What’s that distant light on the Pennines? Why, it’s Mike Leigh’s Peterloo, encroaching upon your curiosity like a newly built textile mill on the edge of a Regency farming community.
It’s tipped to be the highlight of his career so far, with draughty north-westerly performances from the likes of Maxine Peake, Pearce Quigley and Monarch of the Glen’s own Archie MacDonald. Speculation here at Rio Towers is that you won’t be ‘clemming’ for top-drawer drama with such a future classic-to-be as this one. It arrives here soon, and charts the dramatic events that unfolded on St Peter’s Field, Manchester in 1819.
After a two year period of improvements, expansions and facelifts we’re incredibly proud to have been nominated for two prizes in the upcoming 2018 Screen Awards.
Being a modestly sized place, we’ve been shortlisted for Cinema of The Year in the 24 screens or under category. We face tough competition from the likes of the excellent Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle, a fellow independent. We’re also up for Cinema Marketing Campaign of the Year thanks to the success of our RioGeneration campaign that helped us build our second screen.
In other news, we’re looking forward to welcoming Fringe! Queer and Arts Fest back to the Rio in November. Founded in 2011 as a community-led response to cuts in arts funding, and the subsequent detrimental impact on LGBTQIA+ cultural output, its roster of films this year promises to be the best so far. The festival begins with When The Beat Drops, a film exploring bucking. Following that it also boasts The Wiz – the 1979 Oz themed musical singalong, produced by BlackOutUK – and SHAKEDOWN, a film which explores, for the first time, the eponymous female strip club in LA. Also be sure to book tickets for Dykes, Camera, Action! Described as the quintessential history of lesbian cinema, resplendent with names such as Ruby B. Rich, Barbara Hammer and Cheryl Dunye.
Finally, our Rocky Horror Picture Show shadow cast event is set to be even more special than we harped on about last week, as director Richard O’Brien is due to be there himself to sing along!
For more information and full listings, click here.
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