Star date: 14th July 2019

SHORT FILM INTRODUCTION TO PETERLOO EVENTS AND PLACES

As the 200th anniversary events for the Peterloo Massacre begin, a new short film featuring Neil Bell, who starred in Mike Leigh's film as Samuel Bamford, introduces the places, faces and events that are going to be the centre of attention over the coming weeks, culminating with the 16th August epicentre.

Full details and links here...

With 150 public events happening to mark the 200th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre, a new ten minute film has been produced.

The Peterloo Visitor Film* features actor Neil Bell, who starred in Mike Leigh's epic Peterloo film as Samuel Bamford, as he takes viewers through the places where the monstrous events took place, as 18 people were killed and hundreds injured at a peaceful political reform protest in on 16th August 1819.

Neil visits everywhere, from the site of St Peter's Field at the back of the Midland Hotel and in front of Manchester Central, to the wall at the Friends Meeting House where one of the campaigners was crushed to death, to the Britons Protection pub with its Peterloo murals.

He also calls in at the Disrupt? Peterloo and Protest exhibition at the People's History Museum, the Pankhurst statue in St Peter's Square and modern day Middleton, to tell the Peterloo story and link it with subsequent events.

"Playing Samuel Bamford in Mike Leigh's Peterloo gave me a real appetite to find out more about what happened in Manchester in 1819" says Neil "That tragedy was also a defining moment for the city and it's fitting that so many events are taking place this year to mark the 200th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre.

"It was a real privilege to retrace the steps of those protesters and learn more about the historical context of modern Manchester" he adds "I hope this film will encourage others to do the same."

Obviously it's a film encouraging people to come to Manchester, commissioned jointly by Marketing Manchester and Manchester Histories but it is also a succinct intro to what all the fuss is about ie protest, democracy and freedom.

"There is a huge amount for us to learn from about the events that were to lead to Peterloo; how a peaceful protest was to end in a day of bloodshed and the consequences that were to follow" says Karen Shannon, Chief Executive of Manchester Histories "Yet awareness levels of this milestone in our democracy are still relatively low, even within Greater Manchester. This film will help to connect people to this history and to understand why it has such relevance to our lives today."

Sheona Southern, Managing Director of Marketing Manchester, adds: "Peterloo was a tragic turning point in the history of Manchester, helping to ignite the spirit of defiance and progress that survives to this day. The city has changed massively in 200 years but there are still links to the past all around and I hope that this film will inspire people to come to Manchester and learn more about the history of democracy for themselves."

* To see the film on YouTube – click here

For a full list of all the events happening to commemorate Peterloo see www.peterloo1819.co.uk

* The Peterloo Visitor Film project was led by Marketing Manchester's Manchester Content Curator Simon Donohue working with videographer Nick Hulme of One Smart Cookie.

Photo shows Neil Bell at the Pankhurst statue