Press room

Broken English

The Barbican today announce a special preview event with live performances, to mark the UK & Irish cinema release of Broken English in collaboration with Vue Lumiere. Broken English is a never seen before career-spanning portrait of the late Marianne Faithfull, directed by BAFTA nominees Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard (20,000 Days on Earth). 

Taking place in the Barbican Hall, the evening will begin with a preview screening of the critically acclaimed film, followed by live performances from an exceptional line-up of singers, to be announced soon. The concert, backed by the film’s house band is led by MD Rob Ellis (PJ Harvey) and features Anna Calvi, Ed Harcourt, Adrian Utley (Portishead)  and Anna Phoebe.

Following its North American premiere at Sundance Film Festival 2026, the event takes place ahead of the film’s UK & Ireland theatrical release on 20 March 2026. Tickets for this event go on sale on Friday 6 February 2026. 

Made with Marianne’s full support and a cast led by Tilda Swinton (The Room Next Door, Asteroid City) and George MacKay (Cry To Heaven, Femme, 1917), Broken English is an intimate and unflinching exploration of a fractured yet unbreakable life shaped by fame, creative genius and relentless public scrutiny. A genre-defying portrait of resilience and rebellion, a final fearless declaration, Marianne Faithfull’s defiant swan song.

In addition to her last recorded performance, Broken English showcases intimate contributions from her friends and longtime collaborators, including Nick Cave, Warren Ellis, Courtney Love, Suki Waterhouse, Beth Orton, and Jehnny Beth. Additional cast include Zawe Ashton (The Marvels), Calvin Demba (Supacell), and Sophia Di Martino (Loki). 

Receiving its World Premiere (Official Selection Out-of-Competition) at Venice International Film Festival 2025, UK Premiere at the 69th BFI London Film Festival, North American Premiere at Sundance Film Festival and recent sell-out screenings at IDFA 2025, the film will also screen at Glasgow Film Festival and Dublin International Film Festival this Spring, ahead of its UK & Ireland release.  

Produced by the Barbican

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Cesária Évora Orchestra 

With special guest Mayra Andrade

The very best of today’s Cabo Verdean artists come together to pay homage to the life and sounds of Cesária Évora: La Diva aux pieds nus (The Barefoot Diva) as the Cesária Évora Orchestra, comprising Ceuzany, Elida Almeida, Lucibela, Teofilo Chantre and special guest Mayra Andrade.

Cesária Évora was a remarkable singer who passed away suddenly in 2011. Known for performing the Cabo Verdean ‘morna’ style of music, Évora’s life and music will be celebrated in this concert by unparalleled Cabo Verdean artists committed to preserving her enchanting legacy and keeping her repertoire alive. Coming together under the banner of Cesária Évora Orchestra they have performed all over the world and now bring their tribute to an icon of global music and her work – notably as an ambassador of Cabo Verdean music – to the Barbican Hall.

The ensemble is comprised of singers, instrumentalists and champions of Cabo Verdean music: Ceuzany, Elida Almeida, Lucibela and Teofilo Chantre who take to the stage as the current Cesária Évora Orchestra line up where they will be joined by special guest singer Mayra Andrade.

Cesária Évora has sold over 6 million albums garnering international acclaim including; Miss Perfumado, Café Atlantico and Cabo Verde. In 2004 the morna singer earned a GRAMMY award for the album Voz d’Amor.

Produced by the Barbican

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Leif Vollebekk and the BBC Symphony Orchestra

Canadian singer songwriter Leif Vollebekk brings his musical alchemy to the Barbican Hall, performing an assortment of reimagined fan favourites, deep cuts, and songs from his latest album, Revelation. Leif will be accompanied by the Barbican's associate orchestra the BBC Symphony Orchestra. 

In his latest album the singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist marries Carl Jung’s I Ching and Wittgenstein’s love of language with his own lyrical poetry on the aptly named album: Revelation, a product of introspection brought on by lockdown. Part orchestral ballad, part folk song, the music is organic and earthy, weaving themes of nature, astral constellations and mortality into a meditation on living in an ever-changing present, laced with existential doubt and the search for a higher power. Performed in 2025 at Cork’s Sounds from a Safe Harbour festival, the arrangements have now been expanded for full orchestra for this special Barbican performance.

His first label release, Twin Solitude, was a breakthrough album, making the Polaris Music Prize 2017 shortlist and gathered over 80 million streams. The New York Times has called his work ‘pensive and restless, blossoming with stream of consciousness verses that bear the marks of long nights spent alone on the road'.

Produced by the Barbican in association with the BBC Symphony Orchestra

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