Curzon Community Cinema: Flushed Away

Curzon Community Cinema, Clevedon

On the evening of Wednesay 29th November 2006, the Curzon auditorium was packed to the rafters with an eager audience for a special Charity Gala screening of Flushed Away (certificate U) - the new animated feature from the partnership of Bristol-based Aardman and Stephen Spielberg’s Dreamworks SKG.

The film is part written by Aardman founder and Director Peter Lord, and features the voices of Kate Winslet, Hugh Jackman, Sir Ian McKellen, Bill Nighy, Andy Serkis, Shane Richie, Kathy Burke and David Suchet.

Arranged to fall on the tenth anniversary of the Curzon’s formation as a community owned and operated cinema and charity, the evening was a tremendous success.

Nearly half the audience comprised Curzon volunteers, who give their time to the organisation for free and who attended as the guests of the Board of Trustees as a thank you for all their support and hard work.

Trustees Chairman Chris Brain said, “If it were not for all our volunteers supporting us week in week out, the Curzon could not afford to operate and we owe a huge debt to all of them. Given that the gala evening was to celebrate our first 10 years as a community cinema it seemed to us appropriate that we give something back to our volunteers by inviting them and their partners to this very special occasion.”

Special guests for the evening were Aardman co-founders and Curzon Patrons Peter Lord and David Sproxton, who took part in an audience ‘question & answer’ session following the screening of the film – under the able chair of BBC Points West presenter Sally Challoner.

There were some excellent questions from the packed audience, who were given an insight into the dvelopment and making of the film – including an interesting story about slugs. (You had to be there!)

Commenting on the Curzon’s relationship with Aardman, General Manager, Jon Webber, added: “The support from our friends at Aardman over a number of years has provided a continuing boost for everyone involved with the Curzon project and it is largely thanks to them that we were able to offer Flushed Away two days ahead of the UK release date.”

To round off a wonderful evening we were joined by Toby Pinn from Clevedon Salerooms who kindly agreed to auction for us three memorabilia items, raising over £170. The charity auction proceeds were divided between the Curzon Restoration Fund and a third world charity.

All in all a great night was had, and it was an altogether fitting way to celebrate the Curzon’s 10th anniversary.