Memoirs of a Cinema

Level 2 Creative Media 23/24

Memoirs of a Cinema showcases the essence of the old Paignton Picture House, a venue steeped in history and cultural significance. Through evocative storytelling and rich imagery, these digital stories pay homage to the theater’s enduring legacy, reflecting on its role as a cherished space for film lovers and a testament to the golden age of cinema. These stories act as a living memory of communal experiences, creativity, and the magic of storytelling.

Memoirs of a Cinema

Cross-College Collaboration

Memoirs of a Cinema is a heartfelt tribute to the old Paignton Picture House, celebrating its poetic character and rich cultural history. Created in collaboration with Performing Arts, Media, Art, and Music students, the docu-film highlights their immersive performance within the venue, transforming it into a living, breathing piece of storytelling. The project not only honors the theater’s legacy but also showcases the power of community and creative expression. By guiding the audience through the space as part of the live show, the film beautifully captures the spirit of the Picture House as a place of shared memories, artistic inspiration, and cinematic magic.

Ode to the Picture House

read by Abbie

A dramatic reading

Ode to the Picture House is a heartfelt dramatic reading that celebrates the rich history and enduring beauty of the Paignton Picture House. Through poetic verse, the piece paints a vivid portrait of the theater as a steadfast landmark, cherished in the memories of generations who have passed through its doors. It captures the magic of cinema, the warmth of shared experiences, and the Picture House’s role as a cultural treasure. With evocative language and deep nostalgia, the reading pays tribute to the venue’s timeless charm and the profound connection it holds for the community.

Agatha

performed by brooke

South Devon High school student

In Torquay town where waves caress the shore,
A girl was born who’d pen tales evermore.
Agatha Christie, with a mind so keen,
Crafted mysteries, the finest ever seen.

In 1914, Paignton Picture House began,
A cinema grand, a Devonshire plan.
Young Agatha, with a heart full of dreams,
Found inspiration in the silver screen’s gleam.

She’d sit entranced by flickers of light,
Stories unfolding in the darkened night.
The Picture House, a retreat, a muse,
Where fiction and film did seamlessly fuse.

Married that year, to Archibald her knight,
They’d visit the cinema, hearts alight.
In its velvet seats, side by side they’d share,
A love for stories, both thrilling and rare.

The cinema’s charm, its century-old tale,
Withstood the years, though time made it frail.
Now being restored, to glory it aims,
A beacon of history, and Christie’s famed names.

Agatha’s legacy, in books and in screen,
Lives on through places where she once had been.
Paignton Picture House, in history enshrined,
A tribute to the mysteries born of her mind.