Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliche + Q&A 12A

Poly Styrene was the first woman of colour in the UK to front a successful rock band. She introduced the world to a new sound of rebellion, using her unconventional voice to sing about identity, consumerism, postmodernism, and everything she saw unfolding in late 1970s Britain with a rare prescience. As the frontwoman of X-Ray Spex, the Anglo-Somali punk musician was also a key inspiration for the riot grrrl and Afropunk movements. But the late punk maverick didn’t just leave behind an immense cultural footprint.

Poly was survived by a daughter, Celeste Bell. Celeste became the unwitting guardian of her mother’s legacy and her mother’s demons. Misogyny, racism, and mental illness plagued Poly’s life, while their lasting trauma scarred Celeste’s childhood and the pair’s relationship. Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché follows Celeste as she examines her mother’s unopened artistic archive and traverses three continents to better understand Poly the icon and Poly the mother.

We’re delighted to welcome Poly Styrene’s producer, Rebecca Mark-Lawson and directors, Celeste Bell and Paul Sng for a Q&A after the screening, hosted by BBC Radio Sheffield's Sile Sibanda.

Please note: This is a special screening and so there will be no trailers or adverts before the film begins. The event will start at the time stated so please plan your arrival accordingly.