A new Arena documentary by artist Gillian Wearing, followed by a Q+A

Just as George Eliot’s Middlemarch explored the lives of ordinary men and women, Gillian Wearing’s experimental film is made up of a diverse cast of people from different backgrounds, and features Jason Isaacs and Sheila Atim as the narrators. Together with writers, actors and local people from Nuneaton, Coventry and London they read extracts from George Eliot’s novels, letters and the first-hand accounts of those who knew her. This fascinating documentary paints a polyphonic and unique portrait of the novelist’s unconventional life and reveal the woman behind the literary mask.

The screening is followed by a short discussion and Q+A with producer Martina Hall, score composer Adrian Utley (Portishead), commissioning editor Mark Bell and Rebecca Mead programme consultant and author of the critically acclaimed book My Life in Middlemarch.  

Arena: Everything Is Connected – George Eliot’s Life is a BBC Studios Production. It was commissioned for BBC Arts and BBC Four by Mark Bell. Artist Gillian Wearing is the Director. Martina Hall is the Producer. Janet Lee is the Executive Producer for BBC Studios. 

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