POP UP CINEMA BRIGHTON

Join us for a special screening of the critically acclaimed documentary film Beyond The Mat, preceded by a Q&A with journalist, podcaster, and author Dan Higgins, whose new book Lords of The Ring explores how our social, political and cultural landscape intersects with the wild and often misunderstood art form of professional wrestling.

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**PLEASE NOTE - Doors for this event open at 6.20pm so can enjoy the beer garden prior to the screening. Please arrive before 7pm so that the Q&A can begin promptly. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR - DAN HIGGINS

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Dan Higgins is a journalist, podcaster and author whose new book, Lords of the Ring – The World According to Wrestling, explores the various characters and stereotypes in the wrestling industry, and gets to the heart of what the art form tells us about our society and why it matters.

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Ahead of the evening's screening, we'll be sitting down with Dan to discuss how wrestling has played an active role in shaping our ideas around national identity, race, gender, sexuality and politics, permeating popular culture at every level and even bizarrely, and rather regrettably, become one of the key influences on the current White House.

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Having spoken with wrestling personalities including Mick Foley, Kurt Angle, Mark Henry, Rikishi, Klondyke Kate, Andy Kaufman's best friend and co-writer Bob Zmuda, Dave Meltzer, Effy, Muhammad Hassan, Rico and Eugene, Dan brings a wealth of insight into a world where fact and fiction are regularly blurred. Our conversation will take a deep dive into his findings and explore what wrestling's enduring popularity really means in the modern world.

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Alongside the screening and Q&A, there will also be an opportunity to purchase copies of Dan's fascinating book and have them personally signed. Select the General Admission + Book ticket option at checkout to guarantee your copy.

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ABOUT THE FILM - BEYOND THE MAT

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Created by Ron Howard's Imagine production company, this honest, intimate, revealing, highly entertaining and critically acclaimed behind-the-scenes look at the bizarre world of professional wrestling will thrill, intrigue and reward fans and non-fans alike, revealing the human face of the long misunderstood performance art that is professional wrestling.

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Director Barry Blaustein, screenwriter of Hollywood hits such as Coming to America and The Nutty Professor (and a secret lifelong wrestling fan), chronicles the lives of wrestlers from every corner of the industry. From stars at the height of their careers, such as Mick Foley and the soon-to-be Hollywood megastar Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, to legends on their last legs (quite literally), like Terry Funk, and those still hanging on to the bottom rung such as Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Beyond the Mat captures wrestling at every level.

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We visit every stratum of the industry, running the gamut from small wrestling schools and tiny independent shows, through the bustling backstage world of the fledgling '90s cultural phenomenon Extreme Championship Wrestling, right up to the corridors of power at the behemoth that was the WWF (now WWE and recently signing a $5 Billion Netflix deal) and its later-disgraced chairman Vince McMahon, as he attempts to forge the extraordinary boom period that became known as 'The Attitude Era'.

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Blaustein uncovers a complex world populated by undeniably colourful characters who are unexpectedly tender, passionate and intelligent, as well as all too willing to batter their own bodies (and those of their friends) into total oblivion in pursuit of immortality in the ring. Exploring the personal lives of these deeply committed performers, the film reveals artists driven by a passion for creating unforgettable performances, often within an uncaring industry run by those with little or no scruples, willing to do whatever it takes to extract said performances.

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Don’t miss this very special screening, Q&A, and signing event on September 17th.