About the Venue
Showroom Cinema is one of Sheffield’s best-loved independent cinemas, combining film exhibition with a café bar, events space and creative workspaces at the heart of the city’s Cultural Industries Quarter. Opened in 1993, the Showroom champions independent, international and classic cinema, alongside festivals, talks, Q&As and special screenings, making it a cornerstone of Sheffield’s cultural life.
Housed in a striking 1930s Art Deco building on Paternoster Row—formerly a Kennings car dealership—the cinema now features four screens, a welcoming bar and café, and flexible meeting spaces. The wider building is home to the Workstation, supporting businesses from across the cultural and creative sectors. The Showroom has received national recognition, being voted The Guardian readers’ favourite independent cinema in 2002 and later named Best Cultural Venue at the Exposed Magazine Awards. It has also featured on screen itself, appearing in the Leave Before the Lights Come On music video.
Alongside its film programme, the Showroom plays a strong educational role, hosting initiatives such as the BFI Film Academy, which supports young people aged 16–19 to develop filmmaking skills and gain recognised arts qualifications. Independent, inclusive and deeply rooted in Sheffield’s creative scene, the Showroom is far more than a cinema—it’s a cultural hub.
Key details
Opened: 1993
Screens: 4
Type: Independent cinema, café bar & events venue
Setting: Cultural Industries Quarter / Workstation building
A must-list venue for film lovers, festivals and creative events, Showroom Cinema remains one of Sheffield’s most distinctive and important cultural spaces.
Upcoming Events
Ahead of Tuesday evening’s live performance, this special afternoon event explores Jean Cocteau’s landmark monodrama The Human Voice — a work that has fascinated composers, directors and performers for nearly a century.
Through a panel discussion and curated film excerpts, music and film experts examine how Cocteau’s intimate portrait of heartbreak and isolation inspired Francis Poulenc’s operatic adaptation La Voix Humaine, and why the piece continues to resonate so powerfully today.
On screen: iconic interpretations
The event features excerpts from celebrated cinematic versions of The Human Voice, created by some of the world’s most influential filmmakers, including:
Ingmar Bergman
Pedro Almodóvar
And starring unforgettable screen performances by:
Tilda Swinton
Sophia Loren
Each interpretation offers a distinct emotional and visual language, revealing the flexibility and enduring relevance of Cocteau’s text across eras and art forms.
Expert insight and discussion
Soprano Claire Booth joins the panel to discuss the impact of these cinematic versions on musical performance, interpretation, and staging — drawing connections between film, opera and live performance.
Why attend
A rare deep dive into one of the 20th century’s most influential dramatic works
Film excerpts from legendary directors and actors
Insightful discussion bridging cinema, opera and performance
Ideal for lovers of film, classical music, opera and theatre
🎟 Tickets & full details:
https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/exploring-cocteaus-the-human-voice