presents
Paignton Picture House
-Digital Stories-
-Digital Stories-
presented by Digital Media Students of
Let’s explore the history of the 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.
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.
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.
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.
by max
Level 2 Creative Media Student 23/24
Max’s artistic skills are exemplary, and here he has created this animation frame-by-frame with his own drawings. Max is a talented member of the cohort, and has had a brilliantly successful year honing his artistic skills.
Max Says: “I got into animation through watching various films and series growing up, but the Japanese style of animation is what impressed me the most, I tried my best to replicate that style of animation in Krita (a drawing/animation software) and I believe it came out well despite my lack of experience. Although I’m not completely sure on my future career, I’m hoping to move on to a game design course and improve my skills in that field.”
by luca
Level 2 Creative Media Student 23/24
Luca is a fantastic learner, who has worked consistently hard throughout the course and developed in his confidence both in his technical ability, and in terms of his communication skills with other members of the cohort.
Luca says: “The reason I like animation is because it is a way to express your self and tell stories, I love how whole communities form to talk about their favourite animated shows and movies, and how it can be a way to help people understand and relate to the world and how it can unite people. What inspires me are Youtubers that told stories through their videos, especially “Aphmau” with her Minecraft series “My Street” and “Diaries”, that evolved from basic first person format to a more cinematic format to eventually incorporate animation with a story so amazing and characters so loved that it brought people to tears. I started with the idea of a time traveller touring Paignton while trying to locate Paignton Picture House (due to time limits, I was limited with what I could do, so I prioritised the information I wanted to give). I did research on Paignton Picture House, and used that information to plan out what I wanted to add and mention. This lead into the 1914 style of clothing for the character. To create the character, I traced an animated 3D model of that character I had made, using a reference image of the style of clothe at the time. I used the key points of the walking animation to get the angles and the walking correct. My future ambitions is to create an interesting story with characters that people can relate to and a story that will inspire people, just how I have been inspired. While doing my research, I found out a lot of information that interested me, but I think the most interesting thing I learnt was that Paignton Picture House was Agatha Christie’s favourite cinema.
If you’d like to see more of Luca’s personal work, check out his youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@ofxzquznvh6789/featured
by Level 3 Creative Media Students
This work showcases the creative responses of Level 3 Creative Media students to the brief “Torbay Memories,” in which they were challenged to produce original magazines capturing personal stories from the area. Students researched and interviewed people who have grown up in Torbay, gathering firsthand accounts that reflect the region’s identity, history, and community. Using a combination of photography, written storytelling, and editorial design, they developed visually engaging and thoughtfully curated publications that highlight both their technical skills and their ability to communicate authentic local voices.