Rural cinema a hit (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Rural cinema a hit in Malmesbury

10:50am Sunday 27th February 2011 in News

ALMOST 2,000 people watched Oscar hope The King’s Speech in town and community halls in Wiltshire rather than trekking to multiplex cinemas.

Every screening of the film starring Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter at Malmesbury was sold out even though extra ones were put on.

Showings in Melksham and Calne proved equally popular.

Caroline Norbury, Chief Executive of South West Screen, part of the consortium behind the rural cinema project, said: "We don’t think that people should have to wait longer to enjoy such a phenomenally successful film as The King’s Speech, just because of where they live.

"These figures just go to show the real appetite that local communities have for high quality digital screenings of their favourite films at convenient locations."

The White Horse Pictures pilot scheme, which was launched officially in Malmesbury earlier this month, uses state-of-the-art digital cinema equipment to bring recent releases and Hollywood blockbusters to rural communities.

On the bill for the next session at the town hall on Monday (FEB28) are the 50th Anniversary of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Gulliver’s Travels and Burlesque.

On March 14 Black Swan and The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader will be shown.

Tickets are available from Malmesbury Town Hall.