On Sunday 16th May the New Theatre Royal is host to join Ken Russell and friends at a special screening of his acclaimed production, The Boy Friend. Filmed at the New Theatre Royal back in 1971, Ken Russell’s musical stars Twiggy playing Polly Browne, an aspiring musical comedy star, working as stage manager of a production of The Boy Friend. She is transformed into a star when she replaces leading lady Rita Monroe (Glenda Jackson), who twists her ankle seconds before the curtain goes up. Before the evening is over, Polly is scampering over outsized sets, and ducking around seemingly thousands of chorus girls and boys. Christopher Gable, who plays Polly’s on-stage leading man, also choreographed the lavish musical numbers. Director Ken Russell (notorious for his onscreen excesses) fashioned a humongous parody of the Busby Berkeley film musicals of the 1930’s and staged on a scale that made Berkeley seem stylistically modest.

Interview with Ken Russell and friends – 2.15pm, film screening – 3pm.

Tickets are £35, £25 for concessions and available here.