Silent star Beatrice Lillie from Exit Smiling, showing on 8th April

This weekend of silent classics is shown in association with the British Film Institute.

It shows how the movie world's of Britain and America have borrowed from each other - how, like Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, there's been a special relationship crossing the pond.

All the screenings will be illustrated with short films and extracts from the British Film Institute's film and television archive.

What's not to be missed is the chance to see a silent movie as it was meant to be seen - on a big screen with live musical accompaniment.

To that extent, pianists Neil Brand, Phil Carli and John Sweeney will be adding an extra touch of magic to the weekend.

Among the screen highlights are :-

• The Informer - Dating from 1929, this follows the tale of an IRA informer who betrays a friend to the police and finds himself being chased by the law and his former IRA colleagues.
• Kipps - A 1921 film approved by its writer HG Wells. It's the story of a draper's assistant who comes into money but finds it doesn't always bring happiness. Nowadays it's remembered as Half A Sixpence starring Tommy Steele.
• Exit Smiling - Featuring the first Hollywood screen appearance of silent star Beatrice Lillie. She was a big name in the English music hall.

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