The old art deco cinema on the corner of Northampton's Lower Mounts was in a sad state when the Jesus Army bought it in 2000. The Grade Two Listed building had been empty since the last films was shown in 1995 (they were Pulp Fiction, Terminal Velocity and Just Cause). The leaking roofs and moving foundations have now been repaired, the pigeons - which were nesting inside the auditorium - have been removed and the distinctive interior has been returned to an approximation of the 1930s original. The whole project has cost the Jesus Army nearly £6 million. Part of the property is already being used by the Jesus Army as a church. But the main cinema has been turned into a 900-seat auditorium with a stage. The two smaller cinemas are now conference suites called the Doré and The Glen. The Jesus Army hope to recoup some of their redevelopment costs by hosting conferences and entertainment shows. Big day | "It looks stunning. I think the people of Northampton will enjoy coming back into this building." | | Paul Scarbrow |
Monday 3rd October is an important day for the newly named Deco theatre because that's when the audiences will return to see Carmen. General manger Paul Scarbrow is looking forward to the big day. He thinks the Northampton public will fall back in love with an historic venue: "I like to refer to 'The Beatles' as our house band! They played here," says Paul. "I think the Rolling Stones did. I'm forever being told that P.J. Proby split his trousers on this stage, but I'm not so sure on that one!" The building, branded 'Northampton's only super cinema', opened as the Savoy on 2nd May 1936. The first show starred Jack Benny and during a 'musical interlude' the Compton Organ rose from the pit. In the 1950s, the Savoy became the ABC. It was the first cinema in Northampton to show 3D movies, which were all the rage at the time. In 1963 the Beatles performed 10 numbers on stage, culminating with Twist and Shout. In 1974, the building was converted into a three-screen complex. It became the Cannon in the 1980s and finally closed its doors in 1995, shortly after the opening of the multi-screen cinema at Sixfields. Competition
 | | Mr Showbiz: Paul Scarbrow |
Professional theatre in Northampton is rather sparse at the moment because of the 14-month closure of the Royal and Derngate theatres. The Deco is hoping to cash in by mounting a number of popular shows, including a Christmas pantomime. Paul Scarbrow says the shows will continue when the Royal & Derngate reopen following their renovations: "I think the Derngate will view us as competition. My role is to make sure that the building works and functions all the time." Will the buildings owners, the Jesus Army, try to influence what sort of acts appear in The Deco? Paul thinks not: "There are no bars on us regarding what we can and what we can't do. Obviously there's a booking policy as there is in all theatres, but they're very cooperative and helpful." It looks as though movies will also return to what started out as a cinema. Preparations are being made to mount film festivals on the big screen. But this time there'll be no Compton Organ rising from the pit.
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