Ellen Cheshire

H.G. Wells Enjoy a day out in Sussex and explore the region through a literary lens, discovering the many connections between H.G. Wells, his iconic works, and the stunning landscapes of West Sussex. From the charming town of Midhurst and the historic Cowdray Ruins to the heart of Chichester, these key locations played a role in Wells' early life and inspired some of his most famous works, including The Invisible Man . H.G. Wells' Early Years in Midhurst and Uppark House H.

"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 her life at Chawton Cottage, where Jane Austen lived with her mother and sister. It encapsulates the simple pleasures and domestic comforts she enjoyed there.  After leaving Bath in July 1806 (which you can read more about here) , Jane Austen, her mother, and sister moved to C lifton, near Bristol, for a short time. However, they did not settl

Virginia Woolf c. 1927 from one of her own photo albums at Monk's House which were acquired at an auction at Sotheby's in 1982. This is...

A few weeks ago, I had a 45-minute conversation with Hendrik Warnke from the German radio station Saarländischer Rundfunk (SR) about the popularity of bio-pics. About 30 seconds of the interview is featured in a 5-minute segment on bio-pics as part of their Crash Course in World Cinema  feature. Luckily, you don’t have to listen to me struggle with my one year of secondary school German, as they dubbed over me in German. However, you can still hear me in the background! If yo

This is the second in our series exploring writers in Sussex – those who were inspired by its coastlines, hills, and ancient villages....

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

One hundred and ten years ago this month, in March 1915, D. H. Lawrence found himself on the windblown coast of Bognor Regis in West...

In my first blog post, 2025: A Year of Sondheim and Storytelling , I outlined my 2025 film and theatre project: a year dedicated to immersing myself in the world of Stephen Sondheim – both through his own work and through the films that shaped his artistic vision. As part of this journey, I’m watching all 40 of Sondheim’s favourite films in chronological order. Here are the first ten, spanning a mix of countries and cinematic traditions, each revealing something about the st

Ahead of the UK premiere of Andrew Ahn’s reimagining of Ang Lee’s The Wedding Banquet  (1993) at BFI Flare this week, here’s an extract...

Lisa Frankenstein (2024, Zelda Williams) Here's the 22nd batch of #52FilmsByWomen watched since taking the pledge in 2016. This blog...

Well, that was a bit of a mad dash, but I managed to watch 35 out of the 50 nominated films before the Oscars! With the big night approaching, here are my predictions for who I think will  win and who should  win in each category. After the ceremony, I’ll update this post with the actual winners—let’s see how many I get right! In 2024, I correctly predicted 16  winners , and in 2023, I only got 12  right . Updated on 3 March 2025 with those who did win. I predicted 15 of 23,

My ambitious plan to rewatch everything I saw in theatres and cinemas in 1984 (on the same dates in 2024) has come to an end. The blogs...

It’s January 2025, and time to rewind back to 1975 as I watch seven films from that year that I’ve never seen before. Plus, a revisit of...

In 1984, my love for cinema was in full swing. From animated classics to epic adventures, romantic comedies to gripping dramas, the films...

In 1984, I saw 21 live theatrical productions, from lavish West End musicals to intimate plays and even a few pantomimes. Forty years later, in 2024, I set myself a challenge: to revisit as many of those performances as possible. Read more about the whole challenege here. On the same day I had seen them in 1984! Some shows were still so popular that they were running somewhere, some had been revived, whilst others I could only find film versions, amateur productions recorded

Against All Odds (15) In 1984, at age 13 to 14, my relationship with theatre and film changed forever. It was the year I transitioned from simply attending shows with my family to venturing out on my own. I snuck into my first 15-certificate films and took my 8-year-old brother to movies meant for much younger audiences. That year, I saw 21 live performances and 30 films at the cinema wish I’d kept a track of what I watched on telly too.  Although doodles in school exercise f

Wow, what a year 2024 was for culture! This list is just the tip of the iceberg. Over the past 12 months, I managed to see an incredible 84 films at the cinema, 58 live shows, and more exhibitions than I can count (thanks to the National Art Pass I got as a Christmas present in December 2023). It was a year of rich cultural delights! Here are my absolute favourites from each month, the highlights that made the year unforgettable. January Top Exhibition:   Lee Miller: Dressed

As we step into 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the films that made 2024 so memorable. A huge shoutout to letterboxd for making it easy to compile these year-end lists. I logged an impressive 869 films this year, including 666 first-time watches and 203 re-watches. I saw 84 films in cinemas, with the rest enjoyed at home. Curious to see everything I watched? Check out my Letterboxd profile: cheshellen . This year was packed with incredible movie moments, themed watc

2024 has been a fabulous year of rediscovery for me, as I revisited everything I saw at the theatre and cinema in 1984 with my #OTD1984EllenSaw project. This nostalgic journey has not only revitalised my love for theatre but also reminded me why it holds such a special place in my heart. While I've always loved theatre, I’ll admit I had grown a little complacent - cinema is often easier and more affordable. But this year has reignited my passion for live performance and revi

In 1919 a film version of the hit stage show Lads of the Village lurched into cinemas. The show had been touring the UK for two years...