Dorset's oldest cinema reopens this week
Wareham's Rex Cinema celebrates it's 100th birthday this year.
Last updated 24th May 2021
The Rex Cinema in Wareham, one of the oldest in the country, reopens it's revamped doors this week.
Like other theatres it's been open sporadically over the past year due to coronavirus restrictions.
The treasured venue opened in 1921 with silent movies, brought talkies to the roaring '20s, held fast throughout the '30s depression, the second World War and, more recently, two national lockdowns, but it is still standing strong and is delighted to be reopening its doors once again.
Cinema staff and volunteers say they saw adversity as a chance to improve and jumped on the opportunity to upgrade parts of the building that were lacking.
The remodelling includes an Art Deco bar with increased access through to the elegant new unisex washroom facilities, all in accordance with social distancing guidelines.
David Evans is the Cinema charity chair.
"We always turn adversity into opportunity at the Rex, we've been doing that for 100 years.
"With the pandemic, we decided to take the opportunity to revamp the whole of the downstairs of the cinema, which was very tired.
"The place is full of character as a listed cinema, but the people who volunteer and run are also somewhat eccentric, which makes it rather fun."
The Rex has its own stop-motion animations made by one of the volunteers welcoming viewers and also letting them know all about the COVID guidelines in place.
This autumn, the Rex will once again be at the heart of the Purbeck Film Festival which will present its 24th film programme from 22 to 31 October, showcasing an incredible and diverse range of films.
The community cinema is run by a registered charity and has 47 unpaid, enthusiastic volunteers who undertake roles to keep the cinema running.
The May programme launches with the multi-Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe winning Nomadland (cert 12A), and our favourite bunny returns in Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway, (cert U) for the half-term family morning and afternoon film.
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