Darwin, Evolution and the Movies

Darwin influenced fiction as well as fact and authors such as HG Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs and Charles Kingsley were all directly inspired by Darwin's theory of evolution by the means of natural and sexual selection.

The work of Wells, Kingsley and Burroughs paved the way for future generations of writers and filmmakers, Clarke and Creighton to name just two.

As a result today's cinema audience is well versed in evolutionary themes. The threat of future evolution, metamorphosis or mans' descent into savagery are phenomena our silver screen heroes frequently do battle with.

On 24 November it will be 150 years since On the Origin of Species was published. The Darwin, Evolution and the Movies festival presents films, old and new and live comedy, all of which have one thing in common, they would never have been made without the pioneering work of Charles Darwin.

6.30pm: Twenty specially commissioned short films for Darwin200, some of them being premiered at Shortwave, plus accompanying performance poetry and Q&A with the directors.

9pm Carole Jahme is Sexually Selected! Award winning comedy show