A Merseyside arts festival will pay tribute to a late film director and a living local playwright later this year.
Educating Rita, based on the comedy drama by Whiston-born Willy Russell, screens as part of the 14th Annual Prescot Festival of Music & the Arts on Thursday 21 June. The 1983 film stars Julie Walters and Michael Caine (pictured), and earned them each an Oscar nomination, a BAFTA and a Golden Globe.
Celebrated director Lewis Gilbert—whose other hit movies included the James Bond films You Only Live Twice, The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker—passed away on 23 February, at the impressive age of 97.
The showing follows three sell-out screenings of Willy Russell’s Our Day Out at previous Prescot Festivals.
There’s plenty for cinema buffs in the rest of the 10-day festival. Daniel Bishop (pictured), Associate Organist of Liverpool Cathedral, will include his unique twist on some classic film themes as part of his concert on Sunday 17 June. And BOST, one of the North West’s most renowned musical theatre companies, will sing songs from your most beloved movie musicals on Saturday 23 June.
Other highlights include a spectacular opening night with Swingshift Big Band, appearances from Wingates Brass Band and Maghull Wind Orchestra, and a ‘Come & Sing’ performance of Fauré’s stirring Requiem to commemorate 100 years since the end of World War One.
“With film, musical theatre, jazz, poetry, classical and choral music, poetry, painting and more on the programme, we can safely say we are fulfilling our mission to encompass every aspect of the arts this year,” said Artistic Director Dr Robert Howard.
The festival runs from Friday 15 to Sunday 24 June 2018 in the historic Lancashire town of Prescot, Merseyside. Full programme information is online at www.prescotfestival.co.uk, and tickets go on sale on 1 May on the website and at Poco Coffee (30 Eccleston Street, Prescot, L34 5QJ).
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