Fear of the unknown can often lead to destruction, a repetitive trend when exploring esoteric ideas and leaders who challenge the status quo with their ability to realise phenomena perhaps not yet understood. Ideas are what fuel our day to day, energising the direction of a society. Delving deeper into this ethereal aspect of humanity, production company Italmostre curate the Dark Secrets – The Esoteric Exhibit.
Very recently, it was discovered that microplastics were present within blood. This in turn damaging cells and leading to very serious complications, most notably cancer. A play on the term ‘plastic surgery’, Guy Trevellyan presents a matter of urgency in timely watch Plastic Surgery – a clinical body horror offering a cautionary tale for our times.
A seemingly routine operation carried out by young physician Dr. Terra (Anna Poppelwell) and her colleagues eerily turns into a chaotic catastrophe. On the cusp of taking her maternity leave and leaving the chaos behind – this may not necessarily turn out as once hoped. Trevellyan crafting a haunting reminder of the damage microplastics cause to the human body and the obliviousness present that shrouds the real dangers of this. The obliviousness arguably the more terrifying aspect of this epidemic.
Medical advancements are an incredible thing, the natural world holding many of the answers to our ailments. A pioneer in the field of medicine, Betty (Beatie Edney) has acquired the gift to heal, but in late 19th century England, the scientific realm aren’t ready to accept Betty’s gift. Something she’s determined to battle. A male doctor (Ali Cook) tasked with finding out the ‘truth’ regarding her abilities in Ali Cook’s ethereal mythological thriller The Pearl Comb.
Art has the power to inspire, provoke, start conversations, educate as well as transform the space that it’s in. Its meaning shifting as time passes by and trends change. Tapping into the elusive world of art, writer and director Freddie Fox observes both human and metaphysical interaction with quirky watch The Painting and the Statue.
Typically works of art subject to human scrutiny, The Painting & the Statue somewhat flips this notion on its head, the well to do household exhibiting a prized collection of art works simultaneously the focus of the film as well as not being the focus – an impossible reality that gives the film its magic. Camera angles predominantly zoned in on the various characters that inhabit the museum hall, we the audience function as flies on the wall. At points as if we ourselves are the art works looking within.
“Home is like a turtle in its shell, you take it with you wherever you go.” A sentiment stated by Musa (Zak Elsokari), the protagonist in timely short film Largo and a sentiment that echoes through this warm, perilous tale.
Located by the white cliffs of a quiet UK based coastal town, Largo tasks itself with the mission of reuniting child refugee Musa with his estranged parents who reside in Syria. Musa’s foster mother (Tamsin Greig) the measured anchor responsible for his care.
Courtesy of Manuel Harlan.
There are few monumental events that can bring long lost relatives together, a wedding – typically a joyous occasion full of laugher, tears and everything in between. Memorable moments and revelations factors observed in Beth Steel‘s hearty drama Till the Stars Come Down currently playing at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.
Meandering between the confrontational and the comical, Steel crafts an honest encounter. Plus ones to the party – we observe the familial spats behind the scenes as Sylvia (Sinéad Matthews) the bride gets ready for her wedding day and her siblings Maggie (Aisling Loftus) and Leanne (Ruby Thompson) bold forces brought back together to celebrate their sister’s nuptials. Although the day revolves around Sylvia and Marek (Julian Kostov) her husband to be, the day really is a reflection on the family as a whole – the past, confronting the now and family dynamics elements integral to the day.
As the lights shine bright on the Croisette, WeAudition, the world’s leading international community of on-demand self-tape readers, joins forces with Latigo Films, Red Sea Media, Flex, and Roxstar Entertainment for a dynamic series of events celebrating film, storytelling, and creative empowerment during the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
The week kicks off with an exclusive celebration hosted by Latigo Films and Red Sea Media at the stunning WeAudition House.. The evening will toast Latigo’s impressive 2025 film slate, including:
Heisenberg is a warm, funny, and unexpected love story about two women who meet by chance at Euston Station. It’s a theatre rom-com that actually feels good to watch. The story unfolds in a restrained, masterful way, and as you’d expect from a two-hander, there is a LOT of dialogue. Sometimes it gets a bit much, but I think it’s worth sticking with.
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The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives is funny, bold, and moving. What sounds like a traditional setup — a wealthy Nigerian man with multiple wives — turns out to be a feminist, sharp, and modern story about sex, secrecy, and survival.
(c) Alex Brenner. No use without credit.
Finally, after a year and a half of seeing Palestinians dying on our screens, a major theatre is taking on works that confront the most censored subject of our time.
As I sit in the cramped basement bar, eating my homemade dal and rice from a Tupperware container, I can’t help but compare this setting to the fundraiser nights held by the grassroots theatre company White Kite Collective. Their event series “Stand with Palestinians: Messages from Gaza” — welcomed at the Arcola, one of the few venues brave enough to publicly platform Palestinian voices—are different. There, the rooms are filled with more people of colour, more young people, more keffiyehs. The energy feels urgent. Oh well, I’ll take it still. Let me wait to see what unfurls on stage.