Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, UK
info@capitalofthefens.org.uk

Radical, Protest, Swingtime

Radical, Protest, Swingtime

This week it’s all about local people and places putting on events for us, we’re lucky to have so much. Keep an eye out for others, but here’s the ones I have seen.

The Gateway Film Festival runs for 10 days across the area including at The Luxe in Wisbech – a reflection of their community engagement and willingness to be involved in alternative festivals like this, not just showing the blockbusters. Starting in Peterborough on the 8th (this Friday) with “Tales from the Golden Age”, the festival also includes Bollywood, German animation, live poetry and more. The website www.gatewayfilmfestival.co.uk has them all listed. Coming to the Luxe are two collections of films, including newsreels, dating from 1902 to 1991, one set called “Welcome to Britain” and the other “Protest!” both showing the diversity of the people who live in Britain, and the struggles people have had to bring about changes for good. From the Suffragettes March in 1910, to a demonstration for access to the countryside in 1930 and a protest against fascists in 1936, there are fifteen in the “Protest!” collection alone. The “Welcome to Britain” collection includes the first Hindi-language film made in Britain, Polish Costume Dancing and a look at Liverpool’s China Town with David Yip.
Both collections are shown on the same evening, Thursday 14th It will be a thoughtful evening learning more about our immigrant and social history.

The next evening, Friday the 15th, is a charity event at the Angel Pub, for 50 Backpacks. These guys are doing amazing work supporting as many as they can with food, clothes and helping them get into accommodation. See their website, 50backpacks.org.uk or social media for more details, and enjoy an evening out, while raising funds for a worthy local cause.

Also on Friday, repeated on Saturday, is the latest offer from the Angles Theatre, a tribute to Swing – timeless classics which everyone can enjoy and imagine you’re in 50s Vegas! “This show is bound to have you swinging on a star all the way home!” Pop in to the Theatre on Alexandra Road for tickets or see the poster for contact details.

Saturday 16th, 1pm-3pm at Wisbech Library: Mia Hansson will be talking about her progress recreating the Bayeaux Tapestry. Her highly skilled needlework and attention to detail is inspiring to see, we’re lucky to have the opportunity.