- The National Science and Media Museum’s Pictureville Cinema will be screening Pauline Black: A 2-Tone Story with an exclusive live Q&A on Friday 28 March.
- The Q&A will feature The Selecter frontwoman Pauline Black, as well as documentary producer Nikki Parrot, and will be hosted by Guardian music critic Dave Simpson.
The National Science and Media Museum’s Pictureville Cinema will be hosting a special screening of Pauline Black: A 2-Tone Story on Friday 28 March. This screening will feature an exclusive live Q&A event with Pauline Black herself, as well as producer Nikki Parrot, hosted by Guardian music critic Dave Simpson.
This powerful new feature weaves together personal storytelling and collective history as it charts Pauline Black’s life and legacy as lead singer of iconic 2-Tone band, The Selecter. The documentary traces Black’s journey from a difficult childhood to becoming one of the defining voices in a musical movement standing against racism and social division.
Pauline Black: A 2-Tone Story is an intimate exploration of identity, race, gender, and the enduring political impact of the genre, capturing both the triumphs and struggles of the 2-Tone movement through the lens of one of its most iconic figures. The documentary blends rare archival footage with interviews from renowned musicians and cultural commentators, including contributions from Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson, Don Letts, Skin, Damon Albarn, Rhoda Dakar, Lynval Golding, Mykaell Riley, Sonia Boyce, and Jools Holland.
Following the screening, the exclusive live Q&A will offer a rare opportunity for the audience to engage directly with Pauline Black and producer Nikki Parrott. This insightful discussion will provide a deeper understanding of the documentary’s themes, Black’s personal journey, and the lasting cultural impact of the 2-Tone movement.
The event comes as part of Pictureville’s ongoing commitment as Yorkshire’s largest independent cinema to bring unique events and thoughtful programming to its audiences. The cinema will continue to celebrate the power of music and film throughout April, with IMAX screenings of One to One: John and Yoko (2025) and Pink Floyd at Pompeii (2025), continuing to bring music to life on the big screen.
Find out more and book tickets here.
For more information on Pictureville’s upcoming programme.
ENDS
For more information please contact Alice Browne, Senior Press Officer at alice.browne@scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk
A media pack of images can be downloaded here.
Pauline Black
Pauline Black is a singer, actress, and author best known as the frontwoman of the pioneering 2-Tone band, The Selecter. Rising to prominence in the late 1970s, she became a defining figure in the ska revival, using music as a platform to challenge racism and social inequality. With a career spanning over four decades, she remains a powerful voice in music, activism, and literature, having penned her acclaimed memoir Black by Design.
Nikki Parrott
Nikki Parrott is an award-winning documentary producer known for her work on music and cultural titles. She has collaborated on a range of projects that explore the intersections of music, identity, and social change. Her latest work, Pauline Black: A 2-Tone Story, offers an intimate portrayal of Black’s journey and the wider impact of the 2-Tone movement.
Dave Simpson
Dave Simpson writes about music and popular culture for The Guardian, Uncut, and other titles from his Yorkshire base. He is the author of The Fallen – Life In And Out Of Britain’s Most Insane Group, which chronicles the ever-changing lineup of The Fall, and The Last Champions, exploring Leeds United’s 1991-92 title-winning season. Simpson has written extensively about 2-Tone, interviewing key figures from The Specials, Madness, The Beat, and The Selecter.
About the National Science and Media Museum
The National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, West Yorkshire, opened in 1983, and has since become one of the most visited UK museums outside London. It draws on more than three million objects from its national collection to explore the science and culture of image and sound technologies, and their impact on our lives.
The museum creates special exhibitions, interactive galleries and activities for families and adults, and is home to Pictureville, Yorkshire’s biggest independent cinema with three screens including Europe’s first IMAX and the only public Cinerama venue in the world.
The National Science and Media Museum reopened on 8 January 2025, following a £6m once in a generation transformation. The museum is open seven days a week, from 10.00–17.00. For more information and to book tickets, please visit our website.
