Revival at the Cinema: Community Theater Opens with First Film Show Following Closure of Local Movie House

Weymouth Pavilion is stepping up as a new film venue, filling the gap left by the recent closure of Cineworld on Bond Street. After several trial screenings and significant preparations, this town’s theatre will screen its first movie later this week.

The inaugural screening at Weymouth Pavilion will feature “Dirty Dancing” on Friday 21 February, projected onto a massive 11m (36ft) screen in the theatres auditorium. Phil Say, the director of Weymouth Pavilion, highlights the effort required to get such a large projector into position and mentions that they have also installed a surround sound system for an enhanced viewing experience.

Ticket sales are already strong; according to Mr. Say, “We’re up over 100 tickets for the first screening.” He emphasizes that while capacity will be slightly less than 400 seats to ensure everyone has a great view, it still offers ample space in this newly-installed auditorium.

The closure of Cineworld on New Bond Street was announced on December 30th as part of national restructuring. This cinema had been operational for an impressive 25 years and played a crucial role in the community. The theatre’s opening is seen as a way to bring back much-needed movie screenings that many local residents miss.

Interestingly, this isn’t just good news for Weymouth. It also means that the nearest Cineworld complex to Pooles Tower Retail Park has moved further awaynow 30 miles (48km) in Yeovil. This underlines how essential these venues are not only as entertainment hubs but also as anchors within local communities.