New bid to save historic building

10:54pm Sunday 2nd September 2007

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Britain's oldest repertory cinema has launched a desperate appeal to try to save its roof.

Brighton's much-loved Duke of York's Picturehouse is in urgent need of a £50,000 renovation of its historic tiling to save the structure from the weather.

This month the cinema in Preston Circus will celebrate its 97th birthday - and so will its roof.

But bosses cannot afford to pay out for the necessary repair work on the Grade II listed building.

Now they are urging supporters to sponsor a seat at the arthouse to help raise funds.

Actor Alistair McGowan and writers Lynne Truss and Julie Burchill have started the ball rolling by each snapping up a seat inside.

Manager Jon Barrenechea said it is hard enough to make ends while competing against big chain firms and there is no way parent company City Screen could afford it.

He said: "It is a 97-year-old roof. It has had all the patchwork it can handle. Now it needs replacing. It is slated and it is a listed building so we can't just put in any old roof."

The cinema offers discounted tickets to members and has 5,000 people on its lists, more than ever before, but it is still difficult to keep takings up.

Mr Barrenechea said: "We hope that Brighton will step up to help us. I am looking forward to not having any more leaks."

Mr McGowan is just starting work on his first film role with the team who made My Big Fat Greek Wedding. He moved to Brighton in the spring and is a member of the Duke of York's.

He said: "I just think it is the most wonderful place to have in Brighton.

"I am told there used to be so many more cinemas in the town and we still see the remnants of quite a few. To have one so beautiful, so well run and programmed and so lovely to look at from the outside is great."

Mr McGowan has just finished a six-month stint in the Little Shop of Horrors on the stage in London.

He hopes his film will be shown at the Duke of York's. He said: "I am not big on adventure movies and action movies with lots of people shooting each other. That is the wonderful thing about the Duke of York's, it shows other kinds of films.

"If people haven't been there, it is great, you get more than just the film. You get events and people come to talk.

"You get so used to seeing older films on the television. To react with a group of people in the cinema is extraordinary."

Ms Truss said: "I go there quite a lot when I am in Brighton. It is a real asset. I went to the preview of Atonement. It was fantastic to be able to see that before it opens.

"They programme really well and it is really comfortable and people who go there tend to be very good. They go there to watch the film, they don't answer their mobiles and there is no chatting."

All 250 stalls seats are available to be sponsored for £100 and customers will be asked if they want to make a voluntary £1 donation when they buy a ticket.

There will be a fund-raising screening of Brighton Rock on September 22 at 9pm.

Send donations payable to City Screens Ltd to Duke of York's Picturehouse, Preston Circus, Brighton, BN1 4NA.

What do you think? Should cinemas like the Picturehouse be saved or are they a waste of time and money compared to multiplexes? Leave your comments below.