Jonathan Pryce co-stars in this well-meaning but hammy retelling of the real-life fight to save Carmarthen’s local theatre
A well-meaning but hammy and perfunctorily sentimental heartwarmer in the familiar Britfilm style, inspired by the true story of Liz Evans, the dynamic founder of a youth theatre in Carmarthen whose productions were performed in an art deco theatre called the Lyric. She single-handedly saved it from demolition in the 90s, with her unflagging commitment to preserving it as a performance space, a movie theatre and a community resource.
Samantha Morton plays Liz; Jonathan Pryce plays a benevolent old teacher (favourite film: Goodbye Mr Chips) and Tom Felton is a kind-hearted postman. But the movie creates a gurning
comedy evil mayor who is in cahoots with wicked developers, and this thankless and somewhat broad role is taken by Adeel Akhtar, who can do little or nothing with it.