Film Club & Brunch: Sunny Dancer Screening and Q&A

• £55 per person including brunch (one main dish, a hot drink and a cocktail or smoothie) and tickets to the screening and Q&A (with popcorn)

Join us at Charlotte Street Hotel for brunch at Oscar followed by a special screening of the widely celebrated coming-of-age film Sunny Dancer, finishing with an insightful Q&A with writer, director and co-producer George Jaques and co-producer Ken Petrie as they discuss the making of and story behind the film.

The afternoon begins with brunch and live jazz in the vibrant Oscar restaurant. Choose a main dish from our Film Club set menu, which features a twist on brunch favourites, including The ‘McOscar’ with pork patties, fried duck egg, Lincolnshire Poacher and brown sauce and Oscar’s buttermilk pancakes with blueberry compote and Chantilly cream. What’s brunch without something to sip? Raise a glass to the weekend with one of our signature cocktails or try one of our refreshing smoothies.

This British coming-of-age film follows 17-year-old Ivy, played by Bella Ramsey. Who, while in remission from leukemia, reluctantly heads off to spend the summer at “Chemo Camp”. What begins as an experience she never wanted soon unfolds into an unexpected journey of friendship and self-discovery. Relationships blossom with a group of like minded misfit teens, played by Daniel Quinn-Toye, Ruby Stokes, Earl Cave, Jasmine Elcock and Conrad Khan. Together, they embark on making the summer the most fun and mischievous experience it can be and ultimately proving to everyone that "cancer is the least interesting thing about them”.

The supporting cast of adults add comedy and depth, such as, Neil Patrick-Harris, who plays the friendly, out-of-touch camp director and James Norton, and Jessica Gunning, who play Ivy’s "cringey" parents, who deliver well timed punchlines and deeply meaningful moments.

 
After brunch, you will be welcomed into our screening room for the 3pm screening of Sunny Dancer. Following the film, guests are invited to stay for a special Q&A with rising-star director George Jaques, joined by his close friend and co-producer, Ken Petrie.

About George Jaques and Ken Petrie

A former actor, George Jaques founded his production company at just 16 and has since produced plays, short films and two feature films. Sunny Dancer is his most ambitious project to date, and one with deeply personal origins. Having grown up with a mother who had cancer, and later spending time working with the Teenage Cancer Trust, he was determined to avoid the familiar clichés surrounding the subject, instead he “wanted to make a film about joy”. Joined by Ken Petrie, with whom he previously collaborated on the acclaimed independent feature Black Dog, released in 2023. Together, the pair will discuss the inspiration behind Sunny Dancer and its journey to the screen.