It's the cinematic return everyone is talking about – the Kirky Picture Palace is on its way back to its original home, offering movie magic at the heart of the community.
Barbie, a live-action reimagining of The Little Mermaid, Grease and Hotel Transylvania will all be shown at Kirkintilloch Town Hall this month, thanks to the blockbuster initiative from Your Kirky (aka Kirkintilloch Community Council).
As well as screenings suitable for all, there will be special dementia-friendly and baby-friendly events too.
Saturday 28 October
- The Little Mermaid (PG) – 1pm
- Barbie (12A) – 3.30pm
Doors open 15 minutes before both screenings, and there will be snacks and refreshments available to purchase. Tickets cost £5 (adults) and £3 (children) – available from Create ED (46 Cowgate, Kirkintilloch) or online at the Kirky Picture Palace website (external link opens in new window).
Friday 20 October
- Dementia-friendly screening of Grease – 2pm (in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland)
Tickets cost £5, with carers allowed in for free. Purchase on the door or email kirkyfilmhub@gmail.com for group bookings. Doors open 15 minutes before the screening. The aim is that there will be dementia-friendly film events on the third Friday of every month.
Tuesday 31 October
- Baby-friendly screening of Hotel Transylvania (U) – 10am
Tickets cost £5 (adults), £3 (children) with under-twos allowed in for free. The aim is there will be baby-friendly film events on the last Tuesday of every month.
Serina Marshall, the Kirky Picture Palace's Cinema Co-ordinator, said,
We are ecstatic to be returning to Kirkintilloch Town Hall, where we started our adventures in October 2019. The community asked us to bring back a cinema and we have delivered, even during the recovery from the pandemic.
"We would like to thank St Mary's Church and the Park Centre for hosting us over the last couple of years and the public for attending our screenings. Thanks are also due to our volunteer cinema team – their dedication and hard work make the Kirky Picture Palace what it is and we couldn't do it without them.
"We hope that our schedule of events for the next year continues to show the demand for cinema in Kirkintilloch. We can’t wait to see many of you there, enjoying these fantastic movies with us."
Jim Neill, Chair of East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust – which operates Kirkintilloch Town Hall, said, "It's the first time we have been able to host Kirky Picture Palace events since 2020. We're delighted to welcome the cinema back – and film fans of all ages. The town hall is now fully operational again and the diary is already filling up with a range of community events and classes. The Heritage Centre is also open to the public (Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm)."
Exciting times are ahead for the Kirky Picture Palace, which has organised a number of screenings in local schools and aims to expand that service, potentially including local community centres and more. If you have an enquiry about hiring the mobile cinema, email kirkyfilmhub@gmail.com
Look out for news soon on November's screenings and a special selection (box) of Christmas-themed movies.
For more information visit the Kirky Picture Palace website and check out Your Kirky on Facebook and check out Your Kirky on Twitter.
