Literature, Theatre & Film

What do we do?

Our aim is to promote friendship by reading a wide range of books from the classics to contemporary fiction. In addition to discussing the chosen title members are encouraged to recommend other books they may have read.

What do we do?

Our Group members decide on a range of books that they would like to read and discuss over the coming months. This results in a wide and enjoyable selection.

What do we do?

We meet at the leaders house to discuss the previous month’s choice. Each member takes a turn in choosing so we have a wide range of authors and subjects to talk about while we enjoy coffee and biscuits.

What do we do?

Members all help to decide which books we will read with the selection ranging from classical to contemporary authors

What do we do?

Members take it in turns to choose a book and introduce it and we then have a wide-ranging discussion about the book and issues arising. In the last year we have read an eclectic range of books.

What do we do?

 The members view films independently and then meet once a month in the restaurant at Abbeygate cinema to discuss the films and agree what we will view next.

New members welcome. Please phone or email first

What do we do?

We start with coffee and ‘catch-up’ time and a thought for the day!!!
We then begin our meetings with:
a) We discuss films we have seen during the past month; we also include streaming services such as Netflix and other platforms, not only cinema releases
b) We also spend time by taking in broader cultural opportunities such as offerings from the Apex, Theatre Royal and the free lectures offered by West Suffolk College.
c) We find time for members of the group who have offered to lead a presentation to the group on a particular topic related to film and the arts that is of interest to them e.g. directors, actors, music scores, film noirs .
3) We end our meeting (2hours) by offering suggestions of what might be worth watching/listening to over the coming month.

What do we do?

Members view films, both old and new releases, and TV dramas independently. We then meet once a month at Abbeygate Cinema to share our opinions. We also have a cinematic based (short) quiz to test the little grey cells!
Group currently full, but please email me if you would like to join the waiting list.

What do we do?

Writing and story-telling have played different roles in our lives, but we share a common love of words and stories, and a wish to improve our writing abilities. Each month, we write approximately 1500 words on an agreed topic, which we then read out at our monthly meeting. We are starting to feel comfortable enough to ask for and give feedback on the work. We don’t feel able to take in new members at the moment, but we would be very happy to support any new groups that form by sharing our experiences.

What do we do?

This group is working through the three books of the Divine Comedy, the Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso, and has reached about two-thirds of the way through the Purgatorio. We are a small but dedicated group, open to new members. We read and discuss two cantos per session.

What do we do?

A lively, informal reading aloud and brief discussion of poems chosen by members on previously agreed themes and topics.

New members welcome.

What do we do?

We read and study selected works of Shakespeare.

All members are encouraged to contribute in any way they wish

Also see Shakespeare II

What do we do?

We read, study and discuss a selection of Shakespeare’s plays. The idea is to have some intellectual stimulation and plenty of fun.

What do we do?

We visit Theatres for Plays, Comedies, and Musicals and, also, the local Cinema for live transmissions of plays from The London Theatres and Stratford.
 Over the last 12 months, our venues have included The Globe and The Menier Chocolate Factory both in Southwark;The Stamford and Regents Park open-air theatres; The Mercury, Colchester; Wolsey, Ipswich and 2 Norwich Theatres.

Anyone wishing to join should contact the Group Leader

What do we do?

This group will read through and study Aeschylus’s trilogy The Orestia, and Sophocles’ Electra and Antigone, in translation, with some attempt to place the plays in context. We will move on to George Eliot’s novel, Daniel Deronda (which can be seen as partly an attempt to remake the genre of the tragic in a novel), and possibly D H Lawence’s novel Women in Love. No prior knowledge necessary, which is not to say that anyone who knows ancient Greek will not be particularly welcome!

New members welcome.