I HAD the pleasure of going to a meeting hosted by National Theatre Live last week mostly concerning the administrative changes with the delivery of their productions to cinema.

I was knocked out by the enthusiasm they all showed for what they do and how they want to go about it. We got an insight into the programming policy at the National Theatre, which showed they are not only committed to the crowd pleasers, but bringing the best in theatre.

I made the time to watch The Darkest Minds, which is with us next week.

I was concerned that it was another teen movie and was pleased to discover it was quite clever in its realisation of the story. There is the usual need to accept the existence of the condition which “afflicts” the young people in the story and so feared by the adults and the prejudice they feel towards them.

I am becoming a bit critical in my film watching as I noticed that the mascara of one of the characters needed attention in one scene and it was done in the next.

It is a clever story, which, if I am honest, the end was a bit short, but think it was meant to be less is more. A bit of escape despite the style of the gifts the young have, but it is thoughtfully presented.

Films we are showing from Friday, August 17, are:

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (PG) – still so much fun.

Christopher Robin (PG) – the story of Christopher Robin who needs Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and Eeyore et al, though he doesn’t know it, as he is happy in his overworked world. Christopher is played by Ewan McGregor who leads the cast, including Hayley Atwell, Mark Gatiss, Adrian Scarborough, John Dagleish, Ken Nwosu and many others.

The Darkest Minds (12A) – an intriguing story of mind gifts which scare the adults who don’t have them.

The Festival (15) – in the style of The Inbetweeners, it is a bawdy romp through a three-day music festival following Nick’s break up with his girlfriend.

Ant Man And The Wasp (12A) – a good fun comic book film with many laugh out loud moments.

The Incredibles 2 (PG) and Hotel Transylvania 3 (U) – we are keeping for one show a day.

Coming soon

Luis And The Aliens (U and on its release date of August 24) - an animation story involving an 11-year-old who meets up with three aliens after their UFO crashes into his house.

The Children Act (12A is with us on August 31) sees Emma Thompson as a judge called upon to adjudicate in the case of a minor who is refusing a blood transfusion on religious grounds.

Stage shows

Our next presentation is an encore performance of An American In Paris – with a few seats still available. Andre Rieu has a new concert scheduled for the New Year “André Rieu’s 2019 New Year’s Concert From Sydney” with tickets on sale now.