LOCAL HERO

Each month, Empire puts a much-loved indie picture house in the spotlight

REGENT STREET CINEMA

Screen Content Manager Sophie Doherty on central London’s quirkiest independent REGENTSTREETCINEMA.COM

What’s your cinema’s history?

Our history is super unique. RSC is where the Lumière brothers first screened a moving image in the UK in 1896, and we were also one of the first cinemas that really embraced ‘talkies’ in the 1930s. In January 1951, the cinema screened La Vie Commence Demain — the first film to be awarded an X certificate in the UK. RSC has always been a pioneering venue.

What’s special about your cinema?

I think in these grand surroundings you just feel like you’re somewhere that has a rich cinema history. I think people walking in here will know they’re in a place that has been passionate about film for decades.

Share a memorable moment... When we screened Ammonite after lockdown, the buzz about being back in the cinema was tremendous. I stood at the back and everyone was just transfixed, drawn in by the film’s stillness. The magic of cinema was back.

How does the community play a role? Our viewing community is what brings our cinema to life. Their enthusiasm and passion are unrivalled.

What happened during lockdown?

We finessed our programming to appeal to as broad an audience as possible. We want people from all ages and backgrounds to feel at home. We’ve been choosing small, cool indie films alongside quality blockbusters.

What plans are you making for the future? We did a screening of Jaws on 16mm in the auditorium, taking advantage of its vast space and haunting acoustics. The shared experience — the gasp of an audience, the laughter of a crowd — was unrivalled. We’re hoping to run more events in the future, creating more magical cinema moments.