Historic footage of Northumberland to go on show at new-look Alnwick Playhouse

Historic film material featuring bygone Alnwick and wider Northumberland is being brought to the big screen.
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North East Film Archive is bringing a specially curated screening of ‘Alnwick & Northumberland On Film’ to the new-look Alnwick Playhouse on Sunday, January 5.

The event is presented as part of the venue’s reopening programme following a £3.3million refurbishment.

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Jo Potts, manager at The Alnwick Playhouse, originally built in 1925 as a 700-seat cinema and music hall, said: “We’re really looking forward to getting the doors open and showing the world the all-new Alnwick Playhouse.

Alnwick market place. Picture: North East Film ArchiveAlnwick market place. Picture: North East Film Archive
Alnwick market place. Picture: North East Film Archive

“Our refurbishment project is as much about preserving our beautiful building as much as it is looking forward to its glittering future, so we couldn’t think of any better way to do that than team up with the North East Film Archive for this unique event.”

Viewers will be taken on a visual journey through a century of life in Northumberland, exploring its stunning landscapes and the lives of people who have lived, worked and made their mark on its rich history.

Highlights include a trip to Alnwick Fair in 1969, the Shrove Tuesday football match from 1977, the Newcastle & District Amateur Cinematographers Association summer outing to Warkworth on the 16th July 1933, incredible footage of Berwick in 1929, and bustling film of Alnwick town centre in the 1950s.

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The screening is part of North East On Film, a project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund that has ensured the preservation and digitisation of archive footage from across our region and which has provided opportunities for the public to see and enjoy the archive film collections cared for in its vaults.

Football legend Jack Charlton, on the set of About Britain - The Coast of King Jack. Picture: North East Film ArchiveFootball legend Jack Charlton, on the set of About Britain - The Coast of King Jack. Picture: North East Film Archive
Football legend Jack Charlton, on the set of About Britain - The Coast of King Jack. Picture: North East Film Archive

Julie Ballands, delivery manager for the North East on Film project said: “It’s such a great opportunity for us to be able to tell the story of the region to a packed house full of the good people of Northumberland.

“We have some amazing footage to screen, and we’re really happy to be part of the Playhouse’s fantastic opening weekend programme.”

The screening takes place at 1.30pm. Tickets are £2 and can be purchased at www.alnwickplayhouse.co.uk/event/alnwick-northumberland-on-film/ or by calling the Playhouse on 01665 660550.

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