CROYDON is to play host to the London arts scene's most closely-guarded secret, the Advertiser can reveal.
Secret Cinema – hailed as a revolution in film watching – is to stage its 20th production at Delta Point on Wellesley Road between April 25 and June 9.
Parent company Future Shorts has sold more than 250,000 tickets – which cost in the region of £50 – to its previous 19 productions. In its application to Croydon Council, Future Shorts states the production will feature live music, theatre and roleplay – as well as alcohol and food.
It goes on to reassure Croydon residents by saying: "Future Cinema are aware that this is traditionally a sensitive area for public nuisance, and therefore the event management will make every effort to ensure that the event does not cause undue nuisance and make provisions to reduce nuisance to an acceptable level.
"We are proud to say we have never experienced any crime or disorder. We have never had to eject a single person from an event. Our audience is not a rowdy crowd, they are first and foremost cinema-goers from a non-troublesome demographic."
Set building work was scheduled to have begun last week, while rehearsals are due to start on April 8.
It is not known what the film will be although the licensing application states it will have a 15 rating.
Screenings will take place every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
The application is in the hands of the council's licensing department and residents are free to comment ahead of a decision.
It is not the first time Delta Point has enjoyed a taste of the movies. In 2010, film crew used the former BT building to shoot scenes for Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.
The Secret Cinema experience involves filmgoers buying a ticket for a set time and date without knowing what the film will be. In the run up to the screening, they are sent a series of tantalising and cryptic e-mails giving clues about the production and explaining how to meet and what to wear. After meeting at a designated spot, attendees are led to a top secret location by actors. They are immersed in the film's ambience through skits and music and a realistic movie-like set, before sitting down to the screening. It is only, ultimately, when the titles roll that viewers discover what they are going to watch. Previous films have included Casablanca and Ghostbusters. Future Shorts was tight-lipped about the forthcoming production and refused to give any details unless the Advertiser signed a non-disclosure agreement. The information in this article is all in the public domain.
