A Hard Day's Night

Our screening on 22nd April will be introduced by Please Please Me writer Tom Wright.

At the crest of the first wave of Beatlemania, the Fab Four made their jump to the big screen in this ambitious, cheeringly kooky visual album. Rather than the ephemeral cash in it could have been, A Hard Day’s Night set a template for the joyful and unpredictable possibilities of pop on film. 

Richard Lester – who would go on to direct hits like Superman – was at the time a fairly avant garde pick to direct the pop phenomenon, but an inspired one on behalf of the group. Welsh playwright Alun Owen captured their unique sense of humour by spending time with the band, leading to two Academy Award nominations. Manager ‘Norm’ – based on Brian Epstein – is played by Steptoe & Son’s Norman Rossington, an affectionate portrait of the ‘fifth Beatle’ (and subject of our new theatre show Please Please Me.