The Prince Charles Cinema sits quietly up a side-street off Leicester Square. You could easily walk through the square without spotting it – but you’d be missing out. The only non-subsidised repertory cinema in the UK, the Prince Charles receives no funding from the Arts Council, the Lottery or any other body and acts independently in dealings with all film distribution companies. And though the cinema is based in the heart of London, the prices are still reasonable.
I’m a recent convert to the PCC, having discovered it when a friend asked if I fancied going to a screening of Labyrinth. David Bowie on the big screen, singing about voodoo – sold! Since then, I have been back on a number of occasions to swearalong with South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut, sob along to It’s a Wonderful Life and laugh along to Airplane and Naked Gun.
But it isn’t just the films that make the PCC what it is – it’s the people who go to watch them. PCC fans are film fans – and they have incredibly diverse taste including the classics and the moderns, the funny and the sad, the silly and the naughty. The films shown are from different genres, decades, styles and countries and the viewing audience reflect that variety. Current programme highlights include A Separation, Tyrannosaur, We Need To Talk About Kevin, My Week With Marilyn, Drive, The Princess Bride and Robin Hood: Men In Tights.
The PCC also has a great presence on social media, frequently running competitions and letting people know about the up-and-coming screenings via Twitter and Facebook. They are not just there to tell you what’s happening – but to ask you for your opinions. The cinema is happy to hear suggestions for their double bill season and were even able to supply mince pies for the It’s a Wonderful Life screening after I requested them.
A night at the Prince Charles really is a great night out – with friends you know and friends you’ve yet to meet. You can dress up for a masquerade ball or a Rocky Horror singalong, enjoy a black and white classic, a rude swearalong, a cheesy singalong or just a screening of a current film best seen on the big screen. Whatever film takes your fancy - the Prince Charles will have it covered.
Dressing up for Labyrinth - Courtesy of the Prince Charles Cinema's Facebook page
COMPETITION:
Fancy joining in the fun and seeing a screening at the PCC for yourself? Let us know in the form below what two films you think would make the ultimate double-bill and the most creative will win a pair of tickets. Who knows, maybe the Prince Charles will even make it happen…
Good luck!
What two films do you think would make the ultimate double-bill?
Check out the Prince Charles Cinema at http://princecharlescinema.com/
You can follow the cinema on Twitter and Facebook.
Tickets are non-refundable and must be collected at the cinema venue. These tickets do not include special events.
Competition closes Friday 2 March 2012 at 11:59pm GMT and is open to UK residents only.
Competition Terms and Conditions apply.
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