The Evie Dove Foundation is delighted to have this incredible, emotional and inspiring mini film festival dedicated to raising funds towards their vital work helping sick children and saving young lives by sponsoring the education and training of talented and passionate paediatric clinical professionals.

The afternoon features 4 beautiful short films all about the benefits and healing impacts of outdoor and open water swimming, 2 of which recently aired and were stand out hits at the last Kendal Mountain Festival.

We start with three stunning very short films that pack a punch in terms of their story, cinematography and emotion. All have brought audiences to their feet at previous screenings.

A Good Place to Be is a unique short film exploring the health benefits of cold water swimming through the experience of Pauline Latchem. A film by Reuben Worlledge, which is stunningly shot and gives a glimpse into the world of Pauline who is deaf and talks about the uplifting, joyful experience of her relationship with the water in a totally silent world
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Beneath the Surface is a short documentary by Stewart Well’s showcasing the therapeutic power of lake swimming on mental fatigue, through the personal experience of Mike Fletcher. The cinematography of the film is truly outstanding, masterfully using natural light and beautiful location to capture the essence of the story. The film is a call to action for us all to take care of our mental health and to find our own paths to peace and wellness.

Turning the Tide, a film by Ted Simpson. “Black people can’t swim”…this is a statement that Julia Mansi, a 30 year old black woman, has believed for almost her entire life – until now. This is Julia Mansi, Turning The Tide. Set just along the coast in Brighton, a wonderful heartwarming film as we are taken on Julia’s journey to reach her goal of not only learning to swim as an adult, but breaking barriers and misconceptions.

Photo credit: Rachel Sarah

Following a raffle with some incredible and relevant prizes with a swim and outdoor theme, and a short interval to grab a drink we return for the main film and screening of Under The Surface, an impactful film about Jim Read and his journey from breaking his back and the depths of depression to recovery and swimming channels!

The film was generously dedicated to beautiful Evie Dove, forever 13 years old, who simply loved the sea and being in water. All proceeds from the event including ticket sales and the raffle go 100% to the foundation.

Under The Surface featured at the Kendal Mountain Festival, a 25 minute film by award winning environmental and outdoor filmmaker Rachel Sarah. Rachel specialises in adventure films and our relationships to the natural world. Under The Surface is the result of many years of following and documenting Jim’s story of triumph over tragedy from breaking his back and brain injury in a serious accident at work, left paralysed from the waist down and told to prepare for life in a wheelchair, he was just 27 years old.

With the support of family and friends, physio and hydrotherapy which led eventually to gentle swimming Jim managed to fight his way back. Learning to walk again and over time building on his love of the outdoors by moving from the pool to lakes and ultimately to the Ocean. The film covers his journey which culminates in an attempt to swim across the channel from Jersey to France in a relay team.

Jim’s challenge was not only a physical one but of serious mental health issues, with deep depression, addiction to prescription drugs and at his lowest points attempts to take his own life. Swimming and the friends he made in and around the water became his saviour. The highlight of the story is Jim himself, a cheeky, funny and completely vulnerable guy who really opens up about why our men must learn to talk about their mental health.  He is an inspiration and continues to do what he can to inspire others with screenings of the film, public speaking in schools and community settings.

At the end of the screening there will be a short Q&A panel with Jim and his two relay swim companions from the film, Simon Hagger (also a trustee of The Evie Dove Charity) and Stephen Gould (swim coach and ex professional swimmer).

All film makers have kindly given screening rights and assets free of charge for this charitable event. Thank you to Rachel, Reuben, Ted and Stewart.

To find out more about The Evie Dove Foundation please visit https://theeviedovefoundation.org/

Tickets £12

Doors 3.30pm

Main image provided by  Sam Walker.

FHODS is pleased to announce that the shop doors will soon open on a new production of Hobson’s Choice, the well-loved, classic northern comedy.

Henry Hobson runs a shoe business in Salford, Greater Manchester. A widower with three daughters, he is overbearing, controlling, and a drunk.

When his eldest daughter, Maggie – the real driving force behind the success of the business – announces her intentions to marry Willie Mossop, one of his most skilled employees, Hobson is astounded…

Originally set in 1880, Hobson’s Choice is a comic exploration of the changing status and expectations of women at a time when society was about to shift dramatically.

However, to present a fresh view of the play and make it more relevant to a modern audience, we are resetting to 1966, another period of significant social change, especially for women, which sowed the seeds of women’s lib and the feminist movement.  It was also the year of Bob Dylan playing at the Manchester Free Trade Hall, the BBC began broadcasting in colour, and when England won the World Cup.

And so, under such auspicious circumstances, our story will unfold…

Tickets 
Stalls     £17 | Members £15
Gallery  £15 | Members £13

Doors open one hour before the performance

FHODS is pleased to announce that the shop doors will soon open on a new production of Hobson’s Choice, the well-loved, classic northern comedy.

Henry Hobson runs a shoe business in Salford, Greater Manchester. A widower with three daughters, he is overbearing, controlling, and a drunk.

When his eldest daughter, Maggie – the real driving force behind the success of the business – announces her intentions to marry Willie Mossop, one of his most skilled employees, Hobson is astounded…

Originally set in 1880, Hobson’s Choice is a comic exploration of the changing status and expectations of women at a time when society was about to shift dramatically.

However, to present a fresh view of the play and make it more relevant to a modern audience, we are resetting to 1966, another period of significant social change, especially for women, which sowed the seeds of women’s lib and the feminist movement.  It was also the year of Bob Dylan playing at the Manchester Free Trade Hall, the BBC began broadcasting in colour, and when England won the World Cup.

And so, under such auspicious circumstances, our story will unfold…

Tickets 
Stalls     £17 | Members £15
Gallery  £15 | Members £13

Doors open one hour before the performance

FHODS is pleased to announce that the shop doors will soon open on a new production of Hobson’s Choice, the well-loved, classic northern comedy.

Henry Hobson runs a shoe business in Salford, Greater Manchester. A widower with three daughters, he is overbearing, controlling, and a drunk.

When his eldest daughter, Maggie – the real driving force behind the success of the business – announces her intentions to marry Willie Mossop, one of his most skilled employees, Hobson is astounded…

Originally set in 1880, Hobson’s Choice is a comic exploration of the changing status and expectations of women at a time when society was about to shift dramatically.

However, to present a fresh view of the play and make it more relevant to a modern audience, we are resetting to 1966, another period of significant social change, especially for women, which sowed the seeds of women’s lib and the feminist movement.  It was also the year of Bob Dylan playing at the Manchester Free Trade Hall, the BBC began broadcasting in colour, and when England won the World Cup.

And so, under such auspicious circumstances, our story will unfold…

Tickets 
Stalls     £17 | Members £15
Gallery  £15 | Members £13

Doors open one hour before the performance

FHODS is pleased to announce that the shop doors will soon open on a new production of Hobson’s Choice, the well-loved, classic northern comedy.

Henry Hobson runs a shoe business in Salford, Greater Manchester. A widower with three daughters, he is overbearing, controlling, and a drunk.

When his eldest daughter, Maggie – the real driving force behind the success of the business – announces her intentions to marry Willie Mossop, one of his most skilled employees, Hobson is astounded…

Originally set in 1880, Hobson’s Choice is a comic exploration of the changing status and expectations of women at a time when society was about to shift dramatically.

However, to present a fresh view of the play and make it more relevant to a modern audience, we are resetting to 1966, another period of significant social change, especially for women, which sowed the seeds of women’s lib and the feminist movement.  It was also the year of Bob Dylan playing at the Manchester Free Trade Hall, the BBC began broadcasting in colour, and when England won the World Cup.

And so, under such auspicious circumstances, our story will unfold…

Tickets 
Stalls     £17 | Members £15
Gallery  £15 | Members £13

Doors open one hour before the performance

FHODS Small Stage Theatre

FHODS are proud to present Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks, a charming comedy charting the unpredictable relationship between two unlikely dance partners.

Lily and Michael are two people from very different backgrounds but share a love not only of dancing but also arguing and, unbeknownst to each other, they are also both wronged, grieving and desperately in need of someone to ‘dance’ with.

As their relationship develops it turns out that the dutiful wife, now widow, of a Southern Baptist minister and the gay, former Broadway chorus boy have more in common than they could have possibly imagined and a relationship built initially on mutual deceit and suspicion slowly turns into one of understanding, support and finally love.

In amongst the Waltzes, Foxtrots and Tangos the unlikely pair provide us with laughs, heartbreak, tenderness and a mutual antipathy towards a neighbour with highly sensitive ears

Tickets £10 | £8 (Members/Under 18s)
Doors 6.30pm | Unreserved seating

*Please note that FHODS Small Stage Theatre performances will take place in our welcoming foyer. Seats for these events will be unreserved, but rest assured, there will be ample seating available for everyone booked and a maximum of 120 audience members per performance.

FHODS Small Stage Theatre

FHODS are proud to present Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks, a charming comedy charting the unpredictable relationship between two unlikely dance partners.

Lily and Michael are two people from very different backgrounds but share a love not only of dancing but also arguing and, unbeknownst to each other, they are also both wronged, grieving and desperately in need of someone to ‘dance’ with.

As their relationship develops it turns out that the dutiful wife, now widow, of a Southern Baptist minister and the gay  former Broadway chorus boy have more in common than they could have possibly imagined and a relationship built initially on mutual deceit and suspicion slowly turns into one of understanding, support and finally love.

In amongst the Waltzes, Foxtrots and Tangos, the unlikely pair provide us with laughs, heartbreak, tenderness and a mutual antipathy towards a neighbour with highly sensitive ears

Tickets £10 | £8 (Members/Under 18s)
Doors 6.30pm | Unreserved seating

*Please note that FHODS Small Stage Theatre performances will take place in our welcoming foyer. Seats for these events will be unreserved, but rest assured, there will be ample seating available for everyone booked and a maximum of 120 audience members per performance.

FHODS Small Stage Theatre

FHODS are proud to present Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks, a charming comedy charting the unpredictable relationship between two unlikely dance partners.

Lily and Michael are two people from very different backgrounds but share a love not only of dancing but also arguing and, unbeknownst to each other, they are also both wronged, grieving and desperately in need of someone to ‘dance’ with.

As their relationship develops it turns out that the dutiful wife, now widow, of a Southern Baptist minister and the gay former Broadway chorus boy have more in common than they could have possibly imagined and a relationship built initially on mutual deceit and suspicion slowly turns into one of understanding, support and finally love.

In amongst the Waltzes, Foxtrots and Tangos,  the unlikely pair provide us with laughs, heartbreak, tenderness and a mutual antipathy towards a neighbour with highly sensitive ears.

Tickets £10 | £8 (Members/Under 18s)
Doors 6.30pm | Unreserved seating

*Please note that FHODS Small Stage Theatre performances will take place in our welcoming foyer. Seats for these events will be unreserved, but rest assured, there will be ample seating available for everyone booked and a maximum of 120 audience members per performance.

WORLD JAZZ LIVE SESSIONS AT THE TOWER – Hosted by Maiuko

Born from a library music album of compositions, co-composed by leaders Derek and British Jazz Award-winning guitarist Dominic Ashworth, Picante is a Latin band that takes flavours from Buena Vista Social Club, Sergio Mendes, Stan Getz/Astrid Gilberto, Spyrogyra and the Gypsy Kings, with their unique compositions in mambo, salsa, samba and bossa nova styles.  Guaranteed to make you feel like dancing from the first bar!

With their music airing around the world, tunes from their CD ‘Five Note Salsa’ have been heard on television, from Japanese drama to Strictly Come Dancing to the David Letterman Show. Their new CD ‘Bim Bam Bom’ released in 2019 has also been featured in a new film starring Elliot Gould.

The band showcases latin maestro Neil Angilley – piano (Vanessa Mae, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, War of the Worlds, Down to the Bone), Andy Staples –  bass (Robin Trower, Guthrie Govan, Jason Rebello), Marc Cecil – drums, (King Salsa) and Satin Singh – percussion (Roberto Pla) (and shirts by Robin Jones!!).

Derek Nash – Saxophone
Dominic Ashworth-Guitar
Neil Angilley – Piano
Andy Staples – Bass
Marc Cecil – Drums
Satin Singh – Percussion

www.dereknash.com

Tickets £17.50

Doors 6.30pm | Unreserved seating
A PortCaia Production in association with The Tower Theatre