The Sound of Anticipation
Whilst everyone has been soaking up the sun in beer gardens, we’ve been busy preparing our programme: a stellar selection of films brought to the big screen from 17 May. We are very excited to open up ticket sales from today (Friday 23 April).
When we reopen, we will adopting the same safety measures created last year, with a controlled flow of people throughout the building, improved ventilation systems, staggered screening times and significantly reduced capacity. We had fantastic feedback from those of you who were able to visit us in autumn, and our top priority is making sure your visit is safe and comfortable.
These measures mean that we are only able to sell around 25% of our capacity, so we would strongly recommend booking tickets in advance. Doing so will ensure you’re not turned away if screenings are busy, allow for a smoother journey when you arrive (no need to print tickets, you can go straight to the screen), and reduce queues at box office. If you’re like me, you’ll also enjoy the excitement of setting a date in the diary look forward to. If you have any concerns or queries, get in touch with our box office team. They’ll be happy to talk you through the changes we’ve made to ensure your safety and will try to accommodate any access requirements.
Until then, each week I’ll highlight one of the films we’ll be showing, starting with the beautiful Sound of Metal. Nominated for Best Picture, Sound of Metal stars Riz Ahmed as Ruben, a young drummer who suffers sudden hearing loss. An ex-addict who found recovery through music, Ruben struggles to redefine his identity and checks into a rehabilitation house for d/Deaf people, where he begins to come to terms with his new life.
It’s a delicate and sensitive film that offers an intimate look into the experiences of d/Deaf and hard of hearing people, what it’s like to experience a loss, and the strength of human spirit. It’s been created with both d/Deaf and hearing audiences in mind – there’s an incredible, immersive soundscape to the film that allows you to experience scenes as Ruben would. The film is also being released in cinemas with open captions, so all screenings will be accessible to d/Deaf people that read English subtitles, a rarity for film releases.
Sound of Metal will be screened from Monday 17 May, and tickets are now available to book.
This article first featured in the Sheffield Telegraph on Thursday 21 April 2021.
