The prolific Neil Bartlett – director dramatist translator performer novelist cultural historian and artistic chief of the Lyric Hammersmith – is renowned for

The prolific Neil Bartlett – director, dramatist, translator, performer, novelist, cultural historian and artistic chief of the Lyric, Hammersmith – is renowned for the diversity of his projects, and also – because he is a genuine auteur – for the way these various ventures connect to form a coherent portrait of the artist. Sandra Hebron, artistic director, said: “From high-profile international premieres and quirky independent features to socially and culturally illuminating documentaries, archive restorations and a wealth of short films and videos, this is one of our strongest ever programmes.”. It then tours to Glasgow, Bradford, Manchester, Nottingham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Canterbury. David Thewlis, the star of Naked, makes his directorial debut with Cheeky, about a toy shop owner whose life is turned upside down by the accidental death of his wife.The Shape of Things, adapted by Neil LaBute from his stage play, will also be shown. It stars Rachel Weisz, who was in the stage version.The opening night gala will be In the Cut by Jane Campion, starring Meg Ryan as a “lonely New York woman who discovers the darker side of passion”.The London Film Festival, organised by the British Film Institute, runs from 22 Octoberto 6 November. A controversial film of the turbulent lives of the poets Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes starring Gwyneth Paltrow is to have its European premiere at the London Film Festival.

“I will never, never in a million years, go to see it,” she was quoted as saying.But it will be essential viewing for Plath enthusiasts, many of whom feel the American was treated shabbily by Hughes, who became Poet Laureate. He died five years ago.Daniel Craig, who has appeared in films including The Road to Perdition and Elizabeth, plays Ted Hughes in the £7m production, which is backed by the BBC and the UK Film Council.The film is one of a number of British projects to be shown, alongside international works by Bernardo Bertolucci, Sofia Coppola, Lars von Trier and Oliver Stone.British films include a biopic, Blind Flight, on the time John McCarthy and Brian Keenan spent as hostages, starring Linus Roache and Ian Hart. Paul Sutton won at Abbey Green, with 842 votes compared with the BNP’s 782. I think that the Lib Dems are fooling themselves if they read great significance into this result.”* Labour beat off a challenge from the British National Party to win a seat on Stoke-on-Trent City Council in a by-election. They will have to have their own inquest about this election as well.”He added: “The Lib Dems and before them the SDP have a history of winning by-elections and then on the next vote losing the seat.

“I’m not denying that a big swing away from us is not good news for us but it is certainly not good news for the Conservative Party either. He has a huge contribution to make,” he told the BBC.”And a large number of people in the country whatever their current unhappiness – and there have been unhappinesses in the last few weeks – recognise [that].”Stephen Twigg, an Education minister, said the party would have to learn from Brent. She received 189 votes.Nick Raynsford, the Local Government minister, denied that Mr Blair, who had barely featured in Labour election literature, had become a liability to the party “He will carry on as Prime Minister. is people wanting to give a message to the Labour Party that they don’t trust them.”The field of 16 candidates also included the self-styled comedy terrorist Aaron Barschak, who won 37 votes, and Kelly McBride, protesting over retention in the Army of two soldiers who shot dead her brother in Belfast in 1992. Ms Fernandes, a community nurse, was the only candidate from the three main parties who lived in the constituency, but betrayed her fears about the impending Tory rout in a newspaper interview, conceding that she had little hope of victory.Theresa May, the Conservative Party chairman, said: “This is not natural Tory territory The real story … They flooded the area with activists and MPs and Mr Kennedy made repeated visits.The Conservatives were putting a brave face on the result, but it was a bitter blow to Iain Duncan Smith, who this week renewed his attempts to rebrand the Tories as a “caring party”. The Iraq war a constant theme in a constituency with a substantial Muslim vote.The Liberal Democrats, whose annual conference begins on Sunday, cashed in on the disillusionment with stunning success despite having a minimal presence in Brent previously.