The Mowlem Needs Your Help!

The Coronavirus crisis continues to affect individuals and businesses across the world, and here in Swanage we are not immune! Local shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs all need your support through this continuing crisis, and your local community cinema and theatre needs your support too.

The Mowlem offers the residents of Swanage access to the performing arts on their doorstep through its year-round programme of film and theatre for all ages. It is a well-used resource for local schools and is a valuable platform for young people learning performing arts skills and offers valuable space in the centre of town for a range of clubs and community activities.

During the first 6 months of theatre lockdown a huge amount of work went in to improving The Mowlem ready for a Covid-secure reopening:

• Volunteers put in more than 2000 hours to completely refresh the public spaces and auditorium
• The new board of trustees held dozens of Zoom meetings to create a plan to make The Mowlem more focused on its audience, more accountable to its community and a unique centre for the arts and entertainment you can be genuinely proud of
• Operations Manager Thomas Curtis and Chairman of the Trust Matthew Haysom worked tirelessly to prepare a fantastic reopening programme in a safe, clean building

We reopened in October to enthusiastic audiences and hugely positive feedback:

“Oh what a night. Superb reopening indeed.. Red Shoes was absolutely lovely and the theatre is unrecognisable in the best possible way. All redecorated with new lighting, new carpet and even the ladies completely upgraded. Covid seating well thought out and definitely felt comfortably safe. Congratulations to all involved in the transformation. Have already booked more shows.. Thank you.”
Irene

“The first night opening after the shut down the place looks fresh and clean new carpet and Covid practice in place all round. Felt safe attending and looking forward to attending more Wonderful to have it reopened.”
Sandie

“Great night last night! What a difference you have made to the theatre, well done everyone who did the work.”
Dennis

“It was fabulous.. and the theatre looks amazing .. thank you to all those who’ve worked so hard.”
Julia

Then, after a month of successful screenings, Lockdown 2 happened…

Plans for 2021 include a full consultation with Swanage and the wider community to help determine our future direction, but we need your support now to help cover the cost of seven months of closure as well as to take us into 2021 safely and successfully – all donations, large or small, will help! 

Thank you.