Just 18 months after reopening Croydon’s arthouse cinema, the Save the David Lean Cinema Campaign has sold its 10,000th ticket.
Bridget Cushen receives the David Lean Cinema golden ticket from Alan Peakall
Bridget Cushen, a local resident, bought a ticket for the psychological thriller The Gift at the cinema’s box office, and was told that she had helped Croydon’s community-managed venue reach the milestone.
The David Lean Cinema, named after the borough’s Oscar-winner movie director, was closed by the council in 2011 as a result of austerity cuts to spending. But after a three-year campaign by enthusiasts, it re-opened last year as a volunteer-run venue, now a Community Interest Company.
With at least two screenings each week, the sale of the 10,000th ticket demonstrates that the David Lean Cinema has been operating at near-capacity since re-opening. Offering tickets at just £7.50 per film – many of them screened soon after release – it seems the demand may be based on price as well as the programme of films chosen by the Campaigners.
The Campaign arranged a presentation at which Cushen received a commemorative golden ticket from Box Office manager Alan Peakall. She will also be given a complimentary ticket for her next film.
Cushen said that she admired the “passion and enthusiasm” she witnessed, adding: “There’s a lot of dedication needed from a large number of volunteers, all of them totally committed to the cinema.”
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