Staycation Festival: Roman Holiday at Howard Assembly Rooms
Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor
Journey to Italy this summer, with live music, a three course meal and a special screening of William Wyler’s classic 1953 romantic comedy, Roman Holiday starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck at Howard Assembly Rooms
A charming slice of Hollywood escapism, the film earned Hepburn an Oscar in what was her first leading role. The actress stars as a bored and sheltered European princess who escapes her guardians and slips into a romance with Peck’s worldly, fast talking American newsman. Aside from the glamour of the central duo, Wyler’s film offers an irresistible, romanticised version of post-war Rome — largely thanks to extensive on-location filming — that continues to enchant audiences to this day.
Before the film, there’s a chance to travel down the coast with a 30-minute live music set of Neapolitan songs from Aidan Edward, alongside a paired Italian three-course menu in the venue’s award-winning restaurant Kino. Or, if you’re shorter on time, there’s an option for a Staycation themed picnic basket in the Howard Assembly Room during the film itself.
