Brighton (15) – 8pm Tue 1 Mar – £8
Based on Stephen Berkoff’s play Brighton Beach Scumbags. British stalwarts Phil Davis, Lesley Sharp, Marion Bailey and Larry Lamb star as two working class couples who return to Brighton where they first met, back in the 1960s. Times have changed, but they unfortunately haven’t. A podcast interview with the director Stephen Cookson will be available to members after the screening.
Leveret – 7.30pm Thu 3 Mar – from £17.50
Leveret is a unique collaboration between three of England’s finest folk musicians. Andy Cutting (button accordion), Sam Sweeney (fiddle) and Rob Harbron (concertina) are each regarded as exceptional performers and masters of their instruments. Together their performances combine consummate musicianship, compelling delivery and captivating spontaneity.
Film Festival Launch – Fri 4 Mar – from £6
Launch Night of the 2022 festival promises a mix of fresh insights into the film industry, input from guest speakers, short films, an overview of what’s in store during the festival and the screening of a main feature.
Stroud Film Festival – Chasing Mandela’s Rainbow – 8pm Tue 8 Mar – £8
Chasing Mandela’s Rainbow is an examination of the modern day South African education system and whether in a quarter of a century, the democratic government has achieved success or failure. At the heart of the film is the question – were Nelson Mandela’s very high education ideals realised? Gary Janks is a retired schoolteacher and first-time film maker, who answers this question through three very different students. This is a deeply moving and thought-provoking film, showing the unrelenting struggle to achieve Mandela’s dreams and portraying the often-painful reality.
Comedy Showcase – 7.30pm Wed 9 March – £6.50
Come and see the latest graduates from Chris Head’s Stroud stand-up course perform their first 5 minutes of stand-up. An uplifting and hilarious night. “Everyone managed to craft five minutes of comedy delivered with surprising confidence and pizazz on the night. The performances I saw were incredibly polished and (thankfully) very funny. I would never have guessed they were a bunch of first timers.” London Evening Standard (on a previous course showcase).
The Amy Winehouse Band in Concert presents Forever Amy – 8pm Fri 11 Mar – from £26
In this stunning retrospective show, Amy’s original band fronted by the exceptional young vocalist Bronte Shand, celebrate her era defining music and live performances. This is the only completely authentic re-imagining of the Amy Winehouse sound, featuring brilliantly staged lights and films. “Forever Amy” has become an unforgettable experience for audiences around the world which we are delighted to bring to you.
Emergence Exhibition – 10am-5pm Tue 15 Mar – Sat 19 Mar
An exhibition of portraiture and figurative studies by Katherine Bryan-Merret exploring the evolution of self, stepping into and journeying through motherhood. A deeply reflective personal body of work that digs into the psychological and physical metamorphosis that occurs through this transition.
Nouvelle Vague – 7.30pm Tue 15 Mar – from £29
Bossa Nova = Nouvelle Vague = New Wave. This transliteration was the starting point for Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux’s unique project, which, by appropriating the punk and post-punk cannon and running it through the Bossa Nova filter, reinvented the cover band genre, revealing new and brilliant talents along the way: Camille, Phoebe Killdeer, Nadeah, Mélanie Pain, and Liset Alea.
The Beatones – 8pm Fri 18 Mar – £19.50
Taking you back to when Britain ruled radio airwaves across the globe. Featuring hits from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Who, Herman’s Hermits, The Searchers, and more. This live musical extravaganza will transport you back to the greatest decade in music history – the 1960’s. From Merseybeat to Swinging London, get ready to experience those golden sounds of the 60’s delivered by a cast of the finest musical talent in the UK.
Where Art The Women? 8pm Sat 19 Mar – from £21
‘Where Art the Women?’ is an inclusive, not-for-profit project that aims to highlight, challenge and help address the gender inequality on stages in the UK grassroots music scene with a collaborative mix of art, music, spoken word, theatre, film, discussion and information.
In addition to an evening of live music, spoken word and DJs, featuring Zion Train, Muddy Summers & the DFWs, My Mate Dave, Bashema and Laura Taylor, there is a daytime exhibition, which will include information as well as art, film, photography, poetry and singing workshops, discussion on the gender imbalance issue and how audiences play a vital role, plus some wonderful busking outside.
Flats & Sharps – 7.30pm Sun 20 Mar – £15.50
Flats and Sharps are a four-piece bluegrass outfit from Penzance, Cornwall. Delivering energetic, enthusiastic and spirited Bluegrass to audiences all around the world, Flats and Sharps have been performing their unique take on this music for over eight years. Their music perfectly blends strong harmonies and stonking solos, their incredible stage presence and energy create an evening that’ll have you dancing, laughing and singing along in no time.
High Ground (15) – 8pm Tue 22 Mar – £8
Set against the stunning landscapes of 1930s Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia, High Ground chronicles young Aboriginal man Gutjuk, who in a bid to save the last of his family teams up with ex-soldier Travis to track down Baywara – the most dangerous warrior in the Territory, who is also his uncle. As Travis and Gujuk journey through the outback they begin to earn each other’s trust. An intense film, highly recommended.
GONG – 8.30pm Thu 24 Mar – from £19.50
The ever-metamorphosing entity that is GONG launches, as ever, into unknown – and unknowing – territory with a new tour for 2020, destined to be talked about, discussed, and argued over, up and down the land.
From its beginnings in a French commune in 1967, through the Virgin Records years, mismanagement, court cases, break-ups and rejoinings, deaths and rebirths – there has always been a continuous thread of beautiful, dangerous and extraordinary music.
Otway & Barrett – 8pm Fri 25 Mar – £16.50
Pigeonhole this duo at your peril, John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett. Still going after 40 years and still loved for their total in-yer-face originality, the contrast between the deadpan humor of Barrett and mad onstage antics of Otway are hilarious to watch.
The Last Cuckoo Night: Dennis Gould & Elvis McGonagall – 7pm Sat 26 Mar – £16.50
Films and Live Acts featuring Dennis Gould, Elvis McGonagall, Jonny Fluffypunk & Jeff Cloves
The Last Cuckoo Night: A screening of Mark Chaudoir’s documentary about the Stroud legend that is Dennis Gould – poet, activist, letterpress artist, cyclist and lover of the beautiful game. Also featuring a selection of short poetry films starring some of the UK’s top stand-up poets Kate Tempest, Polar Bear, Rob Auton & Bang Said the Gun as well as live stand-up performances by Dennis Gould, Jonny Fluffypunk & Jeff Cloves, all MC’d by Elvis McGonagall & his band The Resurrectors.
