The Rio Cinema, Kingsland High Street,
Hackney, E8
Info: 020 7241 9410
Tube: Highbury & Islington

Patron: Bob Hoskins

Brief history

The Rio was one of the first full-time cinemas in London. Originally called the Kingsland Palace, it was opened by Clara Ludski and W. E. Trent. After changing hands in the mid-1930s from the Southern Super Cinema group to the the Classic Cinema group, the Rio developed a ventilation problem which became apparent when it was inspected by the London County Council in 1936.

The Rio as the Tatler in 1917

A rescuer emerged in the form of F.E. Bromige of Kingly Street, Westminster whose plans allayed the London County Council's concerns.

He reconstructed the balcony and cinematograph. The existing ceiling was retained and a new one provided at a lower level. A new auditorium was added to seat just 561 people, with another 110 permitted to stand. This, with almost no alteration, is the Rio as it is today.

Pleasure palace...the Rio's exterior at night

Programming Policy

Hackney has a strong Turkish and Kurdish community which enjoys films from Hollywood and fare from the Turkish and Kurdish Film Festivals as well. This encourages cultural identity and strengthens links between the Rio and its community, as General Manager Charles Rubinstein explains:

"The Rio's policy varies. We show mainstream films such as 'City Of God', 'The Hours' and 'Far From Heaven', but we also like to focus on films that are of interest to our community - like the Kurdish and Turkish Film Festivals where we hold workshops and discussion groups for films, which are very popular."

The Rio's auditorium is decorated with blind arcading, balcony fronts and paired Ionic columns on either side of the proscenium arch

What to look out for in 2003

Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami's latest film, 'Ten', is a minimalist drama that's set inside a car. Poised somewhere between fiction and documentary, it records ten conversations an anonymous female driver has with various passengers, including her sister and her wilful seven-year-old son:

"I think 'Ten' will be a hit this year," says Charles Rubinstein, "The film is about themes of love, sex, family and religion".

The Rio's foyer complete with its sweeping staircase

Take a Thames Tour of Rotherhithe including the home of London's whaling and timber trades

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