Sheffield's Showroom cinema is showing it also has a classy side this autumn.The South Yorkshire cinema is most famous for annually playing host to an internationally-significant documentary festival.

This autumn, however, it will show a series of three lavish operas produced by Glyndebourne Opera as part of its programme. Those at the cinema say the dress code is fairly relaxed, but patrons may want to glam up if they're going along to one of the three performances featuring the music of Handel, Rossini and Humperdinck.

While enjoying the three performances – of Hansel und Gretel, Giulio Cesare (Julius Caesar) and La Cenerentola (Cinderella) – visitors to the cinema can also enjoy the Showroom Opera Box of refreshment with include a "selection of mouthwatering canapes and a glass of fizz or soft drink".

To book, for the performances on Nov 23, and Dec 4 and 14, call 0114 275 7727. For more information visit www.glyndebourne.com



Like all actors, Pete Postlethwaite's face is a big part of the package that directors buy into when they hire him. Unlike a lot of actors, it seems that Postlethwaite has a thick skin when it comes to his looks. The northerner, who has appeared in Brassed Off, The Usual Suspects and In the Name of the Father, has built a career around electric performances. He is currently winning strong reviews for his King Lear over in Liverpool.

But it seems to be his face that draws most comments. Critics have variously described the actor, appearing at Liverpool Everyman this month, as having a face: "Chiselled as if by a Cubist sculptor," or: "Like a burrowing animal which rarely sees daylight... or a noble ancient god." The light-hearted actor has even got in on this act himself, saying that when he was studying at Bristol Old Vic, the principal told him he had a face "like a f****** stone archway."



Alan Plater, wonderful man that he is, spent an hour giving students at Hull University a masterclass last week while there to dedicate a new theatre to his old friend Anthony Minghella.

The enthralled students listened to Plater tell stories about his long career which has included
writing for Z Cars, The Beiderbecke Affair, Close the Coalhouse
Door and Blonde Bombshells of 1943.

Plater exhibited all the wit and panache that has made him a successful writer – and was happy to share secrets including how studying architecture taught him about structure in his writing.

Introducing Plater, lecturer Sarah-Jane Dickenson called him a "screenwriter". Plater approved. "Screenwriter, I like that. Scriptwriter makes you sound like a gag merchant. Screenwriter suggests Oscar potential", with a twinkle in his eye and a wry smile.



If you ventured into Bradford last night you may have noticed one or two strange people on the streets.

Even though Hallowe'en was last month, some residents decided that last night was the time to dig out the scary costumes. It was in aid of a Zombie and Burlesque Night at The Gasworks. The club night featured a set by rockers New York Alcoholic Anxiety Attack, managed by artist Joolz Denby – who was most definitely not dressing up as either a zombie or in burlesque.