UK Premiere of the Documentary film "Theocracy - The Emigrants Artist"
Saturday 23rd May 2026, 8pm-10pm
Kiln Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Rd, London NW6 7JR
£14.00 or £13.00 for Camden/Brent residents
Saturday 23rd May 2026, 8pm-10pm
Kiln Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Rd, London NW6 7JR
£14.00 or £13.00 for Camden/Brent residents
Kiln Cinema is proud to host the UK premiere of the documentary, Theocracy - The Emigrant's Artist, followed by a Q&A with its subject Bernard Canavan and Director Sé Merry Doyle.
Theocracy - The Emigrant's Artist explores the life and work of the London-based Irish artist Bernard Canavan, known as 'The Emigrant's Artist' for his powerful and evocative depictions of the Irish diaspora, based on his own experience as an Irish Navvy in the 1950's.
However, this film tells another tale, Bernard's own personal story: how he was abandoned in 1944 and placed in Saint Patrick's Guild, later to become known as 'The House of Shame', a place which was part of Ireland's hidden history of institutional abuse. Now in his 80's, Bernard addresses his own personal story - in his new suite of paintings entitled 'Theocracy'. In this film these new paintings will be unveiled.
Theocracy - The Emigrant's Artist speaks volumes for the power of art to offer testimony to subjects many would rather turn away from. Sé Merry Doyle is an award-winning Irish documentary filmmaker. Some of his previous award-wining films include Patrick Kavanagh: No Man's Fool, John Ford: Dreaming the Quiet Man.
