Comic Stewart Lee returns to Telford for special screening of his documentary about a rockstar and a giant ape

Comedian Stewart Lee will return next month to the Shropshire town of his birth for a special screening of his labour-of-love documentary, plus a Q&A with its subject and director.

Lee, who was born in Wellington in 1968, returned to the town while making King Rocker, a documentary about Birmingham singer Robert Lloyd and his bands The Prefects and The Nightingales. The film features footage from near Lloyd's home in Telford, where he has lived for several years.

King Rocker was released in 2020 to positive reviews from publications including The NME, The Guardian and The Observer.

Now Lee, Lloyd and director Michael Cumming are to reunite at the Wellington Orbit cinema on October 19 for a special screening of the film’s director’s cut, followed by a live Q&A.

Lloyd has spent more than four decades making music while remaining largely under the radar. His story is at the heart of King Rocker, as Lee and Cumming explore the life and career of an unconventional musician and ask how he wants to be remembered.

King Rocker takes an unconventional approach, weaving Lloyd’s life and career together with the story of a forgotten King Kong sculpture in Birmingham. The film features appearances from Frank Skinner and Nigel Slater alongside musicians, writers and comedians.

The Guardian named King Rocker its Pick of the Day, depicting “The Jarvis Cocker that never happened”, while The Observer described it as “a charming and experimental documentary”.

The Wellington event will give audiences the opportunity to see the rarely seen director's cut of King Rocker, expanded by 30 minutes, before hearing directly from Lee, Lloyd and Cumming during a live Q&A.

Wellington Orbit manager Damian Breeze said: “It's fantastic to be able to bring an event like this to Wellington, particularly with Stewart Lee and Robert Lloyd both having such strong connections to the town. It’s a unique opportunity to see the film and then hear directly from them in the Q&A.

“It’s going to be a great evening, and one that audiences won’t want to miss.

The event takes place on Monday, October 19 at 7pm. Tickets are priced at £20 and are on sale now. For more information and tickets, visit www.wellingtonorbit.co.uk.