Celebrating International Women's Day at the Brightwell

This International Women's Day, we are doing something a little special. Join us on Friday, 6 March, from 7:00 pm at the Brightwell for a truly inspiring film evening to mark the occasion.

We'll be opening with a screening of 87 Days: Alone Rowing the Pacific, the remarkable true story of British adventurer Lia Ditton, who in June 2020 rowed solo out from under San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge into open ocean and didn't stop until she reached Hawaii 2,499 miles later. Sharks circled her boat. Twice she nearly drowned and yet she kept rowing.

In completing the journey, Lia broke two Guinness World Records, becoming the youngest and fastest woman to row the mid-Pacific Ocean.

What makes this evening even more special is our own connection to Lia. In 2022, she visited the Brightwell Centre's Hyperbaric Oxygen department a period of four months as part of her recovery,  so we have a wonderful personal link to this extraordinary woman and her journey.

We will then follow this with a screening of the much-loved classic Bend It Like Beckham. The story of Jess, a young British-Indian girl who dreams of becoming a professional footballer, defying her family's expectations and society's assumptions to pursue her passion for the game. A feel-good film that hasn't lost an ounce of its charm since its release in 2002.

Together, these two films capture the very spirit of International Women's Day, celebrating women who refuse to be defined by what others expect of them, who push boundaries, break records, and inspire us all to back ourselves a little more. Whether you're rowing solo across the Pacific or fighting for your place on the pitch, the message is the same: believe in yourself, back your dreams, and anything is possible.

Join us on Friday, 6 March, from 7:00 pm at The Brightwell. Free entry.  Popcorn and refreshments are available to purchase.  All welcome.

Check out some other events happening in the area to celebrate International Womens Day