermonela Jaho, Olga Pudova and Marina Costa-Jackson as Hoffmann’s unforgettable trio of lovers.
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Helsinki, 1945. The end of the war brings a new sense of artistic and social freedom for painter Tove Jansson. Modern art, dizzying parties and an open relationship with a married politician: Her unconventional life puts her at odds with her sculptor father's strict ideals.
Tove's desire for liberty is put to the test when she meets theatre director Vivica Bandler. Her love for Vivica is electric and all-consuming but Tove begins to realise that the love she truly yearns has to be reciprocated. As she struggles with her personal life, her creative endeavours take her in an unexpected direction. While focusing her artistic dreams on her painting, the work that started as a side project, the melancholic, haunting tales she told scared children in bomb shelters, rapidly takes on a life of its own.
The exploits of the Moomins, infused with inspiration from her own life, bring Tove international fame and financial freedom. There's a daily comic strip, a stage play and stories that continue to delight people around the world. But as she begins to find her artistic identity she has to learn to find herself. Her unrequited love for Vivica is preventing her true liberty and only by learning to break away from her can she truly be free.
TOVE is a captivating drama about the creative energy of an iconic talent and her turbulent search for identity, desire and freedom.
In poor health, Maria Callas wanders around a picturesque Paris as she recounts to an adoring journalist the highs of her career and litany of past loves. Angelina Jolie gives a transforming performance, capturing the myriad layers and masks of this legendary singer’s personality, from pithy to heartbreakingly vulnerable, while showing flashes of the personality that saw her idolised as an opera star. Featuring a stellar cast that includes Valeria Golino, Pierfrancesco Favino and Alba Rohrwacher, Maria is a stunning addition to Larraín’s portrait of iconic women subjected to an alarming degree of scrutiny, while the world looked on.
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“How do you film the life of an artist as protean, elusive, egomaniacal, imaginative, surprising, and heavily mythologized as Bob Dylan? Haynes’s playful, gutsy biopic, in which six actors take turns embodying one of America’s most legendary musicians, considers that question and swallows it whole. It was in Haynes’s movie that Heath Ledger gave one of his best performances, but the star of the show is Cate Blanchett, who turns Dylan’s rock-star persona into a heroic, electrifying showcase for her own remarkable gifts.”
Screening in preparation for the forthcoming new Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, which screens at The Riverside in early February.
Luca Guadagnino and Challengers writer Justin Kuritzkes transport us to Mexico City in the 1940s with their adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ semi-autobiographical novel. Daniel Craig dazzles as William Lee, an outcast American expat who becomes infatuated with an elusive younger man while living in Mexico City. He also revels in the city’s nightlife and its colourful, larger-than-life characters. Jason Schwartzman, Lesley Manville and impressive newcomer Drew Starkey populate Guadagnino’s richly evocative and sensual film, which features a typically immersive score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
Jesse Eisenberg cements his reputation as a gifted filmmaker with this witty and heartfelt portrait of two estranged cousins honouring their roots.
Benji and David travel to Poland to pay respects to their Jewish grandmother. No sooner are they on the road, they realise why they don’t spend much time together anymore. Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin dazzle in their roles as the familial odd-couple, trading witty barbs and sobering ruminations on mid-adulthood growing pains, in this deftly scripted film full of humour and hope.
When Romy (Nicole Kidman), starts cheating on her urbane theatre director husband (Antonio Banderas), it’s not because their sex life has diminished. But when he goes to sleep, Romy sneaks out of the room to finish, alone, what she clearly couldn’t achieve with him. When Romy meets Samuel (Harris Dickinson), an impertinent intern at her company who can intuit more about her than she intends to share — and who’s happy to take control — it’s only a matter of time before they find themselves in a seedy hotel together. They wrestle, literally and figuratively, over a twisty power dynamic. Romy’s age and position give her an advantage, but as Samuel reminds her, he could ruin her life with one phone call.
A gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.
Written and directed by Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse) with an all-star cast that includes Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney, and Willem Dafoe.
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Timothée Chalamet stars and sings as Bob Dylan in James Mangold’s new film.
New York, early 1960s. Against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene and tumultuous cultural upheaval, an enigmatic 19-year-old from Minnesota arrives in the West Village with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. As he forms his most intimate relationships during his rise to fame, he grows restless with the folk movement and, refusing to be defined, makes a controversial choice that culturally reverberates worldwide.
Nominated for Three 2025 Golden Globes: Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture—Drama (Timothée Chalamet), Best Actor for a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture (Edward Norton), and Best Motion Picture—Drama
"Like its subject has done so many times in his six-decade career, this one exceeds expectations... Mangold’s approach demands a great deal of Chalamet, and he nails it... It gives the film an electricity that biopics almost always lack, feeling urgent instead of merely like a jukebox that’s been played a hundred times." RogerEbert.com
"While we’ve seen that kind of portrait of an artist before—surely most of the greats have at least a dash of cruel vanity in them—Chalamet makes it fresh. To watch him is to feel what so many other characters in the film do: an affection and a curious sense of loss as he drifts away into the lonely mists of talent and fame." Vanity Fair
Advisory note: A Complete Unknown contains several sequences with flashing lights that may affect those who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy or have other photosensitivities.
A screening of the stage concert of the musical phenomenon, filmed at the Gielgud Theatre.
To mark the 40th anniversary of the world’s most popular musical, a unique opportunity to experience the spectacular staged concert version on the big screen featuring an all-star cast including Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Matt Lucas and John Owen Jones.
With a cast and orchestra of over 65 and including the songs I Dreamed A Dream, Bring Him Home, One Day More and On My Own, this sensational staged concert is not to be missed!
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Please note this screening is part of Woodbridge Film Society's 2024/2025 Season and therefore not open to the public. You can read more about the Film Society and how to join here
Suitable for all ages, this wordless nature documentary showcases the spectacular forest ecosystem supported by a majestic, 210-year-old French oak tree. Dispensing with voiceover, the film instead fuses innovative camerawork with environmental sounds and a vibrant score to immerse the viewer in diverse life stories from root to branch. Its cast of characters includes ants, acorn weevils, field mice, squirrels, Eurasian jays and tawny owls. The result is a mesmerising kaleidoscope of arboreal adventure, as entertaining as it is educational.
David Tennant (Doctor Who, Broadchurch) and Cush Jumbo (The Good Wife, Criminal Record) lead a stellar cast in an ‘enthralling’ (★★★★★ Daily Telegraph) new production of Shakespeare’s MACBETH, filmed live at the Donmar Warehouse in London, especially for the big screen. Unsettling intimacy and brutal action combine at breakneck speed as Max Webster (Life of Pi, Henry V) directs this tragic tale of love, murder, and nature’s power of renewal. With staging ‘full of wolfish imagination and alarming surprise’ (★★★★★ The Guardian), the immersive 5.1 cinema surround sound places the audience inside the minds of the Macbeths, asking are we ever really responsible for our actions?
TICKETS ON SALE 16TH OCTOBER
Friend of The Riverside, Mike Leigh, returns with this uncompromising, yet heartfelt, portrait of contemporary family life in London.
Sisters Pansy and Chantal are chalk and cheese, but their close bond is the foundation that their extended family is built upon. Lately, life has proven too much for Pansy, her anguish manifests in relentless criticism of the world, leaving her husband Curtley, son Moses and Chantal walking on eggshells. Things come to a head over the course of a Mother’s Day weekend. Rarely have the nuances of familial relations been so accurately captured on screen. Working with regular collaborators Dick Pope (cinematography), Jacqueline Duran (costume design), Gary Yershon (music) and Suzie Davis (production design), Hard Truths ranks with Leigh’s finest films. Michelle Austin, David Webber and Tuwaine Barrett excel as members of the Pansy family. But in reuniting with Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Secrets & Lies), audiences are treated to a performance so intimate in its details, it could almost be moments from a home movie.
Reuniting the director, writer and stars of FORREST GUMP– HERE is an original film about multiple families and a special place they inhabit. The story travels through generations, capturing the most relatable of human experiences. Zemeckis directs from a screenplay by Eric Roth and him. Told much in the style of the acclaimed graphic novel by Richard McGuire on which it is based, Tom Hanks and Robin Wright star in a tale of love, loss, laughter and life, all of which happen right HERE. The film also stars Paul Bettany, Kelly Reilly and Michelle Dockery, and is produced by Zemeckis, Jack Rapke, Derek Hogue and Bill Block.
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Join us for an afternoon of fast moving, hard hitting, toe tapping contemporary jazz from a spectacular 18 piece big band that features soloists and ensemble players from around East Anglia.
Horn Factory perform an impressive and extensive range of contemporary big band jazz by composers such as Buddy Rich, Bob Mintzer, Quincy Jones, Oliver Nelson, Maynard Ferguson, James Morrison, Bobby Shew, Sammy Nestico and Gordon Goodwin, plus arrangements of music normally associated with smaller groups, including Thelonious Monk, Joe Henderson, Chuck Mangione, Chick Corea and Horace Silver.
“There is nothing quite like the sound of a Big Band up close . Not to be missed!”
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Join the Company of Four for a purr-fect February half-term pantomime treat!
Come and see plucky Dick Whittington on his quest for fame and fortune. Along the way he’ll experience the adventure of a lifetime - meeting a new feline friend, battling rats and falling in love - but will he find himself on the path to becoming a West End star?
Get ready for a joyful tale, featuring an amazing cast of characters, sensational song and dance numbers and wonderful costumes. Grab your panto tickets and get ready for a show that'll leave you feline PAWsitevly magical!
*Wed 19 Feb 14:00 will be a relaxed and British Sign Language performance
Tickets go on sale to Friends of the Company of Four on Wednesday 5th & Thursday 5th December, then general public from Friday 6th December
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Three-time Olivier Award-winner Sharon D Clarke is joined by Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who; Sex Education) in this joyful reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy. While assuming the role of a dutiful guardian in the country, Jack lets loose in town under a false identity. Meanwhile, his friend Algy adopts a similar facade. Hoping to impress two eligible ladies, the gentlemen find themselves caught in a web of lies they must carefully navigate. Max Webster (Life of Pi) directs this hilarious story of identity, impersonation, and romance, filmed live from the National Theatre in London.
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Out hunting, Prince Siegfried chances upon a flock of swans. One among them transforms into the beautiful human Odette and he is immediately enamoured. But Odette is bound by a spell which keeps her captive as a swan during the day. Can Siegfried free her? Tchaikovsky’s sensational score combines with the evocative imagination of choreographer Liam Scarlett and designer John Macfarlane to heighten the dramatic pathos of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov’s quintessential ballet classic. Opening in Spring and returning in Summer, Swan Lake remains to this day one of the best-loved works in the classical ballet canon.
Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock classic Jesus Christ Superstar returns to its roots with this sensational performance filmed in the UK during the Live Arena Tour.
An incredible cast including Tim Minchin as Judas Iscariot, Melanie Chisholm as Mary Magdalene, Chris Moyles as King Herod and Ben Forster as Jesus Christ, perform hit songs including “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” “Gethsemane,” “Heaven on Their Minds,” “Everything’s Alright,” “King Herod’s Song” and “Superstar” in an exciting and contemporary interpretation.
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Please note this screening is part of Woodbridge Film Society's 2024/2025 Season and therefore not open to the public. You can read more about the Film Society and how to join here
The stunning and utterly compelling directorial debut of Riley Keough (star of Daisy Jones and The Six) and Gina Gammell, winner of Cannes’ Caméra d'Or
At 23, Bill (Jojo Bapteise Whiting) just wants to make something of himself.
Whether it’s syphoning gas, delivering goods or breeding Poodles, he is determined to carve his way to the “American Dream”.
Meanwhile, 12-year-old Matho (LaDainian Crazy Thunder) can’t wait to become a man.
Desperate for approval from his young, unavailable father, a series of destructive decisions turns Matho’s life upside down and he finds himself unequipped to deal with the harsh realities of the adult world.
A powerful tale of life, hope and belonging created over a period of four years in collaboration with members of the Pine Ridge Reservation.
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HOST - KEITH FARNAN
“Brilliant, thought-provoking and laugh out loud funny” – TIME OUT
“Artful, satirical…with a lightness of touch and a hefty helping of roguish Celtic charm” – THE SUNDAY TIMES
Keith Farnan is an internationally renowned Irish comedian who has appeared on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Montreal’sJust for Laughs, Showtime’s Live from Amsterdam with Russell Peters as well as hosting Money, Money, Money, his own stand-up documentary for RTEwhich explored the financial collapse in Ireland.
MIKE GUNN
Early in his career Mike was supporting the likes of Jo Brand and Alan Davies and recently supported Lee Mack on his huge UK tour. He now headlines at all the top comedy venues in the UK and is rapidly reaching cult status on the circuit. He has performed internationally, taking his talent to Hong Kong, Ireland, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia and to Australia at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, where he completed a five-week sell-out season.
He also had the dubious honour of being the first comic to ever play in Kuantan, East Malaysia and has entertained the troops in the Falkland Islands. Mike has also taken two solo shows to the Edinburgh Festival. His first performance saw him adopt the character of a funeral director in his show ‘Good Grief’ for which he received rave reviews. His follow up show at the festival was the provocative show: “Uncut”. A departure from straight stand-up, this took a comedic look at drug addiction and recovery. In 2012 Mike and his touring partner Sean Collins completed a 35 date sell out UK tour.
Television appearances include Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow (BBC1), Celebrity Deal or no Deal (CH 4), Harry Hill’s TV Burp (ITV), Al Murray’s sitcom ‘Time Gentlemen Please’ (Sky), Soccer AM (Sky 1), The Comedy Store (Comedy Central), Live At Jongleurs (CH5), and The Gas (CH4). He is a regular on the Sky Poker channel and has also been a contributor for The Guardian. He has written for Time Out, The List, The 11 O’clock Show (CH4) and Match of The Day Magazine. even though he hates football.
“One of the 10 leading stand-ups in Britain” – Independent on Sunday
DON BISWAS
Don Biswas is one of the gems of the circuit. A politically charged gag merchant who likes to cover a wide range of subjects including his Asian upbringing, his neurodiversity as someone with dyspraxia, ADHD, and ASD and even the most important of topics.. conspiracy theories. Don has gained huge admiration off all corners of the circuit.
Don is now a regular face in comedy clubs across the UK. Alongside that Don recently recorded a comedy special for BBC Radio 4 entitled ‘Neurotopical’ and has appeared on Radio 4’s 13 Million Club, Rosie Jones’s Boxticker as well as UKTV Digitals Rosie Jones’s Disabled Comedy Extravaganza and BBC Onlines Future Food Stars
His unique style has seen him support John Williams on tour, perform in the USA (Silicon Valley & New York) & Switzerland
MARTIN WESTGATE
Martin is one of the 'go to' acts in Norfolk, an accomplished MC and is resident MC of Norfolk based Hooma Comedy Club. He has written and performed stand up sets and sketches for the BBC New Comedy Show, hosted the Sense of Hooma Podcast; and the online show 'Sunday Roast'. supporting Gary Meikle and Carl Hutchinson on their Norwich legs of their tours.
Line up is subject to change
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"Frida" chronicles the life Frida Kahlo shared unflinchingly and openly with Diego Rivera, as the young couple took the art world by storm. From her complex and enduring relationship with her mentor and husband to her illicit and controversial affair with Leon Trotsky, to her provocative and romantic entanglements with women, Frida Kahlo lived a bold and uncompromising life as a political, artistic, and sexual revolutionary.
Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón was a Mexican painter known for her many portraits, self-portraits, and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. Inspired by the country's popular culture, she employed a naïve folk art style to explore questions of identity, postcolonialism, gender, class, and race in Mexican society. Her paintings often had strong autobiographical elements and mixed realism with fantasy. In addition to belonging to the post-revolutionary Mexicayotl movement, which sought to define a Mexican identity, Kahlo has been described as a surrealist or magical realist. She is also known for painting about her experience of chronic pain.
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This multi award-winning show captured recently at the Sadler’s Wells Peacock Theatre is an extraordinary
musical journey paying homage to Janis Joplin and her biggest musical influences. Like a comet that burns far
too brightly to last, Janis Joplin exploded onto the music scene in 1967 and, almost overnight, became the
queen of rock & roll. The unmistakable voice, filled with raw emotion and tinged with Southern Comfort, made
her a must-see headliner from Monterey to Woodstock. Fuelled by such unforgettable songs as “Me and Bobby
McGee,” “Piece of My Heart”, “Mercedes Benz”, “Cry Baby” and “Summertime”, a remarkable cast and
breakout performances. A Night with Janis Joplin, written and directed by Randy Johnson, is a musical
journey celebrating Janis and her biggest musical influences—icons like Aretha Franklin, Etta
James, Odetta, Nina Simone and Bessie Smith, who inspired one of rock ‘n roll’s greatest legends.
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Shakespeare’s great love story is brilliantly retold through this modern ballet classic celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025. The fervent longing of the star-crossed lovers is perfectly captured by Kenneth MacMillan’s impassioned choreography. The flourishing of young love is just as present in Romeo and Juliet's meeting on the balcony as in their final moments when they desperately cling to life in the tomb.
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Come and enjoy a fantastic evening of entertainment jam-packed with non-stop hits, big-screen action, expert narrative and lots of fun.
You will be taken on a journey through several decades of pop as we celebrate the music of Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and The Beatles’ George Harrison, as well as the collective genius that was The Traveling Wilburys.
Although the Wilburys never toured, here you have the chance to experience what it might have been like to see them live, as we explore their many collaborative hits.
Now in its ninth year of successful touring this popular show is an up-tempo feel-good celebration of classics such as Pretty Woman, Mr Blue Sky, Please Please Me, End of The Line, Handle With Care, Free Falling, Blowin’ in the Wind, Tweeter and the Monkey Man, Heading for the Light, Only the Lonely and many more.
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Seven-time BAFTA Award-winner Steve Coogan (Alan Partridge, The Trip) plays four roles in the world premiere stage adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s comedy masterpiece Dr. Strangelove.
When a rogue U.S General triggers a nuclear attack, a surreal race takes place, seeing the Government and one eccentric scientist scramble to avert global destruction.
This explosively funny satire is led by a world-renowned creative team including Emmy Award-winner Armando Iannucci (The Thick of It, Veep) and Olivier Award-winner Sean Foley (The Upstart Crow, The Play What I Wrote).
Based on the Academy Award® nominated film, Billy Elliot the Musical has won the hearts of millions since it opened in London’s West End in 2005. Set in a northern mining town, against the background of the 1984/85 miners’ strike, Billy’s journey takes him out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and whole community and changes his life forever. The original creative team behind the film, including writer Lee Hall (book & lyrics), director Stephen Daldry, and choreographer, Peter Darling, is joined by music legend Elton John (music) to produce a funny, uplifting and spectacular theatrical experience that will stay with you forever.
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Drawing on Chinese and Italian theatrical tradition to evoke a richly-imagined, mythical Peking, Andrei Șerban’s dazzling production is a ‘blazing masterpiece’ (Financial Times). Rafael Payare and Francesco Ivan Ciampa conduct Puccini’s opera of love and revenge, with Sondra Radvanovsky and Ewa Płonka sharing the title role and SeokJong Baek and Gwyn Hughes Jones sharing the role of Calaf.
In the final months of his life Puccini struggled to depict Calaf's triumph: he died before finishing the final act of this grand opera. Turandot was completed by Franco Alfano two years later and given its premiere in 1926 at La Scala, Milan.
Turandot has gone on to have great worldwide success.
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The Impressionists are the most popular group in art history - millions flock every year to marvel at their masterpieces. But, to begin with, they were scorned, penniless outsiders.
1874 was the year that changed everything; the first Impressionists, “hungry for independence”, broke the mould by holding their own exhibition outside official channels. Impressionism was born and the art world was changed forever.
What led to that first groundbreaking show 150 years ago? Who were the maverick personalities that wielded their brushes in such a radical and provocative way?
The spectacular Musée d’Orsay exhibition brings fresh eyes to this extraordinary tale of passion and rebellion. The story is told not by historians and curators but in the words of those who witnessed the dawn of Impressionism: the artists, press and people of Paris, 1874.
Made in close collaboration with the Musee d’Orsay and National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
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Please note this screening is part of Woodbridge Film Society's 2024/2025 Season and therefore not open to the public. You can read more about the Film Society and how to join here
Travis has just been released from prison and it quickly becomes apparent that everything has changed while he’s been gone. While girlfriend Candice is on the up and auditioning to star in a musical, teenage daughter Kenisha is struggling in school and her relationship with her mum is tense. When Travis buys Candice her dream dress for an audition, rather than smoothing over the family’s problems, it ends up creating even more… As secrets and desires left unsaid threaten to spill out, Travis is forced to re- examine who he is and how he wants to be perceived in the world.
A debut feature from writer and director Dionne Edwards, Pretty Red Dress features breakthrough performances from Natey Jones and newcomer Temilola Olatunbosun, as well as the chart-topping singer and West End actor Alexandra Burke in her first film role.
André Rieu has turned 75 and invites you to join him in celebrating his birthday as he sails through his hometown of Maastricht on a beautiful boat with his beloved Johann Strauss Orchestra by his side.
Our brand new cinema special is a tribute to André's childhood dream of forming his own orchestra and traveling the world. The film features a selection of André's favorite performances during his worldwide tours and some of the Johann Strauss Orchestra's finest moments with the maestro.
Most of these concerts have never been shown on the big screen before, so this is your chance to see André’s iconic classics for the first time. It's a big celebration – so come aboard and join us in bringing the unforgettable birthday party to the cinemas!
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At the end of Ibsen’s classic, ground breaking 1879 play, A Doll’s House Nora walks out on her marriage, home and young children. Playwright Lucas Hnath builds on Ibsen’s seminal work by imagining what happens when Nora returns years later with an urgent request. Old School Theatre Company presents Hnath’s rich, stand alone sequel, eloquently exploring traditional gender roles and social class still inherent in today’s society. A Doll’s House, Part 2 received its UK premiere at the Donmar Warehouse, London in 2022.
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Please note this screening is part of Woodbridge Film Society's 2024/2025 Season and therefore not open to the public. You can read more about the Film Society and how to join here
Robin Campillo, director of the acclaimed 120 BPM and Eastern Boys, mines the memories of his upbringing in post-colonial Madagascar to create a spellbinding, autobiographically inspired drama that mixes forms and textures to stunning and imaginative effect.
Inspired by his own childhood, the film is set in the early 1970s and follows eight-year-old Thomas growing up on a French Air Force base in recently independent Madagascar. From the innocent perspective of a child, the island is a paradise and a playground. But as adolescence grows near, he begins observing his parents and their circle of friends with new eyes, and childhood innocence slowly gives way to a more shadowy understanding of the hypocrisy and racism that defines France’s military involvement on the island.
As Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian beautifully summarised, ‘Robin Campillo has surrendered to the flow of memory to bring audiences a wonderfully personal film, created with tenderness, unsentimental artistry and visual flair.’
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Brentwood Mac is a charismatic musical ensemble dedicated to bringing the timeless melodies of Fleetwood Mac to life. Their repertoire spans all eras of the band, from the early Peter Green days (Albatross), to solo tracks by Lindsey Buckingham (Go Insane) and Stevie Nicks (Rooms on Fire). They play a wide selection of hits and a few lesser-known tracks too.
Founded by a group of passionate musicians who share a deep love for Fleetwood Mac's music, Brentwood Mac meticulously recreates the sound and essence of the original band. Their attention to detail in capturing the nuances of each era ensures an authentic and unforgettable experience for audiences.
From the haunting vocals of Stevie Nicks to the driving rhythms of Mick Fleetwood, Brentwood Mac pays homage to every member of Fleetwood Mac, delivering a performance that transports audiences back in time. Whether you’re a Fleetwood Mac enthusiast or a new listener, Brentwood Mac promises a night of captivating music that’s sure to leave you wanting more!
Following a string of sell-out shows we recommend you buy your tickets early to avoid disappointment.
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Love and death, gods and mortals, heroes and villains: it’s all here, in the thunderous second chapter of the Ring cycle. Following the glittering triumph of Das Rheingold in 2023, Barrie Kosky and Antonio Pappano plunge back into Wagner’s mythic universe. Christopher Maltman’s Wotan returns alongside an international cast including Elisabet Strid as Brünnhilde, Lise Davidsen as Sieglinde and Stanislas de Barbeyrac as Siegmund.
It has become the most performed opera of the cycle, loved and admired for its nuanced and intelligent exploration of complex family entanglements, expressed through music of astonishing power – perhaps nowhere more so than in the glorious music for the incestuous lovers Siegmund and Sieglinde.
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Michelangelo - Love and Death offers a cinematic journey through the great chapels and museums of Florence, Rome and the Vatican, to the print and drawing rooms of Europe, to explore Michelangelo's tempestuous life. The film goes in search of a greater understanding of this charismatic and enigmatic figure, both through his relationships with his contemporaries and his ongoing artistic legacy.
The film invites audiences to intimately examine Michelangelo’s art and artistic process - from the Carrara quarries where Michelangelo sourced his marble, to the new technology being used to attribute works. The film also offers a rare chance to get up close to the mesmerising Rothschild Bronzes, which, following an extensive research project carried out by Academics in Cambridge in 2015, were positively attributed to Michelangelo after over a century of debate.
Key contributors to the film include art critics Martin Gayford and Jonathan Jones, Deputy Director of the Vatican Museums Professor Arnold Nesselrath and contemporary artist Tania Kovats.
Filming locations include Casa Buonarroti in Florence, Carrara marble mines, the Medici Chapel and the Vatican. These beautiful locations, combined with high-resolution views of Michelangelo’s greatest works, convene to create a staggering visual experience.
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Please note this screening is part of Woodbridge Film Society's 2024/2025 Season and therefore not open to the public. You can read more about the Film Society and how to join here
Ulzii, a teenager from a poor neighbourhood in Ulaanbaatar, is determined to win a physics competition to get a scholarship. His illiterate mother finds a job in the countryside, leaving him and his younger brother and sister in the middle of winter.
Ulzii needs to find ways to keep their yurt warm and look after his siblings while preparing for the national competition.
If Only I Could Hibernate is the first Mongolian film to ever play in the official selection at Festival de Cannes.
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Please note this screening is part of Woodbridge Film Society's 2024/2025 Season and therefore not open to the public. You can read more about the Film Society and how to join here
Donya, a young Afghan who moved to Fremont, California after serving as a translator for the American army, spends her days working at a fortune cookie factory and her nights wide awake battling between her desire to rebuild her life and the overbearing guilt she carries within. In a bid to connect with the world, she sends an unconventional message through a fortune cookie. Tinged with Jarmuschian deadpan humour, this sensitive immigrant tale premiered in the 2023 Sundance NEXT section before playing at SXSW and Karlovy Vary and closed the 2023 Edinburgh International Film Festival.