Gallery to showcase Sophie’s film nights

Cinema-queen Sophie Barrott outside her original market unit small cinema

Teenager pulls off cinema coup
ONE of the borough’s most enterprising teenagers is bringing the big screen back to town, with fortnightly films at Gallery Oldham.

Sophie Barrott hit the news last August when she secured a £2,000 lottery grant and the backing of Oldham Council for her Small Cinema Project.

Her drive and enthusiasm saw harness the help of friends to her turn an empty market hall unit in Albion Street, Oldham town centre, into a cinema.

The Oldham Sixth Form College student ran the cinema in a month-long project which saw the seats packed to brimming.

Its success sparked an offer from Playhouse 2 in Shaw to use its theatre for ad hoc screenings.

But now the 18-year-old has pulled of a major coup by teaming up with Gallery Oldham to open her small cinema on a more permanent basis.

Sophie said: “We’ve been working hard to bring back cinema to Oldham, and this new project is going to be wonderful.

“We have been looking at different venues but Gallery Oldham asked if we wanted to go there and when we looked it was perfect.

“We are showing a film every two weeks, initially for a year, for the very affordable price of just £3 a ticket.”

Sophie said of her 80-seat cinema: “We have a very intimate space where you can get close to the action, with a big screen and drinks and popcorn.”

The excited teenager will bring two Oscar winning films to the screen for Thursday’s opening event, Toy Story 2 at 2pm and Black Swan at 7.30pm.

To celebrate the opening, free goodie bags and boxes will be handed out, and all film-goers will get the chance to win a DVD copy of the film they see at each screening.

Sophie is currently taking her A-levels and hoping to go to university, but has pledged to keep the cinema going as she continues her studies.

Running her successful enterprise involves her working two or three days a week, and she will continue to show films at Shaw’s Playhouse 2 when she can get a slot in the theatre.

“It keeps my busy, it’s really good. I would love to do it full-time but it depends how it goes,” she said.

Films have previously been targeted at young people and teenagers, but Sophie is branching out and inviting anyone and everyone to her cinema.

“We show everything that is memorable, interesting, funny, heart-warming, awe inspiring and loved by many, and we would love to hear any ideas for films to show,” she said. Cinema-goers can buy tickets on the night or in advance from Gallery Oldham reception.

Shows at Shaw Playhouse 2 continue with True Grit on June 14 and Shutter Island on September 27, both at 8pm, tickets £4 available from Shaw Interiors (01706 840 400) or on the night.

Film details are available at www.thesmallcinema.com or on facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/A-Small-Cinema-Club-OLDHAM/135115126521823