Gala showing for new Darwin film

The new film about Darwin premiers in Shrewsbury

New film Creation, about the life of Charles Darwin, is to have a gala regional premier in Shrewsbury, where the scientist was born.

The movie is based on the the biography of the naturalist written by his great, great grandson, Randal Keynes.

Creation is due for national release on Friday, 25 September, but will be shown in the Old Market Hall on the evening of Thursday, 24 September.

Creation will continue to run at the town centre cinema until 8 October.

Theories of Evolution

Creation stars Paul Bettany, Jennifer Connelly, Jeremy Northam and Toby Jones. It celebrates the legacy of Charles Darwin and tells of his life with his wife Emma, when they lived at Down House in Kent.

It focuses on his struggle to find a balance between his revolutionary theories of evolution and his relationship with the religious Emma whose beliefs seem at odds with his work.

The release coincides with the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin's most famous work, On the Origin of Species.

It is 200 years since Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury and there have been celebrations throughout the town all year.

A permanent reminder of the naturalist's presence in the town is the controversial Quantum Leap sculpture on the banks of the River Severn.

Jon King, who organised the year's events, said it was very fitting that the new film should have its premier in Shrewsbury: "It was after all his early days in the Shropshire town which planted the seed and provided the inspiration for his childhood love of plants and wildlife."