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The Sheffield culture guide written by in-the-know locals

Ran

Akira Kurosawa's Ran is one of the director's most ambitious and visually incredible projects. Regarded to be his last true epic – and widely-regarded as one of the greatest films of all time – taking inspiration from Shakespeare's King Lear, it was Japan's most expensive film at the time of release in 1985.

Not the first time Kurosawa took inspiration from the works of Shakespeare – 1957's Throne of Blood is a reworking of Macbeth, and 1960's The Bad Sleep Well inspired by Hamlet – Ran takes place in 16th century Japan, as an elderly warlord retires and divides his empire between his three sons.

However, he underestimates how power will corrupt them, and cause them to turn on each other... and him.

A breath-taking experience, see this film re-released back on the big screen for its 40th anniversary.

Read a retrospective feature from Reel Steel.

Book now:
The Light / Showroom

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Fri. 4 July 2025 — Sun. 27 July 2025

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The Showroom's celebration of all thing’s kaiju returns. Expect giant monsters, rubber suits, nuclear horrors, mystical fantasy, and royal rumble free-for-alls. For it's second year, KaiJuly marks 60 years of Gamera, the giant, fire-breathing turtle.

Abbeydale Picture House

An enchanted princess of a building, the beguiling 1920s Abbeydale Picture House is at last mid-rescue.