Grab your popcorn – the Chester Playhouse Theatre will be playing regular movies again.
The playhouse started off as a movie theatre when it first opened as the Kenerick Theatre but by the mid-60s movies stopped being regularly shown and it became a mainly live venue.
Lisa Gleave, general manager of the theatre, says movies will offer the community something more in the winter.
“We don’t have concerts and plays here right now during the January, February, March months and we really wanted to find a way to utilize the space and make it available to the community as a year round venue.”
When she first started as manager she spoke to people and got feedback on what they wanted.
Movies came up time and time again.
The playhouse has a licence to show movies but they don’t have a digital projector so for now they’ll use DVDs or Blu-rays.
Gleave says they are aiming to upgrade the theatre in the future.
Although Gleave says it won’t be like Cineplex, they’re hoping to give movie-goers a good experience.
“When you come to see a movie here it won’t be the same as going to the Cineplex,” she says. “But it’s a chance to come to the theatre, sit in a comfy seat, we’re trying to organize popcorn and all kinds of goodies to be sold before the show.”
And the theatre has a bar, adds Gleave, so that means you can have a beer while you watch a film.
The playhouse has chosen Maudie as their first film.
Going forward, Gleave says they’ll likely choose a mix of blockbusters and things that may be of local interest too.
The first movie plays February 23.
Photo courtesy: Chester Playhouse Theatre
