PICTURE PERFECT.
Paul Dyson Thursday 14th August 2014 began like most mornings in Mexborough. Quiet. But all was not quite as it seemed. Within 2 hours Hope Street was transformed from a sleepy little cul-de-sac into a MultiMedia Outdoor Cinema venue. Right Up Our Street, a Doncaster based community arts group had come to town with a free Pop-Up Cinema event for the people of Mexborough and their neighbours. The event was hosted by Right Up Our Street’s Dominic Somers. Together with colleagues, volunteers and local businesses, Dominic managed to deliver this huge cinematic event. Dominic has been responsible for a number of cinema-themed activities in Mexborough recently, including giving away hundreds of canvas prints of iconic movie characters to local people, and personally organising a real live Stormtrooper to drop everything and come visit the town to help promote these ‘Hollywood’ themed events. The huge LED screen was installed on Hope Street Thursday morning together with seating for an expected audience of a few
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Photography ©Dominic Somers, 2014
hundred coming down during the day to watch one or more of the 3 blockbuster films showing. Families started arriving from 12 O’clock, getting themselves comfortable ready for the action to begin at 1pm. More seating was brought in at the last minute to accommodate this enthusiastic audience. The first film up was Disney’s Frozen. A well received choice, the reaction from spectators was amazing! Popcorn was freely flowing, the sun was shining (most of the time) and children, Mums and Dads sang in unison to the chart hit ‘Let it Go’. We even had our very own real princesses in town - Anna and Elsa led the children in song and dance at the front of the stage. It was a truly magical event for the young and not so young alike. Next up were two highly revered local interest films. Kes, which had been filmed in and around the area whet the appetite, which was then satiated with Flash Gordon, starring Mexborough’s very own booming voice, Brian Blessed.
The event was a huge success. Over the last 2 weeks around 800 people from the Mexborough area have watched the 6 films Right Up Our Street have presented in three local showings. Not a bad achievement for a town that once boasted 5 cinemas but until recently had none. Further cinema events are planned to continue in the local area. Up to date information on all these and more can be found on the RUOS website at www. rightupourstreet.org.uk
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