It’s excellent news that director Ben Wheatley will be returning for a Q&A and screening of his latest film Happy New Year, Colin Burstead at Exeter Phoenix’s Studio 74 on 25th November, after bringing his Q&A tour of Free Fire to the venue last year.

This will be the second time Mr Wheatley comes to the Phoenix and, not wanting to break with tradition, his seventh feature film, Happy New Year, Colin Burstead, will follow up its hugely successful BFI London Film Festival premiere earlier this month by going on tour across the country. These preview screenings with Q&A’s are ahead of its Christmas release on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, in a unique partnership with BBC Films, BBC Comedy and BBC Two.

The film has a glorious British ensemble cast including Wheatley regulars Richard Glover, Peter Ferdinando, Neil Maskell, Mark Monero and Sam Riley along with Asim Chaudhry, Joe Cole, Charles Dance, Alexandra Maria Lara, Doon Mackichan, Sinead Matthews, Bill Paterson and Hayley Squires.

The film centres around Colin Burstead (Maskell) who hires a lavish country manor for his extended family to celebrate New Year. Unfortunately for Colin his position of power in the family is under serious threat from the arrival of his estranged brother David.

Shot earlier this year the film holds a mirror to the political and social situation of the country and its place in the world. Wheatley is currently writing an extended TV series featuring the same characters for future broadcast.

Tickets for the Q&A screening cost £7 (£5 for students and under 25s) and can be purchased by visiting exeterphoenix.org.uk or from the venue’s box office (01392 667080).