THE DIRECTOR behind the award-winning iconic films Dangerous Liaisons, My Beautiful Laundrette, Philomena, and The Queen will be coming to Harwich’s Electric Palace Theatre for a screening. 


Director Sir Stephen Frears will be heading to Harwich Electric Palace on Thursday February 13 for a special screening of his hit movie Dangerous Liaisons, 1998, followed by a post-film discussion.


This follows the success of similar live events with the cinema’s patron Clive Owen and actor Lucy Boynton.


The Electric Palace was built in 1911 making it one of the oldest least-altered cinemas in the country, with an ‘Our Electric Palace’ appeal raising £22,000 out of £70,000 since August to upgrade equipment and improve facilities. 

History - The Electric Palace was built in 1911 only two years after the introduction of the Cinematograph Act in 1909History - The Electric Palace was built in 1911 only two years after the introduction of the Cinematograph Act in 1909 (Image: Wikimedia/Maria) Regarding his choice of Dangerous Liaisons, Sir Stephen said: "When I read the script of Dangerous Liaisons, I thought I would like to spend the rest of my life seeing this film. 
“No wonder a critic said it was like eating chocolate in bed." 


Dangerous Liaisons was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress, winning three with a star-studded cast including Glenn Close, John Malkovich Michelle Pfeiffer, Uma Thurman, Peter Capaldi, and Keanu Reeves. 


The screening will also be followed by a questions and answers session hosted by Graham Boynton - a journalist and father of actor Lucy Boynton who attended the cinema in September for a showing of her 2016 film Sing Street. 

History - Actor Lucy Boynton said stepping inside the Harwich Electric Palace Theatre was an immediate time-warp History - Actor Lucy Boynton said stepping inside the Harwich Electric Palace Theatre was an immediate time-warp (Image: Cerys Bye) Graham said: "That Stephen Frears is one of Britain's most celebrated film directors goes without saying - two Academy Award nominations, four Primetime Emmy Award nominations, a Golden Globe Award nomination and 17 BAFTA nominations including three wins.


“But he is also our most versatile, with a range of subjects from noir to high comedy to biography and historical drama that is unmatched in contemporary British cinema." 


Sir Stephen’s television work also includes the ITV drama Quiz, based on the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire coughing scandal, A Very English Scandal starring Hugh Grant and Ben Wishaw, the Kate Winslet miniseries The Regime, and the upcoming two-part Channel 4 drama Brian and Margaret starring Harriet Walter as Margaret Thatcher. 


For full details of this event and all upcoming screenings visit www.electricpalace.com