The historic Castle Electric Theatre on Chatsworth Road in Clapton could once again become an active cultural hub, thanks to a campaign launched on the crowdfunding website Kickstarter, by the company behind the pop-up Pillow Cinema.
The online fundraiser has raised almost £10,000 in its first week, with more than 150 backers supporting the campaign.
The theatre opened as a premium cinema in 1913, but closed in 1958. The ground floor of the cinema is currently occupied by Eat17, a bar and restaurant, but the upper floor is out of use.
Theatron Media, the entrepreneurial company behind Hot Tub Cinema and Pillow Cinema, wants to raise £45,000 to bring the building back to life.
The twin brands want to open a permanent location for screenings of all types of film, from blockbusters to art-house cinema. Theatron Media says it also has a bigger vision of making a community space to house festivals, lectures and other events.
Asher Charman, founder of Theatron Media, told Hackney Post: “This is more a new business venture. We plan to service the community by restoring an amazing space and having an affordable space to host external events, as well as hosting our own.”
Mr Charman hopes the space will be and up running by June this year, if it reaches the crowdfunding target.
Pillow Cinema
Any crowdfunder who donates a £5,000 lump sum will have their face shown before every film screening, in the style of film company Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s Leo the Lion.
Theatron Media say the crowdfunding will be used to renovate the theatre into a fully functioning modern auditorium.
The company’s crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter states: “Visiting the space last year, we felt it was just too special to be left empty. It will be an intimate and affordable local cinema with a single screen and seating for approximately 60 guests.
“We want to create a space which is inviting and accessible, somewhere to celebrate the full breadth of cinema from independents to blockbusters.”
Kickstarter video
Featured image credit: Pillow Cinema
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