Ellen Cheshire

Jamie Patterson, born in 1986 in Brighton, East Sussex, is a British filmmaker whose work is closely tied to his home city. He co-founded the Brighton‑based production company Jump Start Productions and in 2018 wrote and directed Tucked , his first feature film. Tucked  is a raw and tender drama about Jackie, an ageing drag queen given six weeks to live, who forms an unexpected bond with a younger queen called Faith. The film explores identity, grief and community, blending h

Bognor Picturedrome (screen 1) Nestled innocently within my main bucket list are four entries that could each stand as their own separate quests. Since they all share a similar goal - exploring the UK and Ireland through their cinematic venues - I’ve combined them here for convenience. These are: visiting the other six cinemas in the small chain that my local  Bognor Picturedrome  belongs to; ticking off all independent cinemas in Sussex; seeing films or concerts at venues

I first drew this up in May 2023, as the world was emerging from the long shadow of lockdowns. I realised how easy it is to take experiences for granted, and I didn’t want to keep putting things off “for another time.” So, I began a bucket list - part wish list, part reminder - and since then I’ve been adding to it and crossing things off as I go. It’s a mix of theatre, film, concerts, museums, places and the occasional wild card. Some items are big dreams, others are more “m

Alongside my freelance writing about theatre, film and literature, my role as Fundraising and Development Manager at Chichester Cathedral gives me the chance to tell stories that are just as rich in history and creativity. Whether it’s celebrating the music that fills the Cathedral’s spaces or sharing the craft and care behind preserving its heritage, my work is about connecting people to the heart of this extraordinary place - and showing why we need support to keep its mus

Over the years, I’ve occasionally ventured into the world of theatre reviews, but a covert assignment with The Spy in the Stalls  reignited my passion for this undercover craft. Since then, I’ve been regularly donning my disguise and stepping into the shadows, where every review is a stealth mission—uncovering the brilliance (or the flaws) hidden within each performance. This page serves as my secret dossier: a direct link to the operations I’ve carried out in the name of the

I’ve always been fascinated by bio-pics, so much so that I wrote a book about them! Seeing Blue Moon  (2025, Richard Linklater) at the London Film Festival reminded me exactly why. Opening in the UK this Friday, it is a gorgeous example of how a short window in someone’s life can illuminate an entire world. Richard Linklater’s latest unfolds over a single night in lyricist Lorenz Hart’s life in 1943, at the opening night of his former writing partner Richard Rodgers’ Oklahoma

With Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein  in cinemas now, ahead of its Netflix release, it seemed like a good time to write up my visit earlier this year to Bath, seeking out locations with a Mary Shelley connection. There aren’t as many as for Jane Austen, but they’re worth the search. I whiled away hours in the fascinating Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein , which brings the novel’s enduring visual power and legacy vividly to life. Mary Shelley spent a pivotal period in Ba

Patrick Hamilton c. 1930 Patrick Hamilton’s The West Pier  (1952) captures a very different side of Sussex from the pastoral warmth of...

Former Carlton Cinema, now Gracepoint church It’s been 828 days since I joined Nigel Smith’s Islington’s Big Screens  walking tour back...

This Autumn sees the publication of Encounters with Jane Austen , a sparkling new anthology that commemorates the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth. Edited and introduced by Professor Jennie Batchelor, the collection brings together over 30 writers, artists and scholars to share their personal, creative and often surprising engagements with Austen’s life and work. From essays and poems to short stories and interviews, it brims with affection, wit, and fresh perspectives on

Bucket list item checked! Prospect Cottage Visiting Prospect Cottage  has long been on my bucket list, and finally standing there, in...

This year’s Femme Filmmakers Festival (an online festival from 16 - 28 September 2025) highlighted the extraordinary contributions of...

Mandy Patinkin and Madonna in Dick Tracy Continuing my journey through Stephen Sondheim’s top 40 films, I have watched numbers 21–30,...

My first trip to Dirt in the Gate's Grindfest , a horror and genre festival with a wild line-up of cult treasures, oddities and...

"There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort" , this was not said about Jane's time in Bath, but is cited in reference to...

This post continues our series on writers in Sussex - those who found inspiration in its landscapes, towns and coastlines, weaving the...

4 Sydney Gardens basement apartment Bucket list item checked! In March 2025 a friend and I spent a few days in Bath, as we are both fans of Jane Austen's books we made a pilgrimage to visit the places she lived and visited. One of these was easy to find as we were staying in one! The basement apartment of 4 Sydney Gardens available to rent via AirBnB . Jane Austen moved with her parents and sister, Cassandra, to Bath in 1801 following her father’s retirement from his parish

When I first visited Efteling  in 2024, I stayed in Bosrijk, the park’s beautiful woodland accommodation. It’s the perfect halfway point between fairytale and reality: self-catering cottages tucked among whispering trees, close enough to hear the distant hum of the park yet peaceful enough for quiet evenings by the lake, watching the water shift and reflect the last light of day. That first trip was wonderful but all too brief. I saw enough to fall under Efteling’s spell but

In this series exploring writers in Sussex, I've been tracing the moments when the county’s landscapes, villages and coastlines inspired...

Peter Dinklage in She Came To Me (2023) Here's the 23rd batch of #52FilmsByWomen watched since taking the pledge in 2016. This blog...