And behind door number 22... a guide to some music of the more traditional kind
Catherine Munn and Jacob Martin list their Top 5 programmes to watch over the festive period.
And behind door number nine... some dazzling musical delights
The complete arts guide, for week 9
Yes, wheat indeed. The staple of the western diet, just as gold was the staple of the pre-proper-money economy (alright, history students, please don't write in with complaints at this blatant disregard for historical fact disguised as a tenuous link), and gold features prominently on the cultural spectrum this week as The Golden Compass hits City Screen. From Wednesday you can enjoy the cinematic version of the first third of Philip Pullman's masterpiece, the His Dark Materials trilogy. Reports that the American team behind the film, already changing the name to the American title from the British Northern Lights, were removing the all-important religious references initially seemed a reason to worry, but Pullman's direct involvement with the film, the inclusion of the word "heresy!" in the trailer, and news that the scope has merely been widened from Christianity to higher authority as a whole is enough to allay most fears. Not, it seems, the fears of the Catholic League, who have described it as a "deceitful stealth campaign" to attract children to the novels that "bash Christianity and promote atheism" in an email campaign sent out to their members. An epic children's film causing theological debate, then... does it get any better than that? Well, with an amazing castlist, numerous snow scenes and a talking polar bear, it seems that it does. And, if you feel you need a little more clarity about the film's message, City Screen is showing a Conversation with Philip Pullman at 4:40pm on Sunday, he's got a fantastically quick mind and is very witty, so this Q&A should be very illuminating.
If you do find yourself siding with the rather hysterical sounding Catholic League, there is an altogether more acceptable, and theologically safer, event this week: Handel's Messiah at the Minster on Saturday. Although it has fallen into the snobbishly upturned nose realm of "popular classic", and is definite Classic FM fodder, if you can put any music pretentiousness behind you it really is an incredibly accessible and moving oratorio, and the Minster is the perfect setting. The evening is hosted by York Musical Society, and tickets, priced at £8 are available from the Theatre Royal Box Office.
Back to the cinema for a moment, and sticking with a biblical theme, Ridley Scott's cinematic vision of the gospel of St. Philip K. Dick, Do Robots Dream of Android Sheep gets yet another director's edit with Blade Runner: The Final Cut. First released in 1982 the grimy cyberpunk dystopian future of the film has inspired a thousand others, from 5th Element to The Matrix, and its neon-lit, rain-drenched streets haven't aged at all. This really is a modern classic, and bound to leave a lasting impression with its explosive conclusion. Blade Runner: The Final Cut is showing at City Screen all week.
A little closer to home is the production of student-written play The Ash Grove at the Drama Barn this Friday to Sunday. Theatre, Film and Television PhD student Nikolaus Morris has penned a story of dreams of transitions to maturity, power games and the devastating effect of a manipulative individual. The action takes place in an isolated farmhouse, and the Barn the perfect setting for the rustic charm, isolation and claustrophobia that this setting suggests. Look out for tickets at Vanbrugh stalls this week, and snap them up while you can, because this looks to be an excellent end to this term's Drama Barn schedule.
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