Community cinema in Barnsley celebrates 50th anniversary of the film Kes
6 March 2019
A pop-up community cinema in Barnsley is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic film Kes with a special screening next week.
The screening will take place at the newly relaunched Futurist cinema at Milton Hall in Elsecar on Tuesday 12 March.
WE Great Place is behind the revival of the Futurist cinema. It has joined forces with the Dearne Valley Landscape Partnership (DVLP) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Kes and relive some of its iconic moments.
The screening forms part of the #Kes50 project which was launched last year by artists Patrick Murphy and Anton Want, supported by the DVLP. The project celebrates the 50th anniversary of the publication of the novel, A Kestrel for a Knave written by Barnsley author Barry Hines, and the subsequent film.
Limited-edition prints by the artists will be on show on the night and will be gifted to audience members as a souvenir of the event.
Artist Patrick Murphy said: “Barry Hines’ book and the subsequent film are just as relevant today as they were 50 years ago. I think Kes is a metaphor for all of us when trying to do something you love against adversity. I can't think of any better time to reflect on this message than the current challenges facing our society and to be able to screen this in Barry Hines’ home town is very special.”
Before the film the mini trailer ‘Of the River’ will be shown. The short film has been made for the DVLP by artists Hayley Youell, Andy Seward and James Lockey and documents the changing landscape of the Dearne Valley.
Claire Farley, project officer at the Dearne Valley Landscape Partnership, said: “We are thrilled to be hosting one of the greatest British drama films of the 20th century at the Futurist cinema, in partnership with WE Great Place. The film has legendary status in Barnsley and the event will be an opportunity for people to reminisce.
“We’re also really looking forward to showcasing ‘Of the River’ which celebrates the history of the River Dearne through beautiful sounds and imagery.”
The community cinema is funded by WE Great Place in partnership with Cinema for All and the Forge Community Partnership.
WE Great Place is a three-year partnership between Barnsley Council, Rotherham Council and the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust. The project is delivering a range of activities inspired by Wentworth Woodhouse and the Earl Fitzwilliam’s model industrial village at Elsecar. It is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and Arts Council England (ACE).
Tickets for Kes are now sold out. The next Futurist screening is on 16 April showing the Avengers: Infinity War. Visit the WE Great Place Facebook page for details.
This press release was prepared by Capital B Media, a public relations and media training agency based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. For more information, please visit www.capitalbmedia.co.uk.
