Freeze FRAME:
The Illustrated Cinemas of Newcastle
Newcastle
Tyne Theatre & Opera House
Monday 1st
June to Tuesday 30th June
Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre &
Opera House has had a number of interesting events on since the preservation
trust set up an operating company to look after the running of the historic
theatre. June sees the arrival of an art exhibition covering both this building’s
past and that of many other much loved buildings.
Ben
Holland has been working hard over the last two years trying to capture the
spirit of Newcastle’s cinema scene. His research took him to the local history
archive at Newcastle libraries. When he asked
for photographs of Newcastle’s cinemas past and
present he was taken back by how many there were. He has concentrated on some
the popular city centre establishments which the people of the North East will
have taken to their hearts.
The
chosen venues will be places that many will have fond memories of though it is
a shame a number of them no longer exist or, like the Odeon, cease to operate. The pieces in this exhibition
cover the entire 20th century from the Westgate Picture House (now the O2 Academy)
in the 1920's through to Pilgrim
Street's Odeon in the 1990's.
In between the collection takes in the Paramount,
Tyneside News Reel Theatre, Queens Cinerama, Pavilion, ABC Haymarket and, of
course, the very venue it shall be exhibited in – in its previous incarnation
as The Stoll Picture Theatre.
Each
pen and ink drawing has been painstakingly crafted by Ben. The high level of
detail in order to pick out each brick is admirable. On a larger scale they
capture the emotion of an evening at the flicks with the crowds lining up
outside awaiting a chance to go in. The scenes often feature a notable film in
the life of that cinema: its first film in cinemascope or the last film shown.
For
the first week of the exhibition, the pictures are being displayed on the
stage of the theatre with fabulous music for some of the biggest films of the
20th century in the background. After Friday 5th June
they will move to a gallery space within the theatre for midweek daytime
viewing. See the box below for viewing dates and times. Each scene is also available for sale as a limited edition print so
you can take a memory home too.
This
review was written by Stephen Oliver for the North East
Theatre Guide by Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo,
Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo
Original North East
Theatre Guide Preview:
Ben Holland is on the
web:
Website: http://lowmoonoverhightown.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lmoht
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lowmoonoverhightown
FREE ENTRY. On Stage Exhibition: Mon 1st
June from 7pm to 9pm, Tues 2nd - Friday 5th June from 10am to 3.30pm. Gallery Exhibition: From Mon 8th to Tues 30th June (Mon to Fri only) 10am to 3.30pm.
|
Venue On
The Web:
Website: www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk
Twitter: twitter.com/tyneoperahouse
Theatre Address: 109 – 119
Westgate Road, Newcastle, NE1 4AG
Forthcoming
events at The Tyne Theatre & Opera House include:
Legally
Blonde 23-28/11/15 North East Theatre Guide preview link
