麻豆社

Patricia Routledge has appeared at The National Theatre and the Old Vic, she'd trodden the boards of Broadway, but she's perhaps best-known as the super-snob Hyacinth Bucket - her starring role in the 麻豆社 series, Keeping Up Appearances. She has just opened at The Chichester Festival Theatre as Lady Markby in Oscar Wilde's classic comedy An Ideal Husband.

听

An Ideal Husband is running until 13th December at the Chichester Festival Theatre

听

听

听

听

听

Photographer: Catherine Ashmore

It seems that geeks are having a bit of a moment, so well done to the British Film Institute which is holding a blockbuster season of sci-fi films, along with special events and guest speakers - tapping into the trend for all things "geek chic". It's happening all over the country too. Every year, thousands of fans of Doctor Who and Star Trek hook up to celebrate all things inter-galactic. We thought it would be fun to send our very own time-travelling Arts Correspondent Thomas Magill along to one to find out more!

听

听

Michael Frayn began his career as a journalist but is now one of our most loved stage writers. He has 17 plays under his belt, including the Tony Award winning Copenhagen and one of the nation's favourite plays, Noises Off.

He recently published "Matchbox Theatre" an extraordinary and glorious collection of dialogues and monologues played in the smallest theatre of all: your own imagination.

听

Matchbox Theatre is published by Faber And Faber and is out now.

1. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Director: Francis Lawrence

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone

The worldwide phenomenon of The Hunger Games continues to set the world on fire with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 which find Katniss Everdeen is in District 13, after she literally shatters the games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin and the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss spreads her wings as she fights to save Peeta and a nation moved by her courage.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 is out now and rated 12A

2. The Homesman

Director: Tommy Lee Jones

Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Hilary Swank, Meryl Streep, Hailee Steinfeld, Grace Gummer, Miranda Otto, Sonja Richter, John Lithgow, James Spader

When three women living on the edge of the American frontier are driven mad by harsh pioneer life, the task of saving them falls to the pious, independent-minded Mary Bee Cuddy. Transporting the women by covered wagon to Iowa, she soon realizes just how daunting the journey will be, and employs a low-life drifter, George Briggs, to join her. The unlikely pair and the three women head east, where a waiting minister and his wife have offered to take the women in. But the group first must traverse the harsh Nebraska Territories marked by stark beauty, psychological peril and constant threat.

The Homesman is out now and Rated 15

3. Winter Sleep

Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Cast: Haluk Bilginer, Melisa Sozen, Demet Akbag, Ayberk Pekcan, Serhat Kilic, Nejat Isler, Tamer Levent, Nadir Saribacak, Mehmet Ali Nuroglu, Emirhan Doruktutan

Aydin a former actor, runs a small hotel in central Anatolia with his young wife Nihal, with whom he has a stormy relationship and his sister Necla who is suffering from her recent divorce.

Winter Sleep is out now and rated 15

4. DVD/BLU-RAY RELEASE - Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes

Director: Matt Reeves

Cast: Andy Serkis, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell

It now has been ten years since the release of the simian virus that has all but wiped out the human race on Earth. Caesar and his civilization of genetically advanced apes has taken over the world and is beginning to grow and spread over the Earth. A small group of humans that survived the virus are discovered and a wary peace has been made between the two groups. The peace unfortunately has no chance of surviving as the two groups inevitably head for the conflict that will eventually determine who will control the future of Earth.

Dawn Of The Planet of The Apes on DVD and BluRay is out on 2nd December and rated 12A

It's been 56 years since our favourite bear from darkest Peru exploded onto the scene - hard to believe that Paddington Bear is nearly due听his free bus pass, but he's still as sprightly as ever, and about to make some serious mischief in what promises to be the big hit family movie of Christmas 2014 "Paddington The Movie". And the books keeps coming, more than twenty in all; the latest is called "Love From Paddington" by the author Michael Bond. Writer Brian Sibley, who as a young man had been encouraged in his writing ambitions by Michael, went to visit his mentor to talk about the brand new Paddington book.

听

Love From Paddington is published by Harper Collins and is out now.

It's nearly 40 years to the day since the death of Nick Drake, a singer, musician and poet who captured the hearts of millions and who tragically died aged 26. But his music lives on and to celebrate his life and work, a brand new book of photos, lyrics, interviews and letters has just been published. It has been compiled by the manager of Nick's estate, Cally Callomon and Nick's sister Gabrielle.

听

"Remembered For A While" an official celebration of Nick Drake's life and music is published by John Murray press and is out now.

1. Accolade at the St Jame's Theatre, London

This is a revival of a forgotten play by Emlyn Williams first seen in 1950. It's a piece about a famous novelist who, on the eve of being knighted, is revealed to lead to a double-life attending East End orgies.

Accolade is at the St Jame's until 13th December

听

2. Behind The Beautiful Forevers at the Olivier

Playwright David Hare has adapted a brilliant book by Katherine Boo about the slum that sits alongside Mumbai's international airport. Rufus Norris, the National Theatre's next artistic director has staged this epic re-creation of life in a Mumbai undercity.

Behind The Beautiful Forevers runs at the Olivier Theatre until next April.

3. Wildefire at Hampstead Theatre

Roy William's new play is about a young policewoman, Gail Wilde. Gail struggles to survive in a tough South London environment and a cop-shop where her male colleagues bend the rules.

Wildefire runs at Hampstead Theatre until 29th November

4. La Soiree at the Spiegeltent on London's South Bank

La Soiree started 10 years ago as a modest enterprise combining circus, cabaret and burlesque. It's now grown into an international phenomenon and is in residence on the South bank over Christmas.

La Soiree runs at the Spiegeltent in London until 11th January

听