Wotton cinema appeals for volunteer supervisors (From Gazette Series)

Wotton cinema appeals for volunteer supervisors

2:09pm Friday 19th March 2010 in

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WOTTON Electric Picture House has gone from strength to strength since its re-opening four years ago. It now shows smash hit movies, as well as art house films, 10 times a week and is one of a few cinemas in the country with 3D film technology. The only thing it really needs is more volunteers to keep the vibrant cinema going and even help it expand its film programme. Gazette reporter Claire Marshall went along for the afternoon to see what being a volunteer entailed.

IT’S A quiet Thursday afternoon in Wotton-under-Edge, but by 1.30pm people start arriving for the 2pm showing. Today nearly 60 people have turned up to watch An Education - although this is nothing to the numbers of visitors the cinema had over the last few weeks for hit film Avatar in 3D.

Each shift one volunteer, which today is Hilary McDermott, works taking the money and issuing tickets, while another - Barbara Harvey - sells the sweets and chocolate plus delicious ice-cream from Thornbury.

Hilary’s husband Alan is doing the role jokingly known as ‘The Boothie’ today – sitting in the equipment booth and playing the film. The perk of the job is that he gets to watch the movie from beginning to end to make sure nothing goes wrong.

And, while the Picture House crew are keen to stress that volunteering is not about watching films for free, those that do give their time can get to see some of the movies during their shift. Today Hilary agrees to stay in the foyer because she has seen An Education before and Barbara goes in to see it.

After watching the trailers I sneak out to have a chat to Hilary who is cashing up and re-stocking, and Janet Walshe who with her husband Jeff instigated the refurbishment of the cinema, which took three years to complete.

We even get to nibble a few of the chocolates from the famous basket that is handed around the audience at the beginning of every film – a long-running tradition they can’t bear to stop.

It becomes clear that tradition and community spirit is what has keep this facility alive and kicking.

"The cinema is a very special place," said Janet. "People get a personal experience here that is offered nowhere else.

"We want our volunteers to take ownership of this place and we think that they do."

The cinema has close to 100 volunteers, but the team is always welcoming more and they especially need people who might consider taking on a supervisor role, which entails managing a small team each shift.

Hilary, who has been volunteering with her husband every Thursday for four years, told me that it is an enjoyable past time for the pair of them, who are now both retired.

"We like to volunteer to give something back to the community, but also it is about being sociable with people and it is a lot of fun," said Hilary, a former teacher.

"You get to meet people and make friends, so it would be very good for anyone new to the area."

If you are interested in volunteering either call the cinema on 01453 844601or visit the website to email the team www.wottoneph.co.uk