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Exhibitions

Free

Tim Noble & Sue Webster: Love and Hate at Firstsite

Thursday 09 November 2023 - Tuesday 30 September 2025

In this presentation, seven light sculptures by Noble & Webster illuminate areas of the Firstsite building with pops of glimmering colour.

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Exhibitions

Free

University Centre Colchester (UCC): Legacy

Saturday 08 March - Sunday 15 June 2025

In partnership with Colchester Institute, we’re proud to present the UCC: Legacy exhibition, featuring an exciting selection of multimedia works by second and third-year students from University Centre Colchester (UCC).

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Exhibitions

Free

Elsa James: It Should Not Be Forgotten

Saturday 29 March - Sunday 06 July 2025

Join Essex artist Elsa James in examining the heart of Britain’s colonial past and its lasting impact on Black life today.

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Community and Partners

Free

First Thursdays

Thursday 03 April 2025 - Thursday 06 June 2024

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Come out and experience some of the fantastic local artistic talent which we have on offer!  There is creativity around every corner on the first Thursday of every month.

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Courses, Clubs & Classes

Free

YAK | Young Art Kommunity

Thursday 24 April 2025

More times available

Young Art Kommunity (YAK) is Firstsite’s young-people peer led group which organises events and activities within the gallery and in the wider community.

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Courses, Clubs & Classes

Mini Movers & Makers Toddler Group

Thursday 24 April 2025

10:00 am

More times available

This brand new artist-led toddler group provides a safe and fun environment for children under 5 and parents/carers to be curious and explore interactive, sensory storytelling and experiment with a range of art activities and materials.

Find out more

Cinema

Flow (Parent & Baby)

Thursday 24 April 2025

11:30 am

When a flood washes its home away, a solitary cat must seek refuge with a motley crew of animals, who gradually learn to go with the Flow.

Find out more

Cinema

Oh My Goodness! (Juste Ciel!)

Thursday 24 April 2025

2:00 pm

Oh My Goodness! (Juste Ciel!) When a local nursing home is falling into pieces, it’s down to Mother Veronique and the five eccentric sisters!

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Cinema

Sister Midnight

Thursday 24 April 2025

4:20 pm

Sister Midnight is a genre-bending comedy about a frustrated newlywed who discovers certain feral impulses landing in unlikely situations.

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Cinema

Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII

Thursday 24 April 2025

7:00 pm

More times available

Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII, the 1972 film, features iconic songs, stunning visuals, and rare behind-the-scenes moments!

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Courses, Clubs & Classes

Dance and Movement for Well-being

Friday 25 April 2025

10:30 am

More times available

A gentle session for over 60s to ease joint mobility, improve agility, balance and self-awareness in movement. Every Friday 10:30am during term times.

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Cinema

Ernest Cole: Lost and Found

Friday 25 April 2025

11:00 am

More times available

Ernest Cole: Lost and Found, shows how a South African photographer was the first to expose the horrors of apartheid to a world audience.

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Cinema

On Falling

Friday 25 April 2025

1:30 pm

More times available

On Falling explores the silent, vital struggle to find meaning and connection while working in an algorithm-driven gig economy.

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Cinema

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Friday 25 April 2025

4:00 pm

Renée Zellweger returns in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy to the role that established a romantic-comedy heroine for the ages!

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Courses, Clubs & Classes

Boozy Brushes – Paint in Pairs

Friday 25 April 2025

7:30 pm

Join Sirena Hart at Firstsite for Boozy Brushes a multi-art, Drag entertainment painting class extravaganza where you can paint in pairs!

Find out more

Cinema

The Alto Knights

Friday 25 April 2025

7:45 pm

More times available

The Alto Knights follows two of New York’s most notorious organised crime bosses, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese.

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Exhibitions

Free

Acorn Village: 50 Years

Saturday 26 April - Sunday 07 September 2025

Discover the inspiring 50-year journey of Acorn Village, told through a rich collection of artworks created by artists with learning disabilities.

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Community and Partners

Colchester Record Fair

Saturday 26 April 2025

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

More times available

Browse the stalls and grab yourself a bargain – or perhaps something a little rarer at the Colchester Record Fair at Firstsite.

Find out more

Cinema

The Sloth Lane (Relaxed)

Saturday 26 April 2025

11:00 am

Laura and her kooky sloth family move to the big city but will they adapt to life in the fast lane when they’re so used to The Sloth Lane?

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Cinema

MET Opera Live: Le Nozze di Figaro

Saturday 26 April 2025

5:45 pm

Mozart’s timeless and profoundly humane comedy returns to Firstsite in MET Opera Live: Le Nozze di Figaro.

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Community and Partners

Free

Art in the Community

Tuesday 29 April 2025

More times available

Art in the Community sessions are for people who use creativity to improve their well-being, and for recovery from mental and physical issues

Find out more

Cinema

The Alto Knights (Captioned)

Tuesday 29 April 2025

2:00 pm

The Alto Knights follows two of New York’s most notorious organised crime bosses, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese.

Find out more

Community and Partners

Free

Colchester Library Rhymetimes at Firstsite

Wednesday 30 April 2025

More times available

While Colchester Library is closed for refurbishment, weekly Baby & Toddler Rhymetimes are continuing at Firstsite.

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Courses, Clubs & Classes

Free

MiniCLIP Colchester

Wednesday 30 April 2025

More times available

MiniCLIP – a free weekly music club for young people age 11 to 14 at Firstsite Colchester, on term time Wednesdays from 4 – 5pm.

Find out more

Cinema

BSFF25: The Rebrand

Thursday 01 May 2025

10:20 am

Nicole is hired by a lifestyle influencer couple after they’ve been publicly cancelled, but she discovers that they have nefarious motives.

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Cinema

BSFF25: Bystanders

Thursday 01 May 2025

12:50 pm

A group of murderous frat boys get more than they bargained for when they cross paths with a couple coming home from a wedding in Bystanders.

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Cinema

BSFF25: Krazy House

Thursday 01 May 2025

3:20 pm

Krazy House follows religious homemaker Bernie and his sitcom family. When criminals invade his home he has to save his imprisoned family.

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Community and Partners

Colchester Art Society – Aden Hynes Larger than Life – Working as a Commercial Sculptor

Thursday 01 May 2025

6:30 pm

The Colchester Arts Society invites you to the Colchester Arts Society Lecture Series at Firstsite with Aden Hynes.

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Cinema

Bonnie & Clyde The Musical

Thursday 01 May 2025

7:00 pm

More times available

Bonnie & Clyde The Musical is the story of two small-town kids from the middle of nowhere who became the biggest folk heroes in all America.

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Cinema

BSFF25: Derelict

Friday 02 May 2025

10:20 am

Abigail grieves her father’s death, feeling isolated. Matt’s life is disrupted by his brother’s return. Their paths intersect In Derelict.

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Cinema

BSFF25: What Happened to Dorothy Bell?

Friday 02 May 2025

12:50 pm

Ozzie Gray seeks to find out What Happened to Dorothy Bell? To do so she video documents her investigation into the traumatic events.

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Cinema

BSFF25: 7 Keys

Friday 02 May 2025

3:20 pm

In 7 Keys Daniel and Lena embark on a risky tour through his previous homes which soon becomes a deadly threat.

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Cinema

BSFF25: Sayara

Friday 02 May 2025

5:50 pm

Sayara, a quiet gym cleaner from Turkmenistan, begins to follow in her father’s footsteps, seeking a path of revenge.

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Cinema

BSFF25: The Forest Hills

Friday 02 May 2025

8:05 pm

Haunted by nightmares, Rico descends into madness in the Catskill Mountains of director Scott Goldberg’s, The Forest Hills.

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Community and Partners

Folk & Bespoke Artisan Craft Market

Saturday 03 May 2025

10:00 am - 3:00 pm

More times available

Have a handmade shopping day. The people in your life deserves something special and for a totally unique gift, you cannot beat handmade.

Find out more

Cinema

BSFF25: Never Have I Ever

Saturday 03 May 2025

10:20 am

Sam, a struggling writer, faces pressure to repay an advance in Never Have I Ever. His day spirals complicating his predicament and deadline.

Find out more

Cinema

BSFF25: Girl Internet Show

Saturday 03 May 2025

12:50 pm

Girl Internet Show is a documentary film that compiles the online video work of artist Kati Kelli, exploring themes of identity and loneliness

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Cinema

BSFF25: Stream

Saturday 03 May 2025

3:20 pm

Craven, a streamer with thousands of followers on a live streaming platform, has prepared a very special Stream for Halloween.

Find out more

Cinema

BSFF25: The Severed Sun

Saturday 03 May 2025

5:50 pm

The Severed Sun follows Magpie who lives in an isolated church community ruled over by her father, The Pastor.

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Courses, Clubs & Classes

Drag Life Drawing with Sirena Hart

Saturday 03 May 2025

6:00 pm

More times available

A one-of-a-kind life drawing class, where your tutor and model will offer multiple poses in fantastical settings.

Find out more

Cinema

BSFF25: Cult Film Secret Screening

Saturday 03 May 2025

8:05 pm

As is the Black Sunday tradition, we will be closing the 2025 festival with a stone-cold cult secret classic!

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Cinema

Muriel’s Wedding (30th Anniversary)

Sunday 04 May 2025

11:00 am

More times available

Muriel, steals money from her parents to finance a vacation where she hopes to find happiness in Muriel’s Wedding.

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Courses, Clubs & Classes

The Art Café

Wednesday 07 May 2025

10:30 am

More times available

The Art Café is our new unguided painting session! Come alone, with friends or that special someone for a fun and relaxing art activity.

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Cinema

The End

Wednesday 07 May 2025

11:00 am

More times available

Twenty-five years after The End left the Earth uninhabitable, Mother, Father and Son are confined to their palatial bunker.

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Cinema

Muriel’s Wedding (30th Anniversary) (Parent & Baby)

Thursday 08 May 2025

11:30 am

Muriel, steals money from her parents to finance a vacation where she hopes to find happiness in Muriel’s Wedding.

Find out more

Cinema

Tall Tales

Thursday 08 May 2025

5:45 pm

Be one of the first to hear Thom Yorke’s newest album accompanied with ground-breaking visual artist Jonathan Zawada in Tall Tales.

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Courses, Clubs & Classes

Life Drawing with Justine Moss – all levels

Thursday 08 May 2025

7:00 pm

More times available

Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, gain confidence in drawing the figure, with these tutored life drawing sessions.

Find out more

Cinema

Two Strangers Trying Not To Kill Each Other

Friday 09 May 2025

11:00 am

More times available

Maggie and her husband become Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other after she breaks her femur and her husband becomes her caregiver.

Find out more

Cinema

Santosh

Friday 09 May 2025

1:30 pm

More times available

In 2018, Santosh, aged 28, assumes her deceased husband’s role as a police officer in India following his tragic death.

Find out more

Cinema

Mr. Burton

Friday 09 May 2025

4:30 pm

More times available

The true story of how Mr. Burton, became one of the greatest actors of his generation with the help of an unlikely mentor.

Find out more

Cinema

Ocean With David Attenborough

Friday 09 May 2025

7:30 pm

More times available

After nearly 70 years of filming the natural world, Ocean With David Attenborough is Sir David’s most powerful and urgent message yet.

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Courses, Clubs & Classes

Portfolio Surgery – Morning Sessions

Saturday 10 May 2025

10:00 am

More times available

Book a one-on-one session at our free Artist Portfolio Surgery, where an industry expert will provide professional guidance.

Find out more

Talks & Events

The Firstsite Art Fair

Saturday 10 May 2025

10:00 am

More times available

The Firstsite Art Fair brings together a diverse range of artists, collectors, art lovers and all who are simply curios about art.

Find out more

Courses, Clubs & Classes

The Firstsite Art Fair: Kite Making Workshop

Saturday 10 May 2025

10:00 am

More times available

At the first Firstsite Art Fair, whether you’re an art or kite flying lover, unleash your creativity in our hands-on Kite Making Workshop!

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Courses, Clubs & Classes

The Firstsite Art Fair: Watercolour Workshop

Saturday 10 May 2025

10:00 am

More times available

At the first Firstsite Art Fair, discover the calming art of watercolour painting in this immersive Watercolour Workshop for all skill levels!

Find out more

Cinema

Flow (Relaxed)

Saturday 10 May 2025

11:00 am

When a flood washes its home away, a solitary cat must seek refuge with a motley crew of animals, who gradually learn to go with the Flow.

Find out more

Courses, Clubs & Classes

Portfolio Surgery – Afternoon Sessions

Saturday 10 May 2025

2:00 pm

More times available

Book a one-on-one session at our free Artist Portfolio Surgery, where an industry expert will provide professional guidance.

Find out more

Cinema

National Theatre Live: The Importance of Being Earnest (Captioned)

Saturday 10 May 2025

4:00 pm

Sharon D Clarke is joined by Ncuti Gatwa in this joyful reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy-The Importance of Being Earnest.

Find out more

Cinema

Björk’s Cornucopia

Saturday 10 May 2025

7:45 pm

Björk’s Cornucopia, the highly anticipated concert film live in Lisbon, captures the celebrated artist’s tour that mesmerised audiences.

Find out more

Cinema

National Theatre Live: The Importance of Being Earnest

Sunday 11 May 2025

2:00 pm

Sharon D Clarke is joined by Ncuti Gatwa in this joyful reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy – The Importance of Being Earnest.

Find out more

Cinema

Mr. Burton (Captioned)

Tuesday 13 May 2025

2:00 pm

The true story of how Mr. Burton, became one of the greatest actors of his generation with the help of an unlikely mentor.

Find out more

Cinema

Mr. Burton (Parent & Baby)

Thursday 15 May 2025

11:00 am

The true story of how Mr. Burton, became one of the greatest actors of his generation with the help of an unlikely mentor.

Find out more

Cinema

The Return

Friday 16 May 2025

11:00 am

More times available

The Return after 20 years sees Odysseus finding his wife held prisoner by suitors vying to be king and his son facing death at their hands.

Find out more

Cinema

War Paint: Women At War

Friday 16 May 2025

2:00 pm

More times available

Shining a light on the trailblazing role of women, War Paint – Women At War champions the female perspective on conflict through art.

Find out more

Cinema

Four Mothers

Friday 16 May 2025

5:30 pm

More times available

Four Mothers. That’s who a struggling novelist who is forced to take care of over the course of one chaotic weekend in Dublin.

Find out more

Courses, Clubs & Classes

Origami Workshop

Friday 16 May 2025

7:00 pm

In our Origami Workshop, Lu Yu will guide you step by step through the creation of specific origami shapes in this ancient art form!

Find out more

Courses, Clubs & Classes

EcoArt Collage and Craft

Friday 16 May 2025

7:00 pm

More times available

Join us for our EcoArt Collage and Craft workshop where creativity meets sustainability In this unique group experience!

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Talks & Events

Firstsite Fabulous Fridays

Friday 16 May 2025

7:00 pm

More times available

Immerse yourself in a world of unlimited creativity at our monthly Fabulous Fridays with unique workshops, art, tasty treats and great films!

Find out more

Courses, Clubs & Classes

Boozy Brushes

Friday 16 May 2025

7:30 pm

More times available

Join Sirena Hart for Boozy Brushes at Firstsite – our New Multi-Art, Drag entertainment painting class extravaganza!

Find out more

Cinema

One To One: John & Yoko

Friday 16 May 2025

8:00 pm

More times available

This is One to One: John & Yoko, John Lennon’s only full-length show after leaving The Beatles, at Madison Square Garden and much more.

Find out more

Cinema

Sylvanian Families (Relaxed)

Saturday 17 May 2025

11:00 am

The annual Star Festival arrives in Sylvanian Families again this year. While everyone is looking forward to it, Freya is worried.

Find out more

Cinema

MET Opera Live: Salome

Saturday 17 May 2025

5:45 pm

Met Music Director Nézet-Séguin takes the podium to conduct Strauss’s one-act incendiary and powerful tragedy in MET Opera Live: Salome.

Find out more

Courses, Clubs & Classes

Writing the Self – Creative Writing Workshop

Sunday 18 May 2025

10:30 am

Delve into the relationship between writing and yourself using your personal experiences to create literary works of art.

Find out more

Cinema

The Royal Opera: Die Walküre

Sunday 18 May 2025

2:00 pm

Gods and mortals battle in the second chapter of Wagner’s Ring cycle in the Royal Ballet and Opera: Die Walküre.

Find out more

Talks & Events

The Foreign Invention of British Art – Leslie Primo

Tuesday 20 May 2025

2:30 pm

Join us for a thought-provoking and insightful session by Leslie Primo in The Arts Society at Firstsite (TASAF) Lecture series!

Find out more

Cinema

Exhibition on Screen: Michelangelo: Love and Death

Wednesday 21 May 2025

2:00 pm

More times available

Michelangelo’s spectacular works seem so familiar, but do we really know this renaissance genius? This is Michelangelo: Love and Death.

Find out more

Cinema

Four Mothers (Parent & Baby)

Thursday 22 May 2025

11:30 am

Four Mothers. That’s who a struggling novelist who is forced to take care of over the course of one chaotic weekend in Dublin.

Find out more

Cinema

The Penguin Lessons

Friday 23 May 2025

11:00 am

More times available

Starring Oscar nominee Steve Coogan, The Penguin Lessons follows an Englishman’s personal and political awakening after he adopts a penguin.

Find out more

Cinema

Escape From Extinction: Rewilding

Friday 23 May 2025

2:00 pm

More times available

Can the world be saved? Narrated by Meryl Streep, follow experts as they seek to Escape from Extinction: Rewilding.

Find out more

Cinema

A Minecraft Movie

Friday 23 May 2025

5:30 pm

More times available

Four misfits — Garrett “The Garbage Man”, Henry, Natalie and Dawn —find themselves struggling with ordinary problems in A Minecraft Movie.

Find out more

Courses, Clubs & Classes

Boozy Brushes – Paint Your Pet

Friday 23 May 2025

7:30 pm

Join Sirena Hart at Firstsite for Boozy Brushes a multi-art, Drag entertainment painting class extravaganza where you can paint your pet!

Find out more

Cinema

Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story

Friday 23 May 2025

8:00 pm

More times available

Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story recounts her controversial life, novels, love affairs, and stardom through personal journals.

Find out more

Cinema

A Minecraft Movie (Relaxed)

Saturday 24 May 2025

11:00 am

Four misfits — Garrett “The Garbage Man”, Henry, Natalie and Dawn —find themselves struggling with ordinary problems in A Minecraft Movie.

Find out more

Courses, Clubs & Classes

Getting Started with Drawing

Sunday 25 May 2025

10:00 am

More times available

Join us in Getting Started with Drawing, a relaxed drawing workshop, to explore different drawing techniques and materials.

Find out more

Cinema

The Royal Ballet: Ballet to Broadway: Wheeldon Works

Sunday 25 May 2025

2:00 pm

The Royal Ballet: Ballet to Broadway: Wheeldon Works showcases the remarkable choreographic range of Christopher Wheeldon.

Find out more

Cinema

A Minecraft Movie (Captioned)

Tuesday 27 May 2025

2:00 pm

Four misfits — Garrett “The Garbage Man”, Henry, Natalie and Dawn —find themselves struggling with ordinary problems in A Minecraft Movie.

Find out more

Cinema

The Penguin Lessons (Parent & Baby)

Thursday 29 May 2025

11:30 am

Starring Oscar nominee Steve Coogan, The Penguin Lessons follows an Englishman’s personal and political awakening after he adopts a penguin.

Find out more

Cinema

Bluey At The Cinema: Let’s Play Chef Collection

Friday 30 May 2025

11:00 am

More times available

Bluey at the Cinema: Let’s Play Chef Collection is a treat for fans of Bluey to enjoy, made up of eight episodes from the TV show.

Find out more

Cinema

Sylvanian Families

Friday 30 May 2025

1:15 pm

The annual Star Festival arrives in Sylvanian Families again this year. While everyone is looking forward to it, Freya is worried.

Find out more

Cinema

April

Friday 30 May 2025

4:00 pm

More times available

Nina is an OB-GYN in the only small hospital of a town. Abstaining from personal relationships, she is unconditionally devoted in April.

Find out more

Cinema

National Theatre Live: Dr. Strangelove (Captioned)

Friday 30 May 2025

7:00 pm

Seven-time BAFTA Award-winner Steve Coogan plays four roles in the world premiere stage adaptation of Dr. Strangelove.

Find out more

Cinema

Bluey At The Cinema: Let’s Play Chef Collection (Relaxed)

Saturday 31 May 2025

11:00 am

Bluey at the Cinema: Let’s Play Chef Collection is a treat for fans of Bluey to enjoy, made up of eight episodes from the TV show.

Find out more

Cinema

Holy Cow

Saturday 31 May 2025

2:00 pm

More times available

Holy Cow! Totone’s carefree teenage life of drinking and dancing takes a turn when he must provide for his 7-year-old sister.

Find out more

Cinema

MET Opera Live: Il Barbiere di Siviglia

Saturday 31 May 2025

5:45 pm

MET Opera Live 2024–25 season comes to a close with MET Opera Live: Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Rossini’s effervescent comedy. 

Find out more

Cinema

National Theatre Live: Dr. Strangelove

Sunday 01 June 2025

2:00 pm

Seven-time BAFTA Award-winner Steve Coogan plays four roles in the world premiere stage adaptation of Dr. Strangelove.

Find out more

Cinema

Sylvanian Families (Parent & Baby)

Thursday 05 June 2025

11:30 am

The annual Star Festival arrives in Sylvanian Families again this year. While everyone is looking forward to it, Freya is worried.

Find out more

Cinema

National Theatre Live: A Streetcar Named Desire

Friday 06 June 2025

7:00 pm

More times available

Gillian Anderson, Vanessa Kirby, and Ben Foster lead the cast in Tennessee Williams’ timeless masterpiece, A Streetcar Named Desire

Find out more

Cinema

Jesus Christ Superstar Live

Sunday 15 June 2025

2:00 pm

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock classic Jesus Christ Superstar Live returns to its roots with this sensational performance in the UK.

Find out more

Talks & Events

TASAF Lecture Series: Visual Magic in the Musicals

Tuesday 17 June 2025

2:30 pm

Join us for a thought-provoking and insightful session by Christopher Budd in The Arts Society at Firstsite (TASAF) Lecture series!

Find out more

Courses, Clubs & Classes

Watercolour and Wine

Friday 20 June 2025

7:00 pm

Celebrate watercolour with an evening of creativity, relaxation and wine at our Watercolour and Wine Workshop!

Find out more

Courses, Clubs & Classes

Introduction to Collage

Friday 04 July 2025

10:00 am

Sociable, creative and fun Introduction to Collage Workshop where you’ll learn new techniques, unwind and have a delicious lunch together.

Find out more

Cinema

André Rieu’s 2025 Maastricht Concert: Waltz the Night Away!

Saturday 30 August 2025

4:15 pm

More times available

Step into a night of music, romance, and celebration this summer from the stunning Vrijthof Square with André Rieu’s Waltz the Night Away!

Find out more

Cinema

National Theatre Live: Inter Alia

Thursday 04 September 2025

7:00 pm

More times available

Oscar-nominated Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl, Saltburn) is Jessica in the much-anticipated, Inter Alia, from the team behind Prima Facie.

Find out more
Welcome area at Firstsite. 'Big Hello' (2018) Peter Liversidge. Photo by Jayne Lloyd.

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