Bend it like Beckham Immersive Screening | Saturday 14th September, 4pm - late

Taking place on Saturday 14th September from 4.00pm - late, the screening is being held in collaboration with creative events collective Girl Gang Manchester. The feminist collective have curated a whole programme of activities exploring friendship, women in sport and south asian culture that will run in conjunction with the screening. Tickets for the event are ranging from £12-25, available via Eventbrite.

Stretford town centre’s Bend it Like Beckham event is Girl Gang Manchester’s first immersive screening in six years, and promises to be their best yet. The screening will take place from 7.00pm-9.00pm in Stretford Mall, which will be open exclusively for the event, after hours, for the first time in years. 

As well as showing the cult favourite 2002 film, starring Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley, activities will take place both before and after the film is shown. 

From 4.00pm - 6:30pm, a number of workshops and activities, both drop in and booking only, will take place along the central corridor of the Mall in Stretford town centre, including:

• “She’s Got Balls: Women in Sport - Advocating, Instigating & Training’ - Panel discussion exploring representation of women, non-binary and South Asian identities in sport will take place prior to the film. The panel will be chaired by visual artist and football fanatic Alina Akbar. 
• Football anthem writing workshops in collaboration with local songwriter and musician Nishla Smith. 
• “No-one can Bend it Like Beckham” ball skills workshop and a pop up penalty shoot out and teach guests all about fancy footwork and the skills needed to improve techniques. 
• Chai & Chat: A safe relaxing space for people of all ages and identities to connect and chat. There will be various conversation topics throughout the workshop, some open to people of all ethnicities and identities and others purely for women of South Asian heritage. 
• Henna from Attiya Designs 

• Bollywood dance workshop - Aimz BollyDance will teach guests the basics of Bollywood dance and a wedding inspired dance routine 
• “Lesbian? I thought she was a Pisces!” Queering Bend it Like Beckham with Afshan Lodhi: Queer South Asian writer Afshan-Lodhi will explore, discuss, and celebrate Bend it Like Beckham with a curated conversations and creative writing exercises

Decor will take inspiration from Indian weddings and celebration events and include  immersive sets and interactive props from the film for audiences to engage with pre-screening. Guests will have the opportunity to transport themselves into Jesminder’s bedroom and interact with roaming performers popping up across the mall. 

South-Asian food and drink refreshments will be provided by local suppliers. 

Once the film has finished, an Indian wedding themed after party will be held in the Mall. There will be DJ sets from Amina on the Beat and lots more fun activities to take attendees into the night. 

Follow @stretfordtowncentre on Instagram or the Stretford town centre Facebook for more updates and information on all things Stretford and the Summer of Sport.