Sophie’s cinema is a box-office smash

CROWDS flocked to a full house as the big screen came back to Oldham.

Enterprising teenager Sophie Barrott was delighted by the success of her Small Cinema Project as moviegoers enjoyed watching blockbuster Toy Story 3 at Gallery Oldham.

The Oldham Sixth Form College student initially ran the cinema in a month-long project at an empty market hall unit in Albion Street, Oldham town centre, after securing a £2,000 lottery grant.

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

And now the 18-year-old has teamed up with Gallery Oldham to show films every fortnight for only £3 a ticket.

Following Toy Story 3 in the afternoon at the 80-seat cinema was Oscar winner Black Swan in the evening.

To celebrate the opening, free goodie bags and boxes were handed out and all film-goers got the chance to win a DVD copy.

Film details are available at www.thesmallcinema.com