Derby Quad Celebrates Summer with Vampiric Film Fest
Derby Quad is encouraging all those with pale complexions, alternative tastes, and a general interest in the dark and gothic to escape the heat this July and attend Hot Goth Summer.
Running from the 3rd to the 5th of July, the event will include the return of the Dracula’s Bazaar alternative market, with sellers offering a variety of jewellery, clothing, accessories, books, art and more. Alongside this, a series of events will be taking place.
Friday night will see the Café Bar transformed into a goth club for Dances with Darkness, with themed food and drink. The perfect way to unwind after a writing workshop, learning about the history of tarot with Lee Barton, who simply taking part in one of the boardgame sessions - Vampire: The Masquerade and Dungeons & Dragons will be running on both Friday and Saturday.
Those with kids who prefer colours other than black can take part in the colouring competition, running on all three days, and there is the opportunity to step outside with the Dark Derby Walk, hosted by Derby Uncovered.
But this is Midlands Movies, and while we all like to dabble in other activities, there’s no better way to spend a hot summer day than in a dark, air-conditioned cinema screen. Luckily, the Quad has put together a series of excellent films for vampire lovers.
Neil Jordan’s adaptation of Interview with the Vampire will screen on Friday at 6.15pm, starring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst and Antonio Banderas. This will end in time for you to head down to the Café Bar for your own Queen of the Damned-style party.
Saturday kicks off at 11am with a 60th anniversary screening of Terence Fisher’s Dracula – Prince of Darkness, which saw Christopher Lee step into the black cloak for the second time. This will be followed by another Bram Stoker adaptation; Ken Russell’s subversive 1988 film, Liar of the White Worm screens at 1.15pm and features an early leading role for Hugh Grant, as well as supporting roles from Amanda Donohoe and Peter Capaldi.
Those who like their vampires with a little more eroticism should look no further than Tony Scott’s debut film, The Hunger, screening at 3pm. Featuring Bauhaus on the soundtrack and David Bowie, Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon in front of the camera, this is a great opportunity to see a cult classic on the big screen.
Saturday ends with bang, as Joel Schumacher’s The Lost Boys hits the big screen at 6pm. Featuring performances from some of the biggest stars of the late-1980s, this brutal updating of the vampire mythos is the perfect way to round out a day in the cinema. Of course the real horror is film knowledge, and Alex Davis will be on hand to put yours to the test with the Hot Goth Summer Film Quiz, which runs in the Café Bar after The Lost Boys.
On Sunday, there’s a panel discussion on the vampire mythos, with Alex Davis, Dr Diane A Rodgers, Dr Derek Johnston, Peter Ray Allison and Jonthan Butler all picking their favourite vampiric representations from across multiple formats. Then the Quad will reanimate one of the scariest television events at 6pm, as Tobe Hooper’s 1979 adaptation of Salem’s Lot comes to the big screen. Both parts of the mini-series will be shown but luckily there are no windows in the screening for any tip-tapping on the glass.
All the films and the panel discussion are available for one £45 pass, reduced to a concession of £35 for those eligible. Other parts of the Hot Goth Summer festival are either drop-in, or available as individual tickets from the Derby Quad website.
www.derbyquad.co.uk/season-festival/hot-goth-summer
Matthew Tilt
