Nigel Hawthorne stars as the British monarch who seemingly became mentally disturbed during his reign and had to endure barbaric 'cures'. Based on Alan Bennett's acclaimed play, The Madness of King George takes a dark-humoured look at the mental decline of the King.
The film's story begins nearly three decades into George's reign, in 1788, as the unstable king begins to show signs of increasing dementia, from violent fits of foul language to bouts of forgetfulness. This weakness seems like the perfect chance to overthrow the unpopular George in favour of...
Following its creation on Studio Wayne McGregor's 2017 FreeSpace Program and first UK Tour, Richard Chappell Dance presents At the end we begin. The company's dynamic, compelling and first full-length work uses T.S. Eliot's classic series Four Quartets as a point of departure by representing each poem with four arresting and emotionally fuelled quartets of dance, named after each poem.
At the end we begin questions how time's circular nature affects our understanding of ourselves and inhabits the sensitive and sometimes turbulent landscape of Eliot's poetry...
From Madame de Pompadour in France, to Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire or Lady Hamilton in England, the 18th Century offers a number of iconic examples of mistresses and courtesans. Artists and writers responded eagerly to this cultural phenomenon, which saw females cast variously as ruthless social climbers or tragic heroines.
Join Dr Jenny Graham, Associate Professor in Art History at the University of Plymouth, for a lively examination of this compelling aspect of women’s history in the Age of Enlightenment. Jenny is an expert in French and British art history of the 18th and...
This season we are exploring landscapes with leading Photographer, Jem Southam, and have arranged a variety of films, talks and workshops to accompany his Exhibition: Birds, Rocks, Rivers, Islands in The Levinsky Gallery from Fri 18 Jan - Sat 16 Mar.
In Ken Loach’s iconic film, Kes, Billy Casper suffers abuse both at home and at school. At home his brother beats him, and his family neglects him. At school, most of his teachers ridicule and reject him, especially sadistic Mr Sugden. Like other downtrodden children in an outmoded social system, Billy appears headed for a menial job...
Two couples; one liberal, one conservative. One progressive, one traditional. One faithless, one faithful. Call It a Day stems from a real meeting with a traditional Amish couple in the US on a freezing snowy day in January 2009.
Greg Wohead is a writer, performer and live artist specialising in theatre performances, one-to-one pieces and audio works. His work has been seen at theatres and festivals in the UK, US and Europe and he is currently an Associate Artist at The Yard and Shoreditch Town Hall in London.
Call It a Day is co-commissioned by Theatre in the Mill, South...
Joshua and Symeon, PhD research students in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, explore how the geology and environment of the South West coastline can interact to produce the dramatic rockfalls captured by Jem Southam.
Hailed as ‘the greatest work of prose in 20th century science’, and inspiring scientists, artists and thinkers alike, On Growth and Form by the Scottish mathematical biologist D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson celebrates its 100th anniversary.
Matthew Jarron, curator of the D’Arcy Thomson Museum of Zoology at the University of Dundee will discuss the influence of D’Arcy Thompson’s writing.
*Please note, due to unforeseen circumstances, Peter Randall-Page will, unfortunately, not be able to be involved in this talk as previously advertised.
Celebrating literature and ‘words’ through a diverse range of art forms including theatre, film and more
A Star Wars actor, a Booker Prize shortlisted author, and the acclaimed director of one of the 1980's iconic black comedies – what’s not to love about the Plymouth Festival of Words?
Building on the success of the Plymouth International Book Festival, Plymouth Festival of Words celebrates words in all their forms...
In 1890, Anton Chekhov did a most un-Chekhovian thing: he battled 4,000 miles across Russia in order to conduct a survey of the penal colonies of Sakhalin Island. Michael Pennington brings that journey superbly – and shockingly – to life with a pungent one-man performance.
Pennington’s deep affection for Chekhov shines throughout the performance highlighting the intimate relationship that can miraculously bloom between reader and writer.
Michael is an actor, director and writer. Well known for his roles as Moff Jerjerrod in...
Irenosen Okojie's unique and highly imaginative critically acclaimed debut novel, Butterfly Fish deftly charts a dark, multigenerational tale of loss, legacy and inheritance.
Selected by Booker Prize winning author Ben Okri as a dynamic talent to watch, Butterfly Fish traverses modern London, the ancient kingdom of Benin and 1950's Nigeria.
Her second book, Speak Gigantular, a collection of surreal and unusual short stories was shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize. Join the award-winning author to discuss reimagining lost...
