Shakespeare North Playhouse to host packed programme of film screenings

Shakespeare North Playhouse is hosting a new season of filming screenings promoted by local Imagine Futures CiC this Autumn and Winter.

For the first time in decades, residents will be able to enjoy regular film screenings without leaving the borough. Though Prescot once boasted a bustling cinema scene, including the early 20th-century Prescot Picture Palace, Knowsley has been without a dedicated cinema for decades. This new programme marks a joyful revival of big-screen culture locally.

For families and younger audiences, Saturday mornings will host the Wee Film Club, presenting animated wonders such as Studio Ghibli’s enchanting My Neighbour Totoro, the playful adventure Savages, and the short Lulina and the Moon, winner of the Best Children’s Film Award at the London International Animation Festival. Each Wee Film Club screening will include a free arts and crafts activity, offering young audiences the chance to create and imagine together.

For adults, the programme will feature Friday evening screenings including the new documentary Liverpool Story, with a special Q&A with director Daniel Draper. Other highlights include the intimate Oscar-winning drama I’m Still Here and the now-restored cult classic musical Absolute Beginners – an atmospheric snapshot of 1980s London starring David Bowie. Each adult screening will also be preceded by a short film directed by local talent, giving emerging filmmakers from the region a platform to share their work on the big screen.

The programme also highlights collaborations with renowned UK cinema initiatives, including Cinema Rediscovered Festival (Bristol) and Discovery Film Festival (Dundee), bringing audiences in Prescot a cinema experience that is both world-class and firmly rooted in the local community.

Crucially, the season is designed to be affordable and accessible, with tickets priced at £3 for children’s screenings (Wee Film Club) and £5 for adults, making a family day out or an evening at the cinema possible for everyone.

Supported by Film Hub North with National Lottery funding on behalf of the BFI Film Audience Network, this pilot programme is delivered by Imagine Futures CiC to assess the demand for a regular cinema provision in Knowsley. The project aims to secure additional funding and support to embed cinema as a permanent, sustainable part of the borough’s cultural life, with scope to extend screenings and events to other communities in the future.

This initiative is spearheaded by Imagine Futures CiC, a community interest company working across culture, creativity, and education to expand opportunities and access for people of all ages. The partnership with Shakespeare North Playhouse ensures that film becomes a vital part of Prescot’s cultural life once more.

Bruno Castro, Director and Film Curator at Imagine Futures CiC said:

“We’re thrilled to be bringing cinema back to Prescot. Film has always been a way of bringing people together, sparking conversation, and inspiring creativity. This season is about making cinema accessible, welcoming, and rooted in our community — while also connecting Prescot to some of the most exciting film projects across the UK.”

Lisa Allen, Creative Director and CEO of Shakespeare North Playhouse.

“At Shakespeare North Playhouse we’re passionate about celebrating storytelling in all its forms. Welcoming cinema back to Prescot feels like the perfect extension of our mission, and we’re excited to open our doors to film lovers of all ages.”

The season runs from September 2025 to February 2026. Tickets and full details are available via the Shakespeare North Playhouse website and box office.

Find out more on the Shakespeare North Playhouse website.

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