A free networking lunch gathering will take place at the Hippodrome Cinema, Bo’ness after the screening of a heartwarming new British documentary about ageing and caring, on Monday 3 June. 

The informal event has been planned around the showing of a new film – Much Ado About Dying (cert. 15) – and will be facilitated by members of the teams at Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers’ Centre and Strathcarron Hospice tbc. 

The film follows Simon Chambers, who is shooting a film in India when his uncle David calls him with a message of doom: “I think I may be dying.”  Simon finds his life drastically interrupted but resolves to try to help his uncle have a good death. What the viewer doesn’t yet know is that David is a total drama queen, a former actor and Shakespeare-lover who has grown old on a diet of attention and applause. 

David’s anarchic spirit is unbreakable. He fights with Simon, refusing to go into a care home, insisting on dying in the squalor of his unheated tumble-down house. He can’t remember where he put his false teeth, but he still knows nearly all the lines from his beloved Shakespeare. David’s real life starts to echo King Lear, Shakespeare’s play about an old man who gives away his kingdom and is driven mad with grief, as David starts giving away thousands of pounds to the “hot young carer” who pops in from time to time.  Despite seemingly insurmountable domestic challenges, illness, and the dreaded care home, they create an award-winning final performance to send David on his way.

Alison Strauss Arts Development Officer (Film and Media) and Hippodrome programmer said:

“Despite the apparently bleak subject matter this is a lovely and funny film.  I was moved to tears by David’s precarious situation but moved to laughter by his fantastically irresistible ‘joie de vivre’.  David’s outlook is a real inspiration for us all, and his nephew Simon’s struggles remind us that you don’t have to be perfect to make a difference.  I am really pleased that the teams from Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers’ Centre [and Strathcarron Hospice tbc] will be on hand for the lunch afterwards.  It will be a friendly and relaxed opportunity for folk to speak amongst themselves about the film – or about anything at all – over a nice sandwich and a cup of tea, and the teams will be able to answer any questions about the services they provide in the area!”

Ami McKnight Support Options for Carers Lead with Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre said:

“It is estimated that 3 in 5 of us will, become carers at some point in our lives, and this networking event will be the perfect opportunity to speak with our team and some of our partners about the services we provide to unpaid carers in our community.  Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre are pleased to work in partnership with the Hippodrome cinema throughout the year by providing unpaid carers with cinema tickets through the Respitality project.  Carers interested in accessing cinema tickets, or other local Respitality opportunities, can contact the Short Breaks Team on 01324 611510 or shortbreaks@centralcarers.co.uk.”

Tickets for the special screening at 11 am on Monday 3 June are £5 for the film only, or £7.65 for the film with tea/coffee and cake.  All ticket holders are welcome to stay after the film for a complimentary light lunch and informal get-together in the Hippodrome auditorium (12.45 pm – 2 pm).

Much Ado About Dying is screening four times at the Hippodrome Cinema, 10 Hope Steet, Bo’ness EH51 0AA – on Friday 31 May at 4.30 pm, Saturday 1 June at 2.30 pm (captioned for Deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences), Sunday 2 June at 7.30 pm.  Adult tickets £8.25 (pre-book) or £8.65 on the door.  Concession tickets £6.40 or £6.70 on the door.  The final screening of Much Ado About Dying plus networking lunch is on Monday 3 June at 11 am.

To book online see What’s On | Hippodrome (hippodromecinema.co.uk).  Bookings can also be made in person at the Hippodrome or by phone 01324 506850.