A RARE SCREENING of TWO BBC FILMS from the ARCHIVE of the British Film Institute

“Constable Observed” and “John Nash – A Painter in the Country”

Introduced by DR RONALD BLYTHE

Saturday, September 14 th at 7.30pm All Tickets £9.00, from The Quay Box Office ( 01787-374745) or online at www.quaytheatre.org.uk

Welcome to a rare chance to enjoy two films from the BBC archives. Made in the 1970s, and not seen since their BBC broadcast, these documentaries each focus on an artist who lived, worked and was inspired by the Stour Valley – JOHN CONSTABLE and JOHN NASH.

Scenes from the documentaries are filmed in the Stour Valley area, featuring Wormingford, Dedham, Flatford, East Bergholt and others.

Both films are written by RONALD BLYTHE who recently celebrated his 90 th birthday. He still lives, and works in the area. The Independent, in 2012, called him “England's greatest living country writer”. His most recent publication is “A Time by the Sea”, about his life in Aldeburgh during the 1950s, as part of Benjamin Britten’s circle. This was acclaimed as “Something special ... a small masterpiece” by The Times and “A scintillating memoir” in The Independent .

Dr RONALD BLYTHE will introduce and talk about the two films, in conversation with actor David Holt who will also read from his writings. Taken together, these two films are a rare chance to appreciate film-making from a different age, and understand the impact of the Valley on two of the greatest artists this country has ever produced.