VISITORS to the Star & Shadow Cinema in Newcastle this month are in for a treat with a programme featuring pioneers from the worlds of electronic music to film-making.
On Sunday, January 20, the cinema in Stepney Bank will be hosting a special gig night celebrating the work of Delia Derbyshire, the electronic music pioneer who died in 2001 at the age of 64.
Beginning at 8pm the evening will include a screening of the award-winning documentary The Delian Mode followed by a live question-and-answer session with the film’s director Kara Blake.
The Delian Mode is an experimental short revolving around the life and work of Derbyshire who is best known for her groundbreaking sound treatment of the original Doctor Who theme in 1963 and for her work with the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.
After the screening, Kara Blake will talk about her work then the rest of the night will include three performances of specially-commissioned live music.
They’ll be by Caro C – a piece promising a “vocal sonic journey”; contemporary classical composer Ailís Ní Ríain; and Naomi Kashiwagi who’ll be entering the realms of ‘gramophonica’, with a composition inspired by time spent at Delia Derbyshire archives in the University of Manchester.
Then on Wednesday, January 23, it’ll be ladies again in the spotlight at the cinema when, from 7.30pm, Underwire presents a free open night aimed at women who make films and would like to show their work.
Those interested - and they can be film-makers or members of the public - are invited to come along to show a film (just let the cinema know in advance) watch other works, or else just chat about working on films or meet like-minded people.
Then the next night, January 24, it’ll be the turn of The Cube Cinema Microplex, visiting from Bristol, for another special film night.
The Cube, a volunteer-run venue, will join its northern counterpart at 7.30pm as a film programmer offers up its screening choices.
It and the Star and Shadow Cinema make up the two UK venues that are part of the European Independent Cinema network Kino Climates.
For anyone who would like to become more involved with the Star & Shadow, the next volunteer induction night takes place there tomorrow from 6pm to 7pm.
For information, or for tickets to the above and other upcoming events, visit www.starandshadow.org.uk, email info@starandshadow.org.uk or call 0191 261 0066.
