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Opened
in 1914 as the Leiston Picture House, the Leiston Film Theatre is
Suffolk’s oldest purpose built cinema. The fact that the Film Theatre
has managed to survive for so long is mainly due to it’s capacity for
re-inventing itself on a regular basis, with improvements to the
auditorium, projection equipment and the stage area all of which have
contributed to the longevity of the venue. In the mid 1970’s faced with
certain closure the Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town Council purchased this
precious facility and thanks to them added dressing rooms and extended the
stage area and with this the whole aspect of the Film Theatre changed with
a greater emphasis on live entertainment.
Formed
in 1992 The Leiston Film Theatre Support Club has to date raised more than
£30,000 for this unique and valuable asset to the local and wider
community. The Support Club is continually fundraising with coffee
mornings, quiz nights, barbeques, draws, sausage sizzles, archive film
shows, theatre shows and concerts, in fact anything that will assist in
the fund raising effort. However there is physically only so much that the
volunteers can do with their genuine hard work and commitment.
In
2004 the Support Club embarked on its most ambitious project to date.
Entitled “Set the Stage,” its purpose is to totally revitalise the stage
area of the venue for its live shows and cinema presentations.
Set
the Stage
is now working to continue with these improvements by providing a new
stage frame, from which new lighting bars and new lighting plus curtain
tracks and cloth bars will be suspended, Also a new scenery storage area
Workshop /overflow dressing room, would be built to improve the quality of
live shows and performances.
But
we need your help - Projects like this cost money and even with the
Support Clubs’ commitment more funding is required. This is where you
come in. We are aiming for completion in time for the Film Theatre’s
2007 pantomime “Aladdin and his Magical Lamp” and if your company
could help us, the Film Theatre will be able to go forward with even more
ambitious projects for the 21st century, and any help you could
give would be gratefully received.
For
further information contact:
Vivian
Fox
Leiston
Film Theatre, 74 High Street
Leiston.
IPI64BZ
E-mail:
Leistonfilm@aol.com
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