National Theatre screenings set for Penarth

Penarth town council has now accepted a tender for the equipment worth nearly £39,000, and is looking to install it in the Paget Rooms as soon as possible.

Event Cinema beams West End shows directly to venues around the UK, allowing audiences to watch live theatre on the big screen.

Councillors had previously said it had “captured everyone’s imagination” and would “bring London’s West End to Penarth”.

Town clerk Shan Bowden told a leisure and amenities committee meeting last night (February 19) the earliest the custom built screen could be installed was April 14, but that a satellite dish on the outside of the building could be erected on February 27

She said an order had to be placed for a custom screen to be built, but as the Paget Rooms was so busy with bookings in March they couldn’t find a time for the equipment to be fitted.

She added the council was now in discussions with National Theatre about when the first screening would be.

“It’s all moving on and falling into place,” she said.

A town clerk report presented to councillors said a tender for the supply and installation of equipment had been sent out with a closing date of January 30.

The lowest tender in the range £33,464.54 to £38,992.03 had been accepted and an order placed.

In addition an order had also been placed with the company that provided the lowest quotation for a satellite dish.

Councillor Michael Cuddy (St Augustine’s) said it was important that the equipment was installed as soon as possible, regardless of bookings at the Paget Rooms, and asked if it “would not be beyond the pale” to work on weekends to get it done.

“It’s important that we aren’t completely constricted by Paget Rooms bookings once we get a date,” he said.

“The earliest possible time we can get a National Theatre screening should ensure that happens.”

Shan Bowden said that as the Paget Rooms was open on weekends it had been difficult to find a date.