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 – Brighton Museum
Top Live Performance: Sir Matthew Bourne's Edward Scissorhands – at Sadler’s Wells
At the Movies:
Classic Film: Never on Sunday (1960) – Chichester Cinema at New Park
New Film: The Holdovers – Bognor Picturedrome
February
Top Exhibition: Victorian Virtual Reality – Watts Gallery
Top Live (Broadcast) Performance: Vanya – NT Live at Bognor Picturedrome
At the Movies:
Classic Film: The Women (1939) – Worthing Connaught
New Film: All of Us Strangers – Chichester Cinema at New Park
March
Top Exhibition (Permanent Collection): Petworth House (National Trust)
Top Live (Broadcast) Performance: The Motive and the Cue – NT Live at Bognor Picturedrome
At the Movies:
Classic Film: Sherlock Jr. (1924) – Worthing Connaught
New Film: American Fiction – Chichester Cinema at New Park
April
Top Exhibitions:
London: Portraits to Dream In: Francesca Woodman & Julia Margaret Cameron – National Portrait Gallery
Elsewhere: John Craxton: A Modern Odyssey – Pallant House Gallery
Top Live Performances:
Ute Lemper – Turner Sims (Music)
Underdog: The Other Other Brontë – National Theatre (Theatre)
Live (Broadcast) Performance: Nye – NT Live at Bognor Picturedrome
At the Movies:
Classic Film: The Rock – Cineworld Brighton
New Film: Perfect Days – Duke’s at Komedia
May
Top Exhibition (Permanent Collection): Alfred Hitchcock Mosaics – Leytonstone Station
Top Live Performance: Lucia di Lammermoor – Royal Opera House
Top Live (Broadcast) Performance: The Winter’s Tale – Royal Ballet Live at Bognor Picturedrome
At the Movies:
Classic Film: The Smallest Show on Earth – Slindon Cinema
New Film: Civil War – Saffron Screen
June
Top Exhibition: Sargent and Fashion – Tate Britain
Top Live Performance: Coppélia by KVN Dance Co. – Worthing Connaught
At the Movies:
Classic Film: Babette’s Feast – Great Takes Film Club
New Film: Rosalie – Chichester Cinema at New Park
July
Top Exhibition: Abotz – Red Eight Gallery
Top Live Performance: Dreamworld by Pet Shop Boys – Royal Opera House
At the Movies:
Classic Film: The Conversation (1974) – Chichester Cinema at New Park
New Film: Rose (2022) – Chichester Cinema at New Park
August
Top Exhibition: Melting Ice - Rising Tides by Emma Stibbon – Towner Gallery
Top Live Performance: The Hound of the Baskervilles – Eastbourne Theatres
At the Movies:
Classic Film: It Came from Outer Space (1953) in 3D – Duke of York’s
New Film: Deadpool and Wolverine – Duke’s at Komedia
September
Top Exhibition: Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection – V&A
Top Live Performance: Redlands – Chichester Festival Theatre
Top Live (Broadcast) Performance: Sir Matthew Bourne's Edward Scissorhands
At the Movies:
Classic Film: The Third Man – Central Picture House
New Film: My Favourite Cake – The Garden Cinema
October
Top Exhibition (Permanent Collection): The Courtauld
Top Live Performance: Ajedrez – MSC Cruises, Virtuosa
Live (Broadcast) Performance: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Royal Ballet Live at Bognor Picturedrome
At the Movies:
Classic Film: Deep Red – Worthing Film Club at Worthing Connaught
New Film: Megalopolis – Bognor Picturedrome
November
Top Exhibition: Deborah Turbeville’s Photomontage – The Photographers’ Gallery
Top Live (Broadcast) Performance: Kiss Me, Kate – Barbican Live at Bognor Picturedrome
At the Movies:
Classic Film: Bringing Up Baby (1938) – Cary Comes Home Film Festival at Bristol IMAX
New Film: Wicked – Bognor Picturedrome
December
Top Exhibition (Permanent Collection): Handel & Hendrix House
Top Live Performance: Dick Whittington – Kings Theatre Portsmouth
At the Movies:
Classic Film: Gremlins – Worthing Connaught
New Film: Conclave – Cineworld Chichester
Here’s to another year of cultural delights!
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