Festive Film Favourites Tour Cathedrals this Christmas

Cathedrals across the country are opening their doors to cinema audiences this Christmas with screenings of festive film favourites: The Muppet Christmas Carol, Home Alone and It’s A Wonderful Life taking place at Sheffield, Coventry, Birmingham and Derby Cathedrals in December.

The screenings are part of an increasing trend in recent years exploring different uses of cathedral spaces; these have included a helter-skelter in Norwich Cathedral and a crazy golf course at Rochester Cathedral. Presented by QUAD, Derby’s centre for art, film and digital media, the festive screenings will celebrate cathedrals as places of gathering for the season.
 
QUAD has already shown film screenings in a number of Anglican cathedrals, including screenings of The Life of Brian and Sister Act in Derby and Coventry Cathedrals, but this is the first time that a series of films have been taken on tour nationwide.
 
“QUAD is proud to be working alongside these special heritage spaces this Christmas,” says Dr Alex Rock, QUAD’s Head of Technical and Commercial Services. “Our big screens are often used for outdoor screenings in summer and working alongside cathedrals during Advent provides us with an opportunity to celebrate the season in style, with a warm welcome for all. We hope the screenings bring new audiences into the cathedrals, and we’re looking forward to plenty more film screenings in cathedrals for years to come.”
 
The Very Revd John Witcombe, Dean of Coventry, added “Here at Coventry Cathedral we are no strangers to offering something different to what is expected in a Cathedral. From our family raves to dining clubs, art installations and concerts from the likes of The Specials, Rufus Wainwright and Mogwai. Christmas is a special time of year that brings families together from all sides of the world in a time of magic and wonder, no matter their faith. Film is a universal language that we are delighted to include in our Christmas programme, especially with the brilliant team at QUAD.”
 
Birmingham Cathedral has two screenings on Saturday 7th December, The Muppet Christmas Carol (U) at 4:30pm and It’s A Wonderful Life (U) at 7:00pm, doors will be open 30 minutes beforehand.
 
Sheffield Cathedral has two screenings on Friday 13th December, The Muppet Christmas Carol (U) at 4:00pm start, (doors from 4:00pm) and It’s A Wonderful Life (U) at 7:00pm doors from 6:00pm).
 
Coventry Cathedral has two screenings on Friday 20th December, The Muppet Christmas Carol (U) at 3:30pm and It’s A Wonderful Life (U) at 6:30pm, doors will be open 30 minutes beforehand.
 
Derby Cathedral has two screenings Saturday 21st December, The Muppet Christmas Carol (U) at 3:30pm and Home Alone (PG) at 6:30pm, doors will be open 30 minutes beforehand.
 
Tickets for the screenings are priced at £11.00, £9 Concessions, available from www.derbyquad.co.uk/cathedrals 
 
The films are:
The Muppet Christmas Carol stars Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo and the extended muppet family, bringing their own take on Charles Dickens’ classic story. Michael Caine plays the iconic role of Ebenezer Scrooge, the cruel and heartless man who is visited by the three Ghosts Of Christmas Past, Present and Future and shown the error of his ways.
 
Frank Capra’s 1946 It’s A Wonderful Life set on Christmas Eve, as Clarence the guardian angel is assigned to convince the desperate George Bailey not to take his own life. George is a thoroughly decent family man who has sacrificed his dreams for the citizens of the small town of Bedford Falls. When George decides he is worth more dead than alive, it’s up to Clarence to help him realise how many lives his good deeds have touched. 
 
Home Alone the film which catapulted Macaulay Culkin to stardom in as Kevin, an eight-year-old troublemaker. When accidentally left home alone by his family at Christmas he has to fend off two bumbling burglars using all of his cunning.
 
For more information or to book tickets for call QUAD on 01332 290606 or see: www.derbyquad.co.uk/cathedrals