Places features

:: September 2008

An old cinema in Sheffield started showing films for the first time in more than thirty years, in September 2008.

Cinema screen at Abbeydale Picture House

The Abbeydale Picture House on Abbeydale Road opened its doors to eighty people one Saturday in September 2008, to screen the cartoon Hoodwinked, followed later that evening by the classic musical South Pacific.

It's one of a number of events planned by the Friends of Abbeydale Picture House to raise money for the roof appeal. The Trust bought the cinema in 2005 on the cinema's 85th birthday, and they say the roof needs to be made safe before they can expand further.

Find out about more events at Abbeydale Picture House by visiting their website...

The campaign to save Abbeydale Picture House began in 2003, after 12 years of the Grade II-listed building standing empty.

The auditorium

The next stage of the project was to raise up to £8 million to turn the ruined building into a multi-function community arts centre for everyone in the local area to enjoy.

Adele Beckett was publicity manager for the campaignm which saw the restoration of the auditorium in 2006: "We've restored the auditorium and installed a new stage so that the building functions as a theatre, which is a big achievement. Before, it wasn't even safe for people to use. We've given it a lot of TLC, but there is still a lot of structural regeneration to come."

Picture House corridor

The opening of the newly-refurbished theatre space has made a big difference to the local community. It's staged performances by the Picture House Youth Theatre, which includes more 70 actors, singers and dancers aged between seven and 21, as well as exhibitions by the in-house art group and even a fashion show compered by patron Peter Stringfellow.

"It's very important to the area because there is a real lack of facilities at this end of Sheffield," said Adele. "The shows by the Picture House Youth Theatre now form the majority of our fund-raising, so it's a positive cycle."

The long-term aim of the project is to fully restore and re-open the rest of the building for everybody to use.

Stained Glass Window in Abbeydale Dome

 "It's an absolutely beautiful building," said Adele. "It was a really grand cinema, and it's still very ornate and lovely inside. The dome at the top has a magnificent stained glass window of the Star of David, and it's a real focal point.

"We're trying to get everybody involved now so that we can take the project further. There are lots of ways that people can help - you can join as a Friend for £10 a year, or just volunteer your time stewarding at fundraising events or coming to see the shows.

"We've had to work really hard to get the building back to the level it's at - now I hope that everyone will come along and enjoy it."

• Photographs by Guy J. Brown