Worthing celebrates 25th anniversary of Wish You Were Here (From The Argus)

Worthing celebrates 25th anniversary of Wish You Were Here

2:00pm Saturday 18th August 2012 in News By Peter Truman

A cinema is holding a special showing of a movie which was filmed in the building.

Worthing Dome is putting on a special 25th anniversary screening of Wish You Were Here.

The Bafta winning film was filmed predominately in Worthing, including many scenes in the cinema itself.

Such has been the demand to see the film, the cinema is already planning a second showing.

The movie centres on 16-year-old Lynda Mansell, played by Emily Lloyd, who lives in a small English seaside town in the early 1950s.

A coming-of-age tale, the film charts her first sexual experience and her relationship with her intolerant father.

Bea Wood, assistant manager at Dome Cinema, said: "It's a fantastic opportunity to be able to show Wish You Were Here at the Dome Cinema, where it was filmed, and screened 25 years ago.

“I have the DVD at home and love it as the camera pans through the foyer, and into the auditorium.

“This is such a magnificent building and we are very lucky to have it in the community still. I feel strangely proud, actually.

“I first came to this cinema when I was six years old and came to see Wish You Were Here when it was first shown here in 1987. The lady who actually served at the box office at the time also had that role in the film.

“I remember it being quite bizarre to buy the ticket from her and then see her in the film. “We have had so much interest regarding our Silver Screen performance of the film, due at 11am on Wednesday August 29, so are planning to have an extra screening on the evening of the same day."

Bryan Turner, deputy leader of Worthing Borough Council , said the film was an interesting portrayal of Worthing in the 1950s.

He said: “The film really relates to that period in time.

“It is hard to measure the impact it had on Worthing and whether it brings people here.

“It helps but in an immeasurable way.

“I am very grateful to the Dome for putting on the screening.

“It is a good way to promote Worthing using the Tourist Information Centre.

“We probably do not make enough of and it can be used to show off the area.”

The Dome holds its special silver screen showing on the last Wednesday of every month and features a mix of classics and modern films.

Staff decided it would be fitting to screen Wish You Were Here to mark its silver anniversary.

The movie is on Wednesday, August 29 and all tickets are £3.50 including tea or coffee and biscuits.